Peoria basketball poll asks who is the city's greatest player

A new poll asks Peoria residents to vote for the city's greatest boys' basketball player. This is part of a national search for top athletes.
By Newsroom | Sports, Peoria |

A DIGITAL POLL IGNITES DEBATE OVER THE CITY'S GREATEST

The USA TODAY Network has thrown open the digital gates, asking Peoria residents to weigh in on who stands tallest in the city's boys' basketball pantheon. This isn't a matter of dusty record books or hushed locker-room lore; it's a live, unfolding 'vote' for supremacy, an invitation to define sporting legacy through public participation. The exercise casts a wide net, soliciting opinions on who truly defined the game's cultural footprint within Peoria, moving beyond mere statistics to capture a broader sense of impact.

NOMINEES AND THE DIGITAL ARENA

The ballot, presented to a public audience, features a curated list of ten standout players. Among those named are figures like Shaun Livingston and A.J. Guyton, both hailing from Peoria High. The roster also includes Doug Altenberger of Richwoods High and David Booth from Manual High. This collection of names represents generations of local talent, each a claimant to the title of "greatest."

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The query itself is framed by a larger national initiative. As the United States nears its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports is embarking on a quest to identify the 250 greatest American sports figures. The Peoria-centric poll, published yesterday, functions as a local echo within this broader national narrative, seeking to unearth and celebrate the athletic bedrock of specific communities.

A separate dispatch, published yesterday, offers a tantalizing glimpse into the criteria used to select some candidates, hinting at past brilliance: "He was a consensus all-state selection and an all-American, who played in the McDonald’s all-star game." This anonymous profile describes a player who, in his senior year, notched 19.7 points and 4.5 assists. His collegiate career at DePaul saw him amass 1,933 points, a mark that still stands as the second-highest in the program's history. His final Division-I season was no less impressive, with averages of 14.0 points and 7.8 assists. While not explicitly naming this standout, the detail serves to underscore the caliber of athlete being considered.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the USA TODAY Network asking Peoria residents to do?
USA TODAY Network has started a poll asking residents to vote for the city's greatest boys' basketball player. This is part of a national effort to find the top 250 sports figures in the US.
Q: Who are some of the nominees in the Peoria poll?
The poll includes well-known players like Shaun Livingston and A.J. Guyton from Peoria High, Doug Altenberger from Richwoods High, and David Booth from Manual High.
Q: When was the Peoria basketball poll published?
The poll asking residents to vote for the city's greatest boys' basketball player was published yesterday, May 17, 2026.
Q: What kind of achievements are being considered for the poll?
The poll considers players who were all-state and all-American selections, played in the McDonald’s all-star game, and had high scoring and assist records in college, like a player who scored 1,933 points for DePaul.