The Southwest Prairie has continued to elevate over the last few years, now featuring multiple players who have or should have Division 1 offers (including the three current commits). Here are previews on some of the teams in the conference.

Joliet Central

One of the younger teams in the conference last year, the hope is that some of those pieces will take the necessary step to chip away at a very good conference. Junior guards Erick Contreras, Glenn Harper, and Danny Thompson were all up as sophomores. Contreras should give them more of a boost as a shooter and Thompson has some physical tools to work with. Sophomores Deven Triplett and wing/forward Josh Calvert are also back after getting meaningful time as freshmen.

Joliet West

Despite losing the oldest Fears brothers, Joliet West still has a talented roster thanks in part to a number of transfers. Valparaiso commit Justus McNair will be the headliner, returning after showing elite defensive ability, rebounding, and an all-around offensive game. He’s got a lot more to his game that he will show this season. 6-foot-10 big Drew King, who had a bunch of good moments as a junior, is going to man the middle with good athleticism and length. One of the better remaining centers in the 2024 class, King is a kid who will grow exponentially once he gets to college.

The transfers will be key pieces. 6-foot-5 guard Zion Gross is a promising college prospect with great size, strength, and off-the-dribble game. Look for Romeoville transfer Aamir Shannon to impress with his maturity and ability to affect the game in different ways. Only a sophomore, college coaches will want to keep tabs on him as well. Tristan Saunders should also be a factor scoring off the ball. Jamarri Fears, the youngest of the brothers, is next up and is already a maestro wit the ball in his hands. They match up well with the other teams in the area.

Minooka

Now with a new coach, Minooka is looking to bounce back from a season where they struggled. There is increasing appeal for 6-foot-3 sophomore Zane Caves, a multi-sport athlete who popped on the scene at the Pangos camp a few weeks ago. Very rangy and versatile, he can make plays within the flow of the offense and has the type of projectable build and perimeter skillset that translates well. Junior CJ Deckinga is a returner who could play a much bigger role at the guard spot.

Oswego East

They had one of the best teams in the state last year, making it to the supersectional before losing to eventual state champion Moline. Multiple 2023 grads are off playing college basketball, but 6-foot-3 point guard Jehvion Starwood (Wyoming commit) is a game-changer. He led them to a great showing this summer, utilizing his speed and bounce to cause havoc at the rim and in space on both ends. I fully expect Starwood to have an All-State season. Watch out for 6-foot-5 senior Noah Mason, who was a rotational piece but will be a breakout player this year. He gets off of the ground well, shoots it well off the catch, and is excellent in transition.

6-foot-3 sophomore Mason Lockett looks primed to open some eyes this year. There are moments where he does some things with his long strides and skill that you don’t usually see from players so young. If he can emerge as that third guy for them, not necessarily as a scorer but as a decision-maker and primary defender, they will be in a good spot. There’s a good junior class that should contribute and some size in the senior class to help.

Oswego

There will be a different look this year for the Panthers, likely leaning on some inexperienced juniors and seniors to make a meaningful impact. The only returning starter is a good one. Dasean Patton (6-foot-5) has the frame of a big but is effective on the wing where he can take players off of the bounce and get well above the rim as a finisher. He was the only sophomore up last year but will now be looked on as a leader. Look for him to be one of the leading scorers and rebounders in the conference.

Plainfield East

Ehi Ogbomo continues to look like a diamond in the rough, offering explosiveness, a high-motor, and growing ability to create space for and hit outside shots. He was a key piece last year, but he will elevate into a focal point role with the departures from last year’s team and his improvements. Another senior, Kevin Tchoffa, played decent minutes last year and projects as a meaningful defender for them. Junior Kobe Jordan missed all of last season with an injury, but could be a pleasant surprise in the conference with a good bulid, defensive ability, and some power as a finisher inside.

Plainfield North

North finished over .500 last year and was right in the mix in the middle of conference play. Multi-year contributor Jeffrey Fleming (6-foot-3) is a do-it-all wing who is going to be a volume scorer this year. His mid-range game is solid and he can work out of the mid-posts or step out past the arc to score. A lot of their offense will flow through him. 6-foot-5 forward Evan Czarnik can really stroke it from three and is capable of hitting multiple long-range shots a game. Similar to Fleming, he will also be in a bigger role with more touches to get going this year.

Plainfield South

Junior wing Jeremiah Lesure can go. Expect him to be used in a variety of ways, from a cutter to isolation scorer. Over the summer, his pull-up shooting and sheer athleticism stood out. Senior guard Devin Tyda, a likely Division 3 recruit, has the strength and experience to lead the backcourt this year. Another player who had a nice summer, Tyda will also be defending some of the gifted guards in the conference. Senior forward Jordan West will give them some rim protection and rebounding this year.

Romeoville

Another team helped and hit by transfers, there is a deep group of guard-play for the Spartans to rely on this year. Senior TJ Lee is back, bringing a slick ball-handler who knows how to get into the paint. Smaller colleges are keeping tabs on him heading into the year. Sophomore Mickeis Johnson (6-foot-3) has progressed well since his freshman year, still a big-time athlete who looked more comfortable spacing the floor this summer. With the bevvy of playmakers on this team, he should be able to thrive attacking early and often.

St. Laurence transfer EJ Mosley is a legitimate Division 1 guard who can create his own shot on command. On this current team, he’ll be able to utilize the space and break down defenses. Fenwick transfer DJ Porter seems to be an underdiscussed addition, but he’s another serious college prospect who is a lockdown defender, reliable outside shooter, and knows how to impact winning. Ever-growing 6-foot-10 junior Adam Walker is still raw but pulled in a few Division 1 offers already with intriguing athleticism and shot-blocking skill. At the center spot, his upside is immense.

West Aurora

They lost coach Brian Johnson, who was a steady and winning presence in the conference. But they do bring back a lot of the talent from last year’s guard-heavy group. Seniors CJ Savage and Jordan Brooks play on and off of the ball effectively with natural attacking ability. Savage is the power guard of the group and should be a D3/JUCO prospect with a chance to make a big impact with increased touches this year. Brooks sees the floor well as a passer but is also able to get his own shot when needed.

Standout junior Terrence Smith is a Division 1 talent who is a supreme athlete capable of taking over games as a slasher, transition threat, or defender. I’m looking forward to seeing his improved outside shooting on display as well when defenders back off. Look for seniors Evan Hackney and Jayvyn Marion to provide some depth on the wing and 6-foot-6 junior Gabe Gonzales to add a dimension inside.

Yorkville

They will be among the favorites in the conference and a team who has serious hopes to go deep in the state playoffs. The big name is 6-foot-11 Illinois commit Jason Jakstys, who came into his own over the spring and summer. At times, he looked like a monster inside the paint while also acting as a pop threat, premier shot-blocker, and fast-break initiator. Jakstys is also incredibly unselfish and will be willing to affect games however he needs to in order to win. That senior class is very deep and experienced around him. Dayvion Johnson is a very underrated point guard who never seems to lack a competitive edge. Expect for him to deliver in big moments and balance scoring and distributing well.

6-foot-3 guard Jory Boley has that scoring itch, able to fill it up from different spots on the floor and play off of the other pieces on the team. 6-foot-5 wing Bryce Salek is going to step into a starting role after showing this summer that he’s got a ton of athletic talent and potential to heat up from the outside. Point guard Mike Dunn is also back after aiding in ball-handling duties a year ago.