We discussed some of the top backcourts to keep an eye on last week. Yesterday, we posted some of the frontcourts who could be a force this year.
Downers Grove South
Justin Sveiteris (Sr.) | Daniel Sveiteris (Jr.)
Both Justin and Daniel have a serious chance to average 15-plus points and six-plus rebounds this year. Justin is a highly productive interior scorer and high-volume rebounder who has a quiet toughness to him. Daniel, who is also around 6-foot-7 now in his own right, stretches the floor out to the college line with the size and physicality to deliver some damage on drives. Look for them to lead DGS.
Downers Grove North
Jake Riemer (Sr.) | Gytis Neverauskas (Sr.) | Bobby Grganto (Jr.)
Riemer is the most experienced returning big after being an honorable mention all-conference player on the fourth-place team a year ago. Athletic, mobile, and strong, Riemer is going to be a handful for opposing post players. He’s going to be a solid big at the next level. Neverauskas is a kid who should be able to take advantage of his opportunities this year, projecting as a D3 four man capable of impacting gmaes with his rebounding and activity. Grganto is a junior on the senior-heavy team who could add a dimension with his outside shooting and interior scoring.
Homewood Flossmoor
Mac Hagemaster (Sr.) | Gakobie McNeal (Sr.)
Two bruisers with plus athleticism will anchor HF inside. Hagemaster (Lewis) is a big body who can move other posts and be a reliable outlet on dump offs and lobs. McNeal is another forward who seems to have an endless motor. Plays don’t need to be drawn up for the springy senior to make things happen. They may not get the accolades, but their value as a last line of defense that willingly does the dirty work won’t go unnoticed.
Yorkville
Jason Jakstys (Sr.) | Bryce Salek (Sr.)
Jakstys (Illinois) is among the best bigs in the entire state. His body has begun to transform, which will only make him that much more dominant on both ends after being a standout the last two years. Jakstys does a little bit of everything, from shooting the three to blocking shots, to pushing off of defensive rebounds. He’ll have ample outlets, including an explosive, 6-foot-5 wing in Salek who had a huge June and should step up in a big way this year. Expect plenty of highlight-reel dunks for a team with the guard-play to complement them.
Stevenson
Atticus Richmond (Jr.) | Jack Dabbs (Sr.) | Liam Curtin (Jr.)
Richmond comes back to the area after a year at prep school. He’s grown to around 6-foot-8 with a smooth outside shot and athleticism that will make him a constant mismatch. Dabbs should have an all-conference season after showing well as a junior. He’s also grown a bit to 6-foot-7 with a nice mid-post game. Curtin (6-foot-5) is a player to keep an eye on to provide depth up front and a spark as a defender and energy guy.
Metamora
Cooper Koch (Sr.) | Luke Hopp (Sr.)
Koch is the type of unselfish star that fits like a glove with the returning group at Metamora. The Iowa signee is a standout shooter at 6-foot-8 who is going to show his off-the-dribble game and court vision on a loaded team. Hopp is going to be a difference-maker and a likely breakout player with how well he moves and shoots the ball at 6-foot-8 as well. He has added muscle to his frame that should will serve him well this season but even more in college, where many high-D3 and D2 programs are hoping he lands with them.
Benet
Parker Sulaver (Sr.) | Daniel Pauliukonis (Jr.) | Colin Stack (So.)
Sulaver, a four-year player, is an impactful defender who will be a leader and enforcer on the inside. The 6-foot-8 Pauliukonis and 7-foot Stack both have a chance to be really good. Pauliukonis is rangy and skilled with the ball at his size, acting more as a wing than a big. Defenders will have a hard time trying to slow him down in the open court. Stack does a great job of walling up and blocking shots inside. His shooting range and developing low post game will be added bonuses.
Marist
Stephen Brown (So.) | Achilles Anderson (Jr.) | Darshan Thomas (Sr.)
