Eldorado’s Shewmaker signs with SIC basketball

Eldorado product Lydayyea Shewmaker has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Southeastern Illinois College beginning this fall.

Shewmaker, a 2020 graduate, was named to the Black Diamond Conference first-team as a senior after averaging 10.7 points, seven rebounds and three steals per game. He was also named all-tournament at Vienna, Johnston City and Eldorado during his high school career.

He was also a key member of the Eldorado football team while in high school, where he played on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver and safety. He also earned all-conference honors with the Football Eagles, but said his true passion is with basketball, where at 6-foot-2, he can play both guard and forward due to his athleticism.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic hurt his ability to get recruited out of high school so after taking a year off school to work and continue to look at his college options, he is thankful for the opportunity SIC will give him to continue his athletic career.

“We are excited Lydayyea was still available,” SIC Coach Sam Swinford said. “Being a year older, he will bring maturity to our roster. He will also not take this opportunity for granted. On the court, he is a very good athlete with advanced quickness and athleticism and a ton of toughness, both physically and mentally. We can’t wait to get to work, knock off his rust and get him back playing again. His best basketball is ahead of him.”

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