A Half Dozen High School Hoop Teams Poised for a Bigger Leap in the 2024-25 Season
As high school basketball practices get underway across Illinois, coaches are eager to put last season's struggles behind them and make a push for the top. Six area teams are primed to take significant strides forward this winter, according to experts.
First up is Lyons, the reigning West Suburban Silver conference favorite despite a 3-9 finish in that division last season. Coach Tom Sloan is banking on his talented young roster, led by 6-5 juniors Timmy Sloan and Grant Smith, as well as senior guard Owen Carroll. The Lions are expected to be one of the top teams in the league, thanks to their size, length, and versatility.
Shepard, meanwhile, should contend for the South Suburban Red conference title with its deep returning roster. The Astros feature 6-9 sophomore Amari Williams, who has already shown promise after averaging nearly a double-double as a freshman. Senior guards Aurion Lee-Barnes and Aaron Arrambide provide scoring punch on the perimeter, while point guard Danny McGovern is looking to build on last season's improvement.
Plainfield East, meanwhile, has the potential to turn its 20-loss campaign into a more successful one this winter. Coach Kanwer Sarkaria is relying on 6-7 multifaceted guard KJ Miller, who rebounded from an overlooked sophomore season to become one of the top breakout players in the state. Senior Alijah Little also returns after a two-year stint away.
Maine South faces a make-or-break season as it looks to turn its tight losses into victories. The Hawks have a wealth of experience, with four starters and plenty of production returning from last season. Guards Panayiotis Sotos and Rico D'Alessandro are key contributors, along with 6-5 guard Alex Matushevskiy.
Yorkville will likely be an intriguing team to watch this winter, despite being led by just two sophomores. The Foxes boast a talented trio of 6-4 wing Braydon Porter, 6-7 Joey Jakstys, and point guard Frankie Pavlik, who join leading scorer Gabe Sanders as returning starters.
Finally, Glenbard North will look to build on its impressive 16-15 finish last season by making another deep run in the postseason. The Panthers are led by long, athletic juniors Lamari Carpenter and Oturo Redento, both of whom are top prospects in the Class of 2027. Returning scorers Matt Welch and 6-2 guard Maharri Thatch round out a talented roster.
These six teams will be keeping an eye on their conference rivals and making strides towards becoming the best they can be this winter. Will any of them make a surprise run to state? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure – these teams are ready to put last season in the rearview mirror and make some noise.
As high school basketball practices get underway across Illinois, coaches are eager to put last season's struggles behind them and make a push for the top. Six area teams are primed to take significant strides forward this winter, according to experts.
First up is Lyons, the reigning West Suburban Silver conference favorite despite a 3-9 finish in that division last season. Coach Tom Sloan is banking on his talented young roster, led by 6-5 juniors Timmy Sloan and Grant Smith, as well as senior guard Owen Carroll. The Lions are expected to be one of the top teams in the league, thanks to their size, length, and versatility.
Shepard, meanwhile, should contend for the South Suburban Red conference title with its deep returning roster. The Astros feature 6-9 sophomore Amari Williams, who has already shown promise after averaging nearly a double-double as a freshman. Senior guards Aurion Lee-Barnes and Aaron Arrambide provide scoring punch on the perimeter, while point guard Danny McGovern is looking to build on last season's improvement.
Plainfield East, meanwhile, has the potential to turn its 20-loss campaign into a more successful one this winter. Coach Kanwer Sarkaria is relying on 6-7 multifaceted guard KJ Miller, who rebounded from an overlooked sophomore season to become one of the top breakout players in the state. Senior Alijah Little also returns after a two-year stint away.
Maine South faces a make-or-break season as it looks to turn its tight losses into victories. The Hawks have a wealth of experience, with four starters and plenty of production returning from last season. Guards Panayiotis Sotos and Rico D'Alessandro are key contributors, along with 6-5 guard Alex Matushevskiy.
Yorkville will likely be an intriguing team to watch this winter, despite being led by just two sophomores. The Foxes boast a talented trio of 6-4 wing Braydon Porter, 6-7 Joey Jakstys, and point guard Frankie Pavlik, who join leading scorer Gabe Sanders as returning starters.
Finally, Glenbard North will look to build on its impressive 16-15 finish last season by making another deep run in the postseason. The Panthers are led by long, athletic juniors Lamari Carpenter and Oturo Redento, both of whom are top prospects in the Class of 2027. Returning scorers Matt Welch and 6-2 guard Maharri Thatch round out a talented roster.
These six teams will be keeping an eye on their conference rivals and making strides towards becoming the best they can be this winter. Will any of them make a surprise run to state? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure – these teams are ready to put last season in the rearview mirror and make some noise.
these high school hoops teams seem like they're primed for a bigger leap this year, especially with all the returning talent 
, but you gotta wonder if being "touted" as the top team can actually translate to success on the court 
...and what about the smaller schools? won't they be underdogs trying to make some noise in their own right 
?
. I mean, we've seen all the hype before, and it usually ends in disappointment. But at the same time, it's awesome to see some talented young players getting a chance to shine. The fact that they're already being touted as favorites or title contenders is a bit much, if you ask me. Can't they just enjoy the process of improving their game without all the pressure and expectations? Maybe if they focus on developing their skills and teamwork, they'll be more likely to make a real impact this season 
.
And Lyons's juniors, Timmy Sloan and Grant Smith, are looking like legit stars in the making.
and what's with all the "make-or-break" seasons? it sounds like every team is supposed to be a contender now 
#HoopsNation #HighSchoolBasketball. Lyons is looking solid with their young guns, Shepard's got that deep returning roster going strong, and Plainfield East is ready to turn it up after a rough season last year 
#RiseUp #NewBeginnings.
#SophomoreSquadGoals #UnderTheRadar. And let's not forget Glenbard North - those long, athletic juniors are gonna give some teams a run for their money 
#JuniorsOnTheRise #BasketballIsLife.
#NewSeasonVibes #HoopsForDays. Can't wait to see how it all plays out! 
will be fun to see which team comes out on top this winter 
just remember, they're still high school ball players, no need to get too hyped yet 
Lyons is def gonna be a top contender tho, their young roster is straight fire 
but let's not count out Maine South just yet, they're the team with all that experience 
and can't forget Glenbard North, those long guys are gonna give it to them 
. And can we talk about Maine South's roster? Those guys are stacked 
! I'm also loving the breakout player vibes from Plainfield East with KJ Miller