Northern Lake County has quietly had some small-college standouts the last few years and had multiple teams who showed well in the state playoffs. Some teams were hit hard by graduations, but there are still some notable prospects to keep an eye on this year on some of the teams.

Antioch

One of the few teams in the conference who brings back a lot from their group last year, Antioch should make some noise. Particularly with a full season from explosive junior wing Marshall Gehrke, who missed some time with an injury last year. You won’t find a more powerful, raw athlete in the conference who is hard to contain when he gets a head of steam or attacks the glass. Senior guard Carter Webb had a really nice junior season and can stroke it from the outside. Around 6-foot-3, he’s got good length to affect games. They will also look to 6-foot-5 senior Colby Priller to provide experience and some versatility as a forward who can play and defend a few spots.

Teddie Wetu is another long-armed guard/wing who is trending in the right direction. They will have the tallest team in the conference, also expecting to have 6-foot-9 junior Caleb Drews and 6-foot-6 forward Jack Majerowski. I’m hearing good things about freshman Dereon Galloway as well, who could be the up-tempo ball-handler that this group needs. Coach Sean Connor has Antioch heading in the right direction in only a short period of time.

Grant

Will Schubert headlines a group that benefited from gaining a year of experience battling together on what was a fairly young team. The 6-foot-3 wing competes on both ends, scores at the rim, and has some feel for his outside shot. Junior guard Braylon Gray and Landon Enters are going to be fun to watch. Enters kind of sets the pace by being able to feed others, but he’s got serious three-point range as well. Gray, among the better juniors in the area, can create his own shot in a number of ways and will show his comfort affecting games in different ways. Junior Anthony Koza will be more of a threat this year and sophomore guard Max Hembry, a physical penetrator, should add to the backcourt. They will be one of the favorites in the conference.

Grayslake Central

The Rams had one of their best seasons in school history, led by a big-time senior class that won 29 games in their last year together. A player who is going to become a well-known name to college coaches is junior Xavi Granville. Long, rangy, and highly athletic at 6-foot-5, Granville is a gifted slasher and transition playmaker with a developing perimeter game. He will open some eyes. 6-foot senior guard Jayden Hall will step into a significant role as a ball-handler following the graduations of a couple of key guards. Sophomore Alex Granville should also help the backcourt as an active, quick-twitch guard. Senior shooter Cayden Woods will help with floor spacing for a group who should have some guys who can get paint touches. Don’t expect a huge drop off here behind Granville.

Grayslake North

Dominic Jankowski was a consistent 20-point threat last year, so that graduation will hurt. Thankfully, junior Jayden Hunt looks more than ready to carry a heavier load. Hunt, who has been up since he was a freshman, is very shifty, has a good first step, and has that knack for finishing in crowds. He will be a standout. Fellow juniors Cameron Bates, a wing with some size and ball skills, and 6-foot-5 big Tyler Morgan will also see more opportunities. A player I’ll be watching closely is 6-foot-3 sophomore Uros Mitrovic. He’s an intriguing forward who started last year and made an immediate impact with his shooting ability. He’s got a great release from three, can pass it well, and looks like he’s going to get a lot taller. The future should be bright for the Knights.

Lakes

Jimmy Kania (6-foot-4) is a returning all-conference player who will be the primary option after Lakes graduated the rest of their starters. There is some ruggedness about his game that you like to see with the touch to step outside to his jumpers and the size to invert into the post when needed. Jaden Jackson applies good ball pressure on the defensive end and will be a guard who they lean on this year. There will probably be some seniors who get their opportunity early on in the year.

Wauconda

Probably the best returning group in the conference, Wauconda has a group of seniors who produced consistently last year. Mercer commit Braeden Carlsen (6-foot-4) was a problem for opposing teams last season and is now more explosive with additional moves in his bag to create offense. The elite shooting, post-up game, and finishing ability may seem too easy at times, but that’s a sign of an efficient mature player. Cayden Mudd has become a hot target for local D3 and NAIA programs, partly due to his comfort shooting past the NBA line. He’s experienced and has that first step to get where he needs to with the ball.

6-foot-4 forward Tyler Tylka will have some 20-point games this year with how well he shoots it off the catch. It will be hard for teams to keep track of Tylka while also containing Carlsen and Mudd. Tylka has also bulked up since last season. 6-foot-5 senior Zach Miller is also back to give them additional length inside. Sophomore Jackson Rudolph played good minutes a year ago and will be a bruiser for this group. They have a good group to challenge for their second regional in three years.