Sergio McClain facts for kids
| Shooting guard / small forward | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 2, 1978 Peoria, Illinois |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Manual (Peoria, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Illinois (1997–2001) |
| NBA Draft | 2001 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2001–2002 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 2001–2002 | Asheville Altitude |
| As coach: | |
| 2006–2007 | Peoria Kings |
| 2008–2009 | Parkland College |
| 2013 | Springfield Xpress |
| 2013–2014 | Champaign Central HS (Asst.) |
| 2014–2015 | Champaign Central HS (interim HC) |
| 2015–2016 | Dade Christian School |
| 2016–2018 | Champaign Swarm |
| 2019-Present | Saint Louis Public Schools (Middle School Athletic Director) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Sergio McClain, born on November 2, 1978, is a former professional basketball player and a coach. He was a very talented player who won the special Illinois Mr. Basketball award in 1997. This award goes to the best high school basketball player in Illinois each year.
High School Basketball Star
Sergio McClain went to Peoria Manual High School. He helped his basketball team achieve something amazing: they won four state championships in a row! This was a record for Illinois high school boys' basketball.
During his high school years, Sergio was chosen as an all-state player three times. This means he was recognized as one of the best players in the entire state. In 1997, he was also named the Conference Player of the Year. He was the only high school player in Illinois history to start on four straight state championship teams for a long time.
College Basketball Journey
After high school, Sergio McClain played college basketball for the University of Illinois. He played alongside his high school teammates, Marcus Griffin and Frank Williams. These three players were sometimes called "The Peoria 3."
They helped make the Illinois team one of the best in the Big Ten conference. In 2001, their team was even a top seed in the 2001 NCAA Tournament, which is a huge college basketball competition. They made it all the way to the "Elite 8," meaning they were one of the top eight teams in the country.
Sergio was known for being strong and tough on the court. The football coach at the University of Illinois even asked him to try out for the football team as a linebacker or safety! But Sergio decided to stick with basketball.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Sergio McClain became a basketball coach. From 2006 to 2007, he was the head coach for the Peoria Kings, a team in the ABA.
Later, he coached at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois, from 2008 to 2009. He returned to coaching in 2013 with the Springfield Express. Sergio also coached at Champaign Central High School and Dade Christian School. From 2016 to 2018, he was the head coach for the Champaign Swarm. Since 2019, he has been working as an Athletic Director for middle schools in Saint Louis.
