Four returnees will power Oswego East, but watch out for Waubonsie Valley, Kaneland and West Aurora.
Top 10 Teams
1. Oswego East 21-10
Senior guard Mason Lockett (DePaul) is healthy and returns to lead way after missing good chunk of last season. Development of three 6-foot-5 juniors — Dshaun Bolden, Jacsen Tucker and Joshua Ankumah-Saikoom — will be key. Over last seven full seasons, Wolves have averaged 24 wins under coach Ryan Velasquez.
2. Waubonsie Valley (31-3)
Six of top seven players graduated from team that set program’s single-season win record, but 6-4 junior Kris Mporokoso and 6-7 sophomore Kyler Payne, both of whom have college potential, will be a good start. Three senior guards who are talented shooters will get their chance.
3. Kaneland (32-2)
Freddy Hassan, who led team last winter to Class 3A supersectional, has graduated. But Knights have seven important returnees led by senior guard Marshawn Cocroft (Grand Valley State). While 6-9 junior forward Jeffrey Hassan is much improved, senior guard Jalen Carter is available for full season after last year’s transfer.
4. West Aurora (21-9)
Junior guard Travis Brown, the conference’s player of the year, returns along with fellow junior guard Abe Martinez to lead Blackhawks. Junior guards Jaden Matthews-Thomas and Orlando Edwards offer perimeter athleticism. Aurora Christian transfers Jordan Weeks and James Baker add depth.
5. Geneva (29-5)
Senior all-conference guard Gabe Jensen, who averaged 11 points, returns to lead defending conference champion and sectional finalist. Kyle Suger, a 6-7 senior, should be a force inside for the Vikings, who drop to Class 3A this season due to a declining enrollment.
6. Oswego (13-20)
The Panthers should be fun behind 6-3 guard Ethan Vahl, a top sophomore in the state who averaged 18 points last winter. Classmates include 6-11 Cole Jansons and point guard MJ Johnson, Vahl’s cousin. Brayden Borrowman and Mariano Velasco, both seniors, provide leadership and stability.
7. Metea Valley (20-13)
Illinois-Springfield commit Tre Watkins, a 6-2 guard who averaged 17 points last season, will be joined by fellow senior returnees CJ Jordan and Koi Young. Sophomore newcomer Sincere Williams and East Aurora transfer Marcus Wallace, a senior who previously played at Metea, bear watching.
8. Aurora Christian (19-13)
Can coach Dan Beebe do it again? Don’t count him out. Eagles lost two key players to transfer for second year in a row. But returnees include senior guard Jacob Baumann, senior forward Asa Johnson and junior guard Preston Morel, who averaged 12.8, 10.7 and 9.0 points, respectively, in last season’s run to Class 1A supersectional.
9. Jacobs (16-16)
Senior forward Samson Averehi, who averaged 9.4 points and 5.6 rebounds, is top returnee for Golden Eagles but plenty of attention will be on Elijah Bell, a junior guard and third team all-state pick who has transferred in from Harvest-Westminster. Joining Bell on varsity will be younger brother Malachi, a freshman. Newcomer Quinn Gorges, a 6-5 junior forward, could be a force.
10. Yorkville (13-17)
Two returning sophomore forwards in 6-7 Joey Jakstys and 6-4 Braydon Porter will be crucial in sparking turnaround for Foxes. Both are drawing big-time Division I recruiting interest. Senior guards Gabe Sanders and Frankie Pavlik will also have big roles. Sanders averaged team-best 12.2 points last winter.
The 25 Players to Watch
- Samson Averehi, Jacobs, senior, forward.
- Jacob Baumann, Aurora Christian, senior, guard.
- Elijah Bell, Jacobs, junior, guard.
- Travis Brown, West Aurora, junior, guard.
- Reggie Chapman, Newark, senior, guard.
- Marshawn Cocroft, Kaneland, senior, guard.
- Joey Cwik, Bartlett, junior, guard.
- Nick Czerak, Aurora Central Catholic, junior, guard/forward.
- Jeffrey Hassan, Kaneland, junior, forward.
- Joey Jakstys, Yorkville, sophomore, forward.
- Gabe Jensen, Geneva, senior, guard.
- Mason Lockett, Oswego East, senior, guard.
- Cooper Mellican, St. Charles North, senior, forward/center.
- Kris Mporokoso, Waubonsie Valley, junior, guard/forward.
- Lota Owamezee, IMSA, junior, forward.
- Braydon Porter, Yorkville, sophomore, forward.
- Jayden Riley, Yorkville Christian, senior, guard.
- Gabe Sanders, Yorkville, senior, guard.
- Griffin Somlock, Sandwich, senior, guard.
- Jahvion Sowers, Larkin, senior, guard.
- Ali Tharwani, Marmion, senior, guard.
- Ethan Vahl, Oswego, sophomore, guard.
- Marcus Wallace, Metea Valley, senior, forward.
- Tre Watkins, Metea Valley, senior, guard.
- Sincere Williams, Metea Valley, sophomore, forward.
