A Sleeping Giant Emerges: Senior Sleepers Ready to Shine in Chicago High School Basketball
As the high school basketball season kicks off, several senior sleepers are poised to shine on the court. Despite flying under the radar for most of their careers, these talented players have been quietly racking up impressive stats and earning recognition from coaches and scouts alike.
One such player is Tre Watkins, a 6-2 guard from Metea Valley who averaged 17 points per game last season as a junior. A Division II recruit bound for Illinois-Springfield, Watkins brings a unique blend of athleticism, shooting range, and scoring ability that could take his game to the next level this year.
Another senior sleeper is RJ McPartlin, a 6-7 big man from St. Patrick who has been starting since his freshman year. A key contributor to the Shamrocks' first State Finals appearance last season, McPartlin is set to see a significant increase in production as he takes on a bigger workload this year.
For those who may not be familiar with Donny Williams, a 6-foot shooting guard from Stevenson, he's worth getting to know. With his versatile scoring ability and excellent footwork, Williams puts constant pressure on opposing defenses and averages 11.5 points per game. His improvement over the summer has been particularly impressive.
In the south suburbs, Will Johnson is another player who could make a big impact this year. A 6-2 guard with scoring prowess at multiple levels, Johnson averaged 14 points per game last season while also chipping in six rebounds. With his unique blend of speed and agility, he's sure to be a force to be reckoned with on the court.
Geneva's Gabe Jensen is another player who could make waves this year. A point guard with a scoring acumen, Jensen brings both long-distance threes and a shifty quickness to the table. With his impressive passing and vision skills, he's a true leader on his team.
Oak Lawn's Jack Dempsey is set to put up significant numbers as a senior, thanks in part to his shooting and self-creation scoring ability. Last year, the lefty scorer put up 12.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while knocking down 36% of his shots from beyond the arc.
Kain Kretschmar, a 6-3 shooting guard from Lake Zurich, is another player who could make an impact this year. Despite not being flashy, he's steady, consistent, and clutch. With his range and ability to find ways to score, Kretschmar has become a coveted Division III prospect after averaging 12 points per game as a junior.
In the DuKane Conference, Lake Park's Freddy Battaglia headlines a returning group that could challenge for success in 2025-26. A 6-4 big man who can finish with dunks and work in the mid-range, Battaglia averaged 12 points per game last season while helping his team improve by 10 wins.
Argonauts' Darron Greer is another player who could make a big impact this year. A 6-4 wing who helped his team to 15 wins last season, Greer put up 18 points and eight rebounds per game while flying under the radar for much of his career.
Finally, Grayslake North's Uros Mitrovic is set to become the school's all-time leading three-point shooter as he surpasses 1,000 career points Thanksgiving week. A starter since his freshman year and three-year captain, Mitrovic brings a unique combination of scoring ability and spacing to the table.
As these senior sleepers take the court this season, they're poised to make a lasting impact on their teams and prove themselves as some of the top talent in Chicago high school basketball.
As the high school basketball season kicks off, several senior sleepers are poised to shine on the court. Despite flying under the radar for most of their careers, these talented players have been quietly racking up impressive stats and earning recognition from coaches and scouts alike.
One such player is Tre Watkins, a 6-2 guard from Metea Valley who averaged 17 points per game last season as a junior. A Division II recruit bound for Illinois-Springfield, Watkins brings a unique blend of athleticism, shooting range, and scoring ability that could take his game to the next level this year.
Another senior sleeper is RJ McPartlin, a 6-7 big man from St. Patrick who has been starting since his freshman year. A key contributor to the Shamrocks' first State Finals appearance last season, McPartlin is set to see a significant increase in production as he takes on a bigger workload this year.
For those who may not be familiar with Donny Williams, a 6-foot shooting guard from Stevenson, he's worth getting to know. With his versatile scoring ability and excellent footwork, Williams puts constant pressure on opposing defenses and averages 11.5 points per game. His improvement over the summer has been particularly impressive.
In the south suburbs, Will Johnson is another player who could make a big impact this year. A 6-2 guard with scoring prowess at multiple levels, Johnson averaged 14 points per game last season while also chipping in six rebounds. With his unique blend of speed and agility, he's sure to be a force to be reckoned with on the court.
Geneva's Gabe Jensen is another player who could make waves this year. A point guard with a scoring acumen, Jensen brings both long-distance threes and a shifty quickness to the table. With his impressive passing and vision skills, he's a true leader on his team.
Oak Lawn's Jack Dempsey is set to put up significant numbers as a senior, thanks in part to his shooting and self-creation scoring ability. Last year, the lefty scorer put up 12.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while knocking down 36% of his shots from beyond the arc.
Kain Kretschmar, a 6-3 shooting guard from Lake Zurich, is another player who could make an impact this year. Despite not being flashy, he's steady, consistent, and clutch. With his range and ability to find ways to score, Kretschmar has become a coveted Division III prospect after averaging 12 points per game as a junior.
In the DuKane Conference, Lake Park's Freddy Battaglia headlines a returning group that could challenge for success in 2025-26. A 6-4 big man who can finish with dunks and work in the mid-range, Battaglia averaged 12 points per game last season while helping his team improve by 10 wins.
Argonauts' Darron Greer is another player who could make a big impact this year. A 6-4 wing who helped his team to 15 wins last season, Greer put up 18 points and eight rebounds per game while flying under the radar for much of his career.
Finally, Grayslake North's Uros Mitrovic is set to become the school's all-time leading three-point shooter as he surpasses 1,000 career points Thanksgiving week. A starter since his freshman year and three-year captain, Mitrovic brings a unique combination of scoring ability and spacing to the table.
As these senior sleepers take the court this season, they're poised to make a lasting impact on their teams and prove themselves as some of the top talent in Chicago high school basketball.
It's like they're saying "hey, I've been quietly putting in work and now it's my time to rock!" 
Tre Watkins is gonna light up the court with that 6-2 frame of his, RJ McPartlin is gonna dominate on the glass, Donny Williams is just gonna put on a show with that shooting range... and the list goes on! 
These kids are so underrated right now, but I can already see them making waves in Chicago high school hoops. Bring it on! 
. I mean, they've been quietly putting up impressive stats for years, but somehow still under the radar. It's like they're saying, "Hey world, we got this!" And honestly, with players like Tre Watkins and RJ McPartlin, it's not hard to see why coaches and scouts are starting to take notice 
.
. I mean, Watkins' stats are legit, averaging 17 points per game as a junior... he's basically a pro by this point 
. If he can stay healthy and keep performing like that, he'll likely get some eyes from bigger programs looking to move up to Division I.
omg have u seen these seniors coming into there own this year tre watkins looks like a beast 
. But let's not sleep on RJ McPartlin, he's been starting since freshman year and now gets to take on more responsibility. I'm also loving Will Johnson's unique style, it's like he's playing a different position 
. Genevea's Gabe Jensen is another sleeper who could make some noise this year, his passing skills are insane 
. rj mcpartlin is another guy who's about to take his game to the next level, he's been starting since freshman year so i trust him to step up in a big way 
. donny williams is under the radar for now but i love how versatile he is, he can score and pass with ease 
. gotta keep an eye on geneva's gabe jensen too, that guy's got game 
.