Warren starts the season at No. 1, but several other North Suburban Conference teams have the talent and experience to pose a challenge.
TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Warren (31-5): The Blue Devils, who shared the North Suburban Conference title with Lake Forest, fell one game short of the Class 4A state semifinals in March and want to get there this season. The mission begins with nationally ranked sophomore guard Jaxson Davis, who averaged 19.4 points, 5.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 steals and whose playmaking ability and defensive tenacity create problems for opponents. But Davis is far from alone. Senior Javerion Banks, who averaged 11.5 points and a team-high 4.7 rebounds, and junior Braylon Walker, who averaged 5.0 points and 3.2 assists, give the Blue Devils a strong guard trio. Banks’ ballhandling allows Davis to play off the ball at times, and Walker is particularly good on defense. Three-sport athlete Jack Wolf, a senior who averaged 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds, offers a physical presence in the paint.
2. Waukegan (17-14): The Bulldogs, who finished over .500 last season after some lean years, have three returning starters and two high-level transfers as part of a deep, athletic nucleus. Junior wing Simereon Carter averaged 14.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals and made strides in the offseason to become even more multidimensional. Junior Carter Newsome runs the point, and senior guard Yashir “DJ” Cole offers stability at both ends. Senior guard/forward Xavi Granville, who led Grayslake Central with 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds last season, combines with Carter to form a dynamic scoring duo. Add in 6-7 junior forward Jaali Love, who transferred from Manley and is versatile enough to play both inside and outside, and coach Ron Ashlaw believes this is his most talented team since the Bulldogs went 28-6 in 2018-19.
3. Stevenson (23-9): Three starters return for the Patriots, who were 10-2 in games decided by fewer than six points or went to overtime and allowed 51.8 points per game. Senior guard Aidan Bardic (Winona State), who averaged 14.2 points and 4.2 assists, needs a little more than 200 points to become the seventh player in program history to score 1,000. He has plenty of backcourt help from junior Rocco Pagliocca, who averaged 11.5 points. Atticus Richmond, a 6-8 senior forward who averaged 10.2 points and 7.2 rebounds, provides a presence in the paint and gets interior help from 6-5 senior forward Liam Curtin.
4. Lake Forest (25-8): The Scouts have averaged almost 24 wins over the past three seasons, and similar success appears to be within reach. They have uncommon size with 6-10 senior center Grant Mordini and 6-7 senior forward Hudson Scroggins, and both players added strength in the offseason. The Scouts’ size isn’t limited to the paint, as 6-4 junior guard Dominic Mordini (no relation to Grant) returns to run the offense. Senior guard Charlie Markee, a football standout, is expected to play a larger role.
5. Deerfield (16-14): The Warriors have seven of their top eight players back after making their debut in the Central Suburban South. Jake Pollack, a 6-8 junior forward who averaged 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds, is drawing extensive recruiting attention. He’ll have a big partner in the paint with the return of 6-8 senior forward Drew Rodgers, who suffered a torn ACL in the fourth game last season. Senior guard Quinn Schimanski is back to run the offense, while senior guard Sam Hanus and junior guard Evan Nagler will add scoring.
6. Libertyville (10-19): The Wildcats have several players who can score both inside and outside. The latter is where 6-2 senior guard Liam Hanson, who averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals, plies his trade. Bryce Wegrzyn, a 6-8 junior forward who averaged 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds, projects as one of the area’s best big men. Two football standouts, 6-4 senior Stevan Gavric and 6-2 junior Blaise LaVista, return after sitting out last season and will provide athleticism, length and speed, particularly in transition. A lot is also expected of 6-2 freshman Terrence Davis.
7. Antioch (15-17): The Sequoits won a share of their first conference title in 43 years and have multiple players back to do it again in the Northern Lake County Conference. Senior guard Teddi Wetu came into his own, particularly on defense, setting the program record with 61 steals. Senior forward Marshall Gehrke can affect a game in multiple ways, and he’ll be joined up front by two other returning senior starters, 6-6 Jason Lee and 6-6 team captain Jack Majerowski. Candidates to provide quality depth include junior guard Mark Render and junior forwards Cooper Marabella and Chance Parsons.
8. Grayslake Central (20-10): The Rams finished in a three-way tie for the NLCC title and have a solid inside-outside duo to help continue their winning ways. Senior guard Eric Brum had a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and draws the assignment on the opponent’s top perimeter scorer. Chris Jaimes, a 6-6 senior center, is a force in the paint and has made major strides with his shooting range. Coach Brian Centella expects senior guard Aayan Siddiqui, junior guard Alex Granville and junior guard/forward Cole Halverson to step into more prominent roles.
9. Grayslake North (10-21): The Knights return 80 percent of their scoring and a roster with eight seniors who should ensure stability from the get-go. Senior guard Jayden Hunt, who averaged 18.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists, does a little bit of everything. Versatile 6-4 junior forward Uros Mitrovic, who averaged 14.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, will look to take another step, while 6-5 senior center Tyler Morgan is adept at clogging the middle and altering shots at the rim. Also expected to make an impact are senior guard David Magnuson, a transfer who led Westlake Christian in scoring, senior guard Brady Ballentine and athletic 6-6 freshman forward Jared Van Donselaar, who has a soft touch around the basket.
10. Lake Zurich (22-9): The late departure of 6-8 senior center Anton Strelnikov, who went to La Lumiere, changes things for the Bears, but the cupboard is far from empty. Connor Strauss, an athletic 6-5 senior forward who qualified for the Class 3A state meet in the triple jump in the spring, averaged 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds and is a tough defender. Junior guard Kain Kretschmar, who averaged 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds, is a multifaceted scorer. Two other juniors, guard Evan Peterson and 6-4 forward Adrian Riep, are poised to take on more significant roles.
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Javerion Banks, Warren, senior, guard
- Aidan Bardic, Stevenson, senior, guard
- Rmoni Beals, Zion-Benton, senior, guard
- Derek Bishop, Mundelein, senior, guard
- Eric Brum, Grayslake Central, senior, guard
- Simereon Carter, Waukegan, junior, forward
- Jaxson Davis, Warren, sophomore, guard
- Landon Enters, Grant, senior, guard
- Marshall Gehrke, Antioch, senior, forward
- Xavi Granville, Waukegan, senior, guard/forward
- Braylon Gray, Grant, senior, guard
- Liam Hanson, Libertyville, senior, guard
- Jayden Hunt, Grayslake North, senior, guard
- Kain Kretschmar, Lake Zurich, junior, guard
- Uros Mitrovic, Grayslake North, junior, forward
- AJ Morgan, Vernon Hills, senior, forward
- Grant Mordini, Lake Forest, senior, center
- Simon Moschin, Highland Park, senior, guard
- Rocco Pagliocca, Stevenson, junior, guard
- Jake Pollack, Deerfield, junior, forward
- Atticus Richmond, Stevenson, senior, forward
- Hunter Scroggins, Lake Forest, senior, forward
- Braylon Walker, Warren, junior, guard
- Bryce Wegrzyn, Libertyville, junior, forward
- Teddi Wetu, Antioch, senior, guard
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