Anderson is kind of the ‘vet’ on this team with multiple years of experience under his belt at Marist. He’s a big-time rebounder, despite giving up some size. Brown is going to be a star with his combination of physical gifts, blossoming skill, and high motor. He’s going to control games in so many ways this year. Thomas, by way of Fenwick, is a welcomed addition as well as a 3-and-D type of wing.
Metea Valley
Will Ashford (Sr.) | Jake Nosek (Jr.)
Ashford looks every big like a D2+ player and is expected to be even more effective this season for Metea. A very well-rounded scorer, he is tough to corral at 6-foot-6. The 6-foot-8 Nosek is fully healthy and is among the best stretch forwards in his class. Expect for more Division 1 programs to start tracking him as the year progresses.
Normal
Jaheem Webber (Sr.) | Noah Cleveland (Sr.) | Kobe Walker (Jr.)
A huge front line, from a height and strength standpoint, starts with the 6-foot-10 Webber (Wright State). He keeps things simple inside and has solid counters to get the shots he wants inside. If Cleveland wants to play in college, he will have a long list of suitors with the effortless athleticism at his size. The forceful four man is about 6-foot-9 with the soft hands and face-up game to do damage. Walker is another big body up front who is quickly evolving as a run-and-jump athlete who will be a factor inside.
Oak Park-River Forest
Alex Vincent (Jr.) | Alex Gossett (Jr.) | Justin Bowen (Jr.)
The three juniors all bring a level of positional size and length that will make them hard to score on inside. Vincent has really taken a big jump since last year, looking nimbler inside and finishing at a high rate on post touches. Gossett is a prototypical quick-twitch wing that is able to defend multiple positions and score on cuts and hard slashes to the rim. The 6-foot-5 Bowen is physically developed and can shutdown the best wing on opposing teams.
Peoria Notre Dame
Eoin Dillon (Sr.) | Eliot Lynch (Sr.)
Dillon, a Belmont recruit, is set to be a high-volume scorer for a group that will lean heavily on his floor spacing and leadership. The 6-foot-9 forward will fill it up in a variety of ways this year against different types of defenses that he will see. Lynch, a D3 post recruit, is going to be a nice low post threat to work with Dillon’s perimeter game.
Deerfield
Drew Rodgers (Jr.) | Jake Pollack (So.)
Rodgers is in his third varsity season but he’s built like he’s on his third college season. Look for more rim-rattling dunks and plenty of rebounds. Pollack is intriguing around 6-foot-8, capable of stretching the defense out and making plays getting to the rim. They will be young, but this duo will be fun for years to come.
DePaul Prep
Jaylan McElroy (Sr.) | Jonas Johnson (Jr.) | George Richardson (Jr.) | Rashaun Porter (So.)
One of the more rock-solid forward groups in the state. McElroy is back and should be an All-State player this year given all that he does on both sides of the floor. Johnson played big minutes as a sophomore and will be a multi-purpose piece on the wing this year. He’s got a ton of talent. Porter just plays like a forward who will find ways to rack up paint points and rebounds no matter what type of opponent. Look for him to be a breakout player this year. Richardson is another 6-foot-5 wing/forward that can step outside to shoot the three or use his muscle inside.
St. Ignatius
Justin Scott (Sr.) | Chris Bolte (So.) | Richard Moran (Sr.)
Scott (Ohio State football) will man the paint this year after being an important presence on the glass and defensively as a junior. Bolte, a Hinsdale South transfer, is going to be really good for Ignatius across the board, particularly as a tertiary scoring option who can create some offense for himself. Moran is a senior that gives some toughness and grit to them.
Mt. Carmel
Lee Marks (Sr.) | Christian Uremovich (Sr.)
The Carmel backcourt is impressive, but Marks and Uremovich are a solid 1-2 punch at the four and five spots as well. Marks plays so much bigger than his listed height, protecting the rim and being able to switch across positions while being a consistent rim attacker on offense. Uremovich came in from Stevenson where he was up since his freshman year. He’s another plus defender that excels at cutting to open space and flowing with the offense. He will be a high-academic D3 recruit.
