Recreational basketball leagues were common in Peoria for many years. But after COVID-19, many of them went away.
Jay Wallace feels the time is right to bring them back.
“There’s hungry basketball players in Peoria, so I’ve been trying to get a gym and find somebody to host the event,” said Wallace, the co-founder, CEO and commissioner of the new Peoria Basketball League.
The 10-team adult men’s competitive league held an exhibition day last weekend at Peoria Academy, as it prepares to debut its inaugural season on Oct. 4.
“I would say I’ve had league ideas and things like that for multiple years. I ultimately started working on it last year around this time to actually jump forth and do it.”
Wallace said one of the biggest challenges to getting the league off the ground was finding a venue.
“Adult leagues, it’s kind of tough,” he said. “Some gyms don’t want, they think, trouble — bringing the trouble with adult players.
“I’ve actually reached out to a bunch of places over the years about renting their gym, but nobody would ever rent their gym out. Then I was able to reach out to Peoria Academy, and they were like, ‘Sure.’”
Wallace said the intent of the league goes beyond just basketball, seeking a way to create a positive atmosphere in the community.
“We’re trying to get people out in the community just to have something to do outside of just sitting at home. Back in the day when I played, we had basketball outside all the time,” he said.
“It gives players something to do and something to motivate them to stay in shape after high school or even after college.”
Wallace played basketball at Woodruff High School and Lincoln College before spending two seasons at High Point University in North Carolina.
“I’ve got a pretty long basketball resume; I’ve played multiple leagues in Peoria,” said Wallace. “I still play here and there, but we’re pretty much trying to push this onto the younger generation.”
At 46, Wallace said he’s one of the oldest players in the age 18-and-up league. He said the rosters include some big names from the Peoria area, including former Bradley University standout Marcellus Sommerville and Manual High boys coach Marvin Jordan.
“We’ve got some people from outside of Peoria; Danville, we’ve got some people from Decatur playing Springfield,” said Wallace. “We’ve got somebody all the way from Quincy playing, which they say they’re going to drive here every week to play because there’s really not any good leagues in around the area.”
Wallace said he’d hoped registration would’ve resulted in enough players for more than 10 teams, but added that interest has grown.
“After I closed the registration, 15 or 20 players tried to get back in, which would have added two or three more teams,” he said, adding that they’re planning to start a 35-and-older league in January and possibly a youth league next summer.
Sunday game days start at 8 a.m. at Peoria Academy, and spectators are welcome with admission tickets costing $3.
“The popcorn is always free, so if you come and pay $3 to get in, you two or three bags of popcorn if you want, get some soda,” said Wallace. “We’re also planning on doing a type of weekly concession events, like maybe pulled pork or something like that.
“We’re just trying to get basketball back going and moving, and trying to get people out to have something to do.”
