Always Sunny in Macomb: Former Southeastern Star looks to shine bright for the Leathernecks

MACOMB (WGEM) -Southeastern alum, Danny Stephens, is returning back home after transferring to Western Illinois University. The former Sun spent the last two years with the Mizzou Tigers, but is ready to put on a show in front of his hometown crowd.

“It feels great. I am really excited to be back home. Really excited to be back in the community. I love this area, and I am excited to be back home,” said Danny Stephens.

Western Illinois was on the recruiting trail for Stephens throughout high school, and it was the relationship with Head Coach Chad Boudreau, that helped get the standout guard back to the Tri-States.

“We both fish, were both outdoors, we both know how to run a John Deere tractor. We just have a lot of similarities since we are from the area and our values and family background is the same. So, I am happy he is here,” said Chad Boudreau.

“He is a great coach, great leader, and he can take us a long way because he is the same guy every single day. He is going to push us to make sure we are doing the exact same thing,” said Stephens.

Danny Stephens was sidelined most of his time with the Tigers, but it was that time on the bench, that helped him evolve as a player.

“I was able to take my game to another level mentally. Able to see the game from another level. Just being around some great players and seeing how they prepare for the game mentally,” said Stephens.

For Boudreau, he’s seen the strides Danny has made as a player, and he is looking forward to seeing how his skills blend with the rest of this Leatherneck team.

“I am happy for us, the team, and community. It is really exciting for Western to have a guy like Danny. I hope everyone comes out to see him and support him, but support everyone else. We have a lot of good guys on this team, and I am excited for this year,” said Boudreau.

Western Illinois has never made a NCAA tournament appearance, and Stephens is already imagining making history for his local University.

“That would be amazing. I wouldn’t be able to describe how I feel because even as a kid, you would always be looking at Western to see how they are doing in the tournament to see if they are going to make the big dance so that would be a childhood dream come true,” said Stephens.