St. Francis
Aaron Cook (Sr.) | Gavin Mueller (So.)
Cook plays all over the floor and could actually be more of a 2/3 at the next level. But he uses his long arms well at 6-foot-5 to be a disruptive defensive player and will have some more room to operate offensively. Mueller is up around 240 pounds with the athleticism and IQ to be a load for St. Francis. Expect a big jump in production in his second varsity season.
Kenwood
Calvin Robins Jr. (Sr.) | Jaden Smith (Sr.)
One of the premier four/five duos in the state, Robins and Smith (Arizona State) play off of eachother well and are both excellent on the defensive end. Robins is back to 100% and will be a nightmare for opposing teams above the rim. Smith will be in the top 10 in the state in blocked shots along with being the anchor for them defensively overall.
Lane Tech
Dalton Scantlebury (Jr.) | Zach Mazanowski (Jr.) | Luka Pinto (Jr.)
Although not often talked about, Scantlebury was one of the most productive bigs in the class last season. He’s got size, moves well, and always seems to be around the ball. A potential scholarship-level recruit who may be under the radar. Mazanowski (6-foot-7) and Pinto (6-foot-5) are both intriguing wings who can step out and give them value defensively with their length.
Whitney Young
Antonio Munoz (Jr.) | Rico D’Alessandro (So.) | Pat Irvin (So.)
Munoz is ready to be the go-to guy for the Dolphins. Look for an all-state year for the high-flying wing. D’Alessandro is another freak athlete with strength and energy to contribute in different ways. Irvin will provide support on the front line, brining another live body that is willing and able to do the little things for them.
Glenbard North
JJ Hernandez (Sr.) | Jalen Crues (Sr.) | Josh Abushanab (So.)
Hernandez is entering his third full varsity season and has emerged as a two-wing wing that can defend just about any position necessary. The offensive production will take another step forward this year. Crues transferred in from Wheaton North and he is an active, 6-foot-7 forward to keep an eye on in their offense. Abushanab was up as a freshman and looked a lot more settled in with them during the summer. There’s plenty of reason for optimism for his development.
Timothy Christian
Thon Bill (Sr.) | Alex Keizer (Sr.)
Bill is one of the top available bigs in the senior class, around 6-foot-8 with length, decent agility, shot-blocking skills, and a nice outside jump shot off the catch. Keizer, who committed to Olivet Nazarene this fall, is a strong-bodied forward who can really shoot it from the outside. They will be a small-school frontcourt duo that will make some noise.
Moline
Braden Freeman (Jr.) | Trey Taylor (Jr.) | Zach Hendrickx (Jr.)
Freeman (6-foot-6) and Taylor (6-foot-5) are both candidates to break out this season. Taylor is a three-year player for Moline who is among the more reliable forwards outside of the Chicago area and Freeman is going to have a huge jump, acting as a both a guard and forward at times for them. Hendrickx should provide some nice punch to the junior-heavy group.
Conant
Cam Lathos (Sr.) | Bradley Biedke (Jr.)
Lathos has been a mainstay for Conant, looking to be a leader for them this season. Mid-range, low post, and out to the three-point line, Lathos makes defenses pay. Division 3 programs should be all over him. Biedke is an impressive run-and-jump athlete who looks primed to become a third option for the experienced Conant squad.
Morton
Evan Barlow (Sr.) | Wes Gudeman (Jr.)
Barlow, who is committed to Florida Gulf-Coast, is a rock-solid combo forward with good experience for Morton. He’s got a nice blend of straight-line athleticism and the ability to operate along the baseline as a cutter. Gudeman has some guard skills despite having the build of a forward. The lefty is physical and has an unorthodox game that is hard to disrupt defensively. Expect another year of long-range shooting and crafty versatility.