Sergio McClain (born November 2, 1978) is a former professional basketball player and NJCAA coach. He was the 1997 winner of the

Illinois Mr. Basketball The Illinois Mr. Basketball award is given to the person chosen as the best high school boys basketball player in the U.S. state of Illinois. Most of the award winners have gone on to play at the highest levels of college basketball, and many have ...

award.

High school career

McClain attended Peoria Manual High School, and helped lead his basketball team to a record four consecutive state titles. He was a three time all-state selection, Conference Player of the Year in 1997, and was named 1997

. McClain was the only high school basketball player in Illinois state history to start on four straight state championship teams until Jabari Parker helped lead Simeon Career Academy in Chicago to four straight state titles.

College career

McClain later played for Lon Kruger and

Bill Self Billy Eugene Self Jr. (born December 27, 1962) is an American basketball coach. He is the head men's basketball coach at the University of Kansas, a position he has held since 2003. During his 19 seasons as head coach, he has led the Jayhawks to ...

at the University of Illinois, along with his high school teammates Marcus Griffin and Frank Williams. "The Peoria 3" anchored one of the Big Ten's top teams during their time there and the Illini ultimately earned a number one seed in the 2001 NCAA Tournament, advancing to the

Elite 8 In the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship or the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship, the "Elite Eight" comprises the final eight teams, representing the regional finals, or national quarterfinals. In Division I and Divis ...

. His intimidating stature led Illini football coach Ron Turner to approach him about trying out for his team as a linebacker or safety, but after a few practices, McClain decided to focus on basketball.

Coaching career

McClain was head for the now defunct Peoria Kings

ABA ABA may refer to: Businesses and organizations Broadcasting * Alabama Broadcasters Association, United States * Asahi Broadcasting Aomori, Japanese television station * Australian Broadcasting Authority Education * Académie des Beaux- ...

franchise from 2006–2007. He later served as head coach at the NJCAA Division II level for Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois from 2008–2009. In his only season with Parkland, McClain went 14–15 with a seven-man roster. McClain returned to coaching in 2013, acting as head coach for the Springfield Express of the Independent Basketball Association. From 2013–2016 McClain coached at Champaign Central High School and at Dade Christian School until accepting the head coach position for the

Champaign Swarm The Champaign Swarm are a professional minor league basketball team that plays in the Midwest Professional Basketball Association (MPBA). Based in Champaign, Illinois, the Swarm play their home games at Parkland College. History Champaign won ...

References

External links

College statisticsRealGM profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:McClain, Sergio 1978 births Living people African-American basketball players Asheville Altitude players Basketball coaches from Illinois Basketball players from Illinois High school basketball coaches in the United States Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball players Sportspeople from Peoria, Illinois American men's basketball players Small forwards Shooting guards