SEMO Prep gets big win over Link Year Prep

Roy Booker is hopeful his program, SEMO Prep, will continue to grow as the program enters its third year.

Booker is the single-season points leader at Southeast Missouri State University and played professionally in 24 different countries over 15 years.

SEMO Prep actually began in Carbondale, Ill. three years ago, but Booker, a Portageville native, moved the program back to the region he grew up in 2021.

“This is what I’ve wanted to do the most,” Booker said. “It was cool in Carbondale but I have more roots here and it just feels better doing it here.”

In a 2021 article published in the Southeast Missourian, Booker talked about wanting to model his program after schools like IMG Academy and Link Year Prep. Well, on Thursday, Jan. 19, Booker’s team beat Link Year Prep at the Sportsplex in Cape Girardeau.

“It took Link Year 8-9 years to get where they’re at,” Booker said. “When I talked to one of their head directors he told me that we were ahead of schedule from when they first started. He said I have a lot of talent and what I’m doing is good, so that really made me feel good to hear that from a program that is so successful.”

Booker had high praise for Link Year's talent at the high school level and post-grad level.

“Their high school is on a different level and their post-grad is really good too,” Booker said. “We beat the main post-grad team on Thursday and that’s very big. They have a big program, if you beat their first team or second team it doesn’t matter, it’s a really big program.”

Beating a team the caliber of Link Year Prep is something that gives Booker reassurance.

“It’s reassurance that we can do this,” Booker said.

For Booker, he’s getting more comfortable and has seen his program grow since year one.

“It’s grown tremendously, even with the talent,” Booker said. “My first year I was learning the ropes and I was self-taught. I read a lot and asked a lot of questions but it’s not the same as when you go through it. Going through the experience, I got to learn the business side. We’re a nonprofit but there’s a lot of things I didn’t know.”

As he got older, Booker realized starting a prep school was something that interested him.

“I like coaching this because it’s more of the underdogs,” Booker said. “I also feel like me and my coaching staff have more control (as opposed to college).”

SEMO Prep is back in action on Thursday, Jan. 26 when it takes on South Suburban, and on Saturday, Jan. 28 when it takes on Shawnee. For more information on Booker’s program, visit www.semoprep.com