The DuPage Valley brings back a lot of the key players from a year ago and should be in for a competitive year across the six teams.

DeKalb

Junior sharpshooter Sean Reynolds established himself as a scholarship-level guard and one of the better players in the entire area as a sophomore. Increased strength, finishing, and point guard skills will make him that much more dangerous this year. 6-foot-4 forward Davon Grant is a man-child inside who has also emerged as a potential Power 5 football recruit. He was a force inside as a freshman, owning the offensive glass and protecting the paint defensively. The scary thing is that he’s just scratching the surface with his offensive game, even after shooting over 60 percent last year.

Senior Eric Rosenow had a nice junior season and brings an edge with his toughness. Look for him to have an increased scoring output. A few other multi-sport athletes will be important role players. Jackson Kees, a promising pitcher, is up around 6-foot-3 now with the shooting range to open up the floor. Tyler Vilet, who also plays soccer, fills in a lot of gaps as an extra playmaker, solid rebounder, and heady ball-handler. Coach Reynolds always has his teams playing with energy and effort, so that should help magnify the talent and experience on the roster sooner rather than later.

Metea Valley

The key pieces are back, starting with 6-foot-6 wing Will Ashford, who is one of the better uncommitted small forwards in the state. Coming off of a breakout junior campaign, Ashford will be a priority on opposing scouting reports for teams looking to keep him out of the paint and avoid giving him open outside looks. Point guard James Parker is very competitive and scrappy, willing to apply ball pressure and attack opposing guards with the ball. They also return 6-foot-8 junior Jake Nosek, who missed last season. The pick-and-pop game and perimeter skillset has caught the attention of a number of college coaches. When he is at full strength, he provides some tools that you don’t see for players his size.

Naperville Central

The Redhawks had to deal with some significant losses last year and graduated their top scorer and playmaker from a year ago. 6-foot-5 senior Jack First should be the focal point on the inside, with an athletic build and a good motor. If he chooses to do so, First would make an appealing D3 prospect. Juniors Chase Reeder (Illinois State baseball commit) and Gavin Wade were up as sophomores and hope to build on that experience. First will be able to keep them in some games.

Naperville North

They lost some size, but Luke Williams, Bryce Welch, and Cole Arl are still one of the better backcourts in the area. Williams, a Purdue football recruit, is a dynamic scorer and game-changing defender, even in their zone. Welch’s play style should translate well to the college level with the quickness, creativity, and off-the-dribble scoring needed. Arl lacks some size, but has been a mainstay for the Huskies due to his energy and timely shot-making. Grant Montanari also returns after playing solid time as a junior. The lanky wing will give them plenty of deflections and rebounds in their zone.

Neuqua Valley

Few two-guards helped themselves as much in AAU as well as Luke Kinkade did with Breakaway. An elite outside shooter from a standstill or off of movement, he pulled in multiple offers during that time after he led Neuqua as a junior. It should be more of the same, with even more ball-handling and point guard duties. 6-foot-3 senior Colin Gerrity will be another productive scorer with a knack for creating offense and hitting tough shots. Division 3 programs continue to zero in on him. 6-foot-4 forward John Bieber will have to defend on the inside but should be able to be an outlet offensively in the frontcourt. Juniors Whitman Charboneau, a knockdown shooter who could add value as a playmaker, and Danny Podpora, another reliable shooter who plays hard, should contribute.

Waubonsie Valley

Most of the main pieces are back for the Warriors, including a solid senior class. Treshawn Blissett (6-foot-6) is a high-impact wing on both ends who had great moments over the summer. He will be a standout for this group. Elijah Whitaker, Matthew Sessom, and Wes Peavler all guard the ball, like to play in space, and project as important pieces. Peavler will be a productive shooter as well. After a breakout sophomore year, Tyreek Coleman will take another step forward. Continuing to grow, he has a diverse skillset on the perimeter and improving athleticism. The junior class as a whole has a lot of promising pieces. Moses Wilson (6-foot-3) has a chance to be a plus two-way player and Josh Tinney should be another scorer and ball-handler.