2010 Maroons Basketball Team
Hall of Fame – Induction Class of 2023
Any state championship is an amazing accomplishment for our school and community, but 2010 was a season for the history books! It was Robinson's first state championship in basketball and second in any sport. It was also Robinson's first state-final appearance since 1916 and the first state championship in eight trips to the tournament.
Player Warren Whithaus summarized the season for the Robinillo:
“There were many remarkable achievements during the 2009-10 basketball season. Obviously, winning the IHSA Class 2A Basketball tournament was an achievement that most teams only dream of. What an experience! During the games, we experienced many unforgettable memories, such as Derek’s 3⁄4 court alley-oop to Meyers, Ben’s first dunk, Hannahs’ nine three-pointers against Charleston, Meyers’ 70-foot three-point shot to end the first quarter of the state championship game, and the unforgettable dunk by Meyers at the super sectional game.
However, there were other noteworthy achievements. A benchmark for high school basketball players has been to score 1,000 points in your high school career. This might be achieved once every few years. However, our team was fortunate to have three players - Ben Jones, Meyers Leonard, and Derek Hannahs - all become members of the 1,000-point club in the same season.
Our team also had the opportunity to participate in four shootouts, competing against some of the top teams in the Midwest. We were champions of the inaugural Bulldog Classic hosted by Effingham St. Anthony during the Christmas break. Back-to-back Apollo Conference Champions was also an accomplishment that our team should be extremely proud of.
But while all of the individual and team achievements will fade, we will always have the memories of sharing Robinson High School’s first basketball State Championship with our teammates, classmates, parents, and the entire community! What a ride!”
Winning a state championship is a challenging feat, and this team and coaching staff are very deserving of this nomination.
Coaches
- Head Coach Bob Coffman
- Assistant Coach Dave Holubek
- Assistant Coach Dick Muston
- Assistant Coach Les Wilson
- Athletic Trainer Scott Rawlings
Manager
- Jasmyne Thomas-Sneed
Athletes
- #23 Ben Jones
- #32 Meyers Leonard
- #5 Derek Hannahs
- #12 Austin Siler
- #15 Devan Dirks
- #21 Cody Chamblin
- #20 Aaron Siler
- #42 Eli Wright
- #33 Warren Whithaus
- #13 Jimmy Stevens
- #34 Zach Danks
- #10 Zach Shipman
- #30 Alex Bruner
- #40 Andrew Schroeder
- #50 Ryan McCray
Lade Akande
Hall of Fame – Induction Class of 2023
As an RHS alumni, Lade Akande was a 3-sport letter winner for 3 years and was a varsity letter winner in all sports (volleyball, basketball, track) from her freshman through senior year. She was also All-Conference in basketball for 3 years in the Apollo Conference. In girls basketball, Lade is the leading female point scorer with 1,949 points. She is also one of the top 5 scorers in school history for both boys and girls basketball. She is the leading rebounder in school history, recording 1,125 rebounds, and is the only female to have over 1,000 rebounds in her career. Lade was the season scoring leader in 2002, 2003, and 2005. She belongs to the Varsity 30-Point Club, scoring over 30 points in 11 games throughout her career as a Maroon.
Lade Akande is also the first female athlete from Robinson High School to sign a Division I basketball scholarship to continue her playing career. She continued her career at Butler University, where she was recently inducted into the Butler Hall of Fame, and we are honored to also induct her into our own Hall of Fame.
Jack Reeder
Hall of Fame – Induction Class of 2023
During his tenure, Coach Reeder had three 20-plus win seasons, won two Regional titles and a sectional crown, and won the Apollo Conference title three times. Some of his records against area teams were: Newton 22-4, Charleston 18-5, Mt. Carmel 12-4, Oblong 12-1, Casey 12-0, Effingham 3-0, and even with Olney and St. Anthony.
Coach Reeder remained the winningest coach in school history, with a 175-115 record, until surpassed this past season by current coach Mack Thompson. After leaving the head coaching position at Robinson, Coach Reeder continued to share his coaching expertise at Oblong. He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Museum Hall of Fame in 2014 after having coached a total of 35 years, with a 192-123 head coaching record and a career mark of 645-457.
Despite all of the aforementioned statistics, Coach Reeder was a father figure to his players, concerned with teaching about life and how to deal with adversity as well as success, without losing self-respect. Coach Jack Reeder embodies everything good about athletic competition, and he is, as they say, “a great coach, and a better man.” That is why he is so deserving of this recognition today.
Jenny Saad
Hall of Fame – Induction Class of 2023
As an RHS alumni, Jennifer “Jenny” Saad earned 11 varsity letters in four sports and was named MVP three years in volleyball and three years in softball. She lettered all 4 years in basketball and was named MVP of her basketball team all four years. In an 83-game basketball career, she scored 1,768 points. As a four-year starter, Jenny averaged 21.1 points per game, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Jenny was the season scoring leader in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984 - all before the 3-point shot was added to Illinois High School Basketball in 1987.
She belongs to the Varsity 30-Point Club, scoring over 30 points in 8 games throughout her career as a Maroon. She was a Margaret Wade Trophy winner when she topped 1,000 points and 1,500 points. Jenny Saad was also named a national All-Star Athlete by the Milky Way Foundation. Her impressive statistics only scratch the surface compared to her impact on the young girls she coaches at both Nuttall Middle School and Robinson High School. She continues to positively influence young female athletes and instills in them the lessons of dedication, determination, and work ethic.
Mike Uptmor
Hall of Fame – Induction Class of 2023
Over the last three decades, Mike Uptmor has been a staple volunteer for RHS Athletics, starting when his oldest child, Chris, was in high school and continuing to the present day. The jobs he has done over these years range from being a basketball announcer, a JV baseball coach, a member of the chain gang, working the scoring table at wrestling meets, and keeping the book for countless RHS basketball teams (many years with his wife, Jona Uptmor, right beside him keeping the clock/scoreboard).
Mike is a proud graduate of RHS - Class of 1972. He has done many things outside of the schools, including coaching several Little League teams, being a member of Kiwanis, and volunteering for St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. You won’t find a harder worker than Mike Uptmor - he takes pride in his community and is proud to be a Maroon.
