Rich Get Richer - Dustin Warfield to Peoria Central

Peoria Central returns three starters from its Class AA State Title, but now
have another new addition in Peoria Richwoods transfer Dustin Warfield.

By Frank Rusnak
Already the favorite to repeat as Class AA State Champions, Peoria Central just got a facelift … as if they needed it.

Peoria Richwoods star Dustin Warfield, a 6’6” rising senior, has enrolled at Central.

Warfield is expected to step in the power forward position, surrounded by the nucleus of rising junior center 6’7” DeAndre Miranda and the three-headed guard attack of rising seniors 5’10” Jacob Motteler, 6’1” Brandon Lee and 6’7” Shaun Livingston.

“My family wanted me to start over,” said Warfield, who lives with his grandparents Ron and Margo Warfield. “For me to start over I needed to go to a different school.”

Livingston and Warfield talked about it three years ago. They knew the chance was there and it was just a matter of time. But they didn’t think it would come down to this.

"I think the word winner just kind of sums [Dustin Warfield] up."

Darren Bizarri
Illinois Gunners AAU coach

Livingston and Warfield have been playing together since the fourth grade and both started their prep careers at Peoria Richwoods under coach Bob Darling. They talked about the team’s possibilities at a state championship run all the way back as freshmen when Livingston dressed for varsity and Warfield played on the sophomore team.

“We always said our class that went in there we were going to be one of the best teams in the state our junior and senior year,” said Warfield. “We thought we were going to win it our junior or senior year, or both.”

“We had a real good class with some pretty good talent;” added Livingston, “big men, guards and shooters, but people had to go their separate ways and sometimes things change for the best.”

Things didn’t materialize as they imagined. Livingston had two injury-riddled years at Richwoods before he transferred to Central for his junior year. Warfield started last year on a team that advanced to the sectionals where they fell for the third time of the year to Central, 62-47.

After Richwoods’ season-ending loss, Darling stepped down and assistant Mike Ellis has since been announced as his replacement.

Adding a “winner” that provides intangibles and fills in whatever little pieces are missing on a team might work just fine.

“I think the word winner just kind of sums him up,” said Warfield’s Illinois Gunners AAU coach Darren Bizarri. “He scores enough, but he's a much better rebounder and defender than what people think he is. His intangibles are really what set him apart for us. Lots of times [colleges] look at the run and jump, but they don't see the intangibles, but I hope all the colleges get a chance to see everything that he brings to the table.”

At the 2002 High School Elite PEP Fall Classic, Warfield averaged 19 points a game in the two-day event. He went on to receive third team mention, ahead of such notables as Dameon Mason (Marquette), Jimmie Miles (Valparaiso) and Dan Ruffin (Bradley).

Dan Ruffin is one of the names that Warfield will be attempting to help replace along with Dan’s cousin John Ruffin who were both starters.

Warfield averaged eight points and six rebounds last year. In his arsenal he has a smooth, high-rising jump shot, good post-up moves and plays much taller than his 6’6” size because of a strong base and physical style of play.

“He's a good basketball player because he can play inside and outside,” said Joe Stoner, head coach of Central’s Mid-State 6 rival Pekin. “He just offers Central yet another weapon, while the Miranda kid is going to get a little help inside.”