23 March 2000
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206 and/or head coach Dennie Bridges, (309) 556-3345

Prairie Central's Shawn McGuire to Attend Illinois Wesleyan

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Prairie Central High School's all-state basketball player Shawn McGuire has decided to further his academic and athletic career at Illinois Wesleyan University, IWU head coach Dennie Bridges announced today.

McGuire, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound guard, was named to the first team of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association all-state squad and was also on the first team of the all-area squads named by The Pantagraph and the Champaign News-Gazette.

He was his team's "Most Valuable Player" in 1999-2000 as he led the Hawks in scoring (15.5 points per game), assists (92) and steals (62), helping the Hawks to a 25-6 record and the school's first Class A Elite Eight appearance since 1990.

McGuire shot 78.1 percent from the free throw line (107 of 137), made 48 percent of his field goal tries, and shot 39 percent from 3-point range. He was Prairie Central's leading scorer in 14 games and had a season-high of 33 vs. Central Catholic.

McGuire was a first team all-Corn Belt Conference selection, and was co-"Most Valuable Player" of the Corn Belt Conference [with Mahomet-Seymour's Brett Melton, a University of Illinois recruit]. He was also named to the all-tournament teams at the Danville Classic and at the Prairie Central Hawk Classic.

"Shawn just kept getting better as the season unfolded," said Bridges. "He is making a great decision at a perfect time. With Korey [Coon] graduating, Shawn becomes a very important recruit for Illinois Wesleyan."

"I think it's a great decision for Shawn and his family, who will be able to see him play in college," said Prairie Central coach Tom Posey. "That can't be the only reason in deciding where to go, but it's a valuable one. Shawn will be playing in front of the best crowds anywhere in Division III, he'll be playing for the winningest coach, and will be playing in the best facility. What more could a player want?"

Posey knows of which he speaks - his son, T.J., was a three-year IWU basketball letterman and was a starting guard on the 1996 team that finished third in the national Division III tournament.

McGuire, who also plans to play baseball at Illinois Wesleyan, is undecided on his college major field of study, considering education, business and history. He is the son of Tim and Wendy McGuire, 309 W. John, Forrest.

About IWU Men's Basketball

The Titans were 17-8 this year and 9-5 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The Titans failed to advance to the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time since 1993 and for only the fourth time in the 17 years of the school's NCAA association. The winningest active Division III coach, Bridges completed his 35^th season at the Titan helm with a career mark of 643-312 and a league record of 411-125. The Titans won the national Division III championship in 1997 and placed third in the national tourney in 1996.