Sleeper Teams to Watch in Illinois Basketball: Will They Surprise and Rise in the Rankings?
When considering the upcoming high school basketball season, it's easy to overlook some teams that don't receive as much preseason hype. However, there are several talented squads outside of the top-ranked Super 25 teams worth keeping an eye on. In this article, we'll take a closer look at six sleepers that could surprise and climb into the rankings.
First up is Crane basketball, which believes it can compete for both city and state titles. With key players like smooth scorer Jamier Montgomery, size-and-length specialist Brad Blackmon, and returning starter Simond Chambliss, coach Mekiel Posey is optimistic about his team's chances. The addition of transfers JR Swift, Julian O'Neal, and Evan Harris will provide a boost to the squad.
Another team to watch is Lockport, which has a strong junior class led by playmaking point guard Nathan Munson and athletic 6-2 wings Nedas and Nojus Venckus. With a host of seniors filling valuable roles, coach Dave Wilson's team should surpass last year's win total and potentially crack the Super 25 rankings.
Lyons is another squad with significant talent, particularly in its backcourt. Coach Tom Sloan will aim to bounce back from a disappointing two-season stretch with the help of guard Owen Carroll and junior Timmy Sloan. With size and skill on their side, the Lions should be able to take advantage of a slightly weakened West Suburban Silver conference.
Stevenson may not have as much experience returning, but the Patriots' veteran backcourt will provide stability. Seniors Rocco Pagliocca and Donny Williams form a potent 1-2 punch that will help guide the team through the North Suburban Conference's challenging landscape.
St. Patrick, meanwhile, is looking to rebuild after losing its perimeter punch from last season's graduating class. Coach Mike Bailey has constructed an impressive 1-2 punch inside with RJ McPartlin and Omar Ajanovic, who have both shown significant improvement over the summer. The addition of point guard Steven Quach, shooters Jimmy Czeslawski and Joe Costanzo, and versatile wing Maurice Neeley will help determine if St. Patrick can return to Champaign.
Lastly, Palatine is looking to follow up its 19-win season from last year with a strong showing in the Mid-Suburban League West. The Pirates have five of their top seven players back, including Illinois football recruit Tony Balanganayi and three-year starting guard Darrin Dick. With coach Eric Millstone at the helm, Palatine should be able to navigate the competitive league and make a push for recognition.
Hersey, led by veteran coach Bob Widlowski, is another team worth watching in the Mid-Suburban League West. The team boasts a talented starting lineup featuring Charlie Pomis, who put up 16.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists last season. With several versatile players returning, Hersey should be able to compete with the league's top teams.
These six sleepers have the talent and potential to surprise and rise in the rankings this season. As we head into December and January, fans will want to keep an eye on these teams as they make their push for recognition.
When considering the upcoming high school basketball season, it's easy to overlook some teams that don't receive as much preseason hype. However, there are several talented squads outside of the top-ranked Super 25 teams worth keeping an eye on. In this article, we'll take a closer look at six sleepers that could surprise and climb into the rankings.
First up is Crane basketball, which believes it can compete for both city and state titles. With key players like smooth scorer Jamier Montgomery, size-and-length specialist Brad Blackmon, and returning starter Simond Chambliss, coach Mekiel Posey is optimistic about his team's chances. The addition of transfers JR Swift, Julian O'Neal, and Evan Harris will provide a boost to the squad.
Another team to watch is Lockport, which has a strong junior class led by playmaking point guard Nathan Munson and athletic 6-2 wings Nedas and Nojus Venckus. With a host of seniors filling valuable roles, coach Dave Wilson's team should surpass last year's win total and potentially crack the Super 25 rankings.
Lyons is another squad with significant talent, particularly in its backcourt. Coach Tom Sloan will aim to bounce back from a disappointing two-season stretch with the help of guard Owen Carroll and junior Timmy Sloan. With size and skill on their side, the Lions should be able to take advantage of a slightly weakened West Suburban Silver conference.
Stevenson may not have as much experience returning, but the Patriots' veteran backcourt will provide stability. Seniors Rocco Pagliocca and Donny Williams form a potent 1-2 punch that will help guide the team through the North Suburban Conference's challenging landscape.
St. Patrick, meanwhile, is looking to rebuild after losing its perimeter punch from last season's graduating class. Coach Mike Bailey has constructed an impressive 1-2 punch inside with RJ McPartlin and Omar Ajanovic, who have both shown significant improvement over the summer. The addition of point guard Steven Quach, shooters Jimmy Czeslawski and Joe Costanzo, and versatile wing Maurice Neeley will help determine if St. Patrick can return to Champaign.
Lastly, Palatine is looking to follow up its 19-win season from last year with a strong showing in the Mid-Suburban League West. The Pirates have five of their top seven players back, including Illinois football recruit Tony Balanganayi and three-year starting guard Darrin Dick. With coach Eric Millstone at the helm, Palatine should be able to navigate the competitive league and make a push for recognition.
Hersey, led by veteran coach Bob Widlowski, is another team worth watching in the Mid-Suburban League West. The team boasts a talented starting lineup featuring Charlie Pomis, who put up 16.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists last season. With several versatile players returning, Hersey should be able to compete with the league's top teams.
These six sleepers have the talent and potential to surprise and rise in the rankings this season. As we head into December and January, fans will want to keep an eye on these teams as they make their push for recognition.
. Illinois high school basketball is always competitive, but I need to see some actual game footage before I start predicting a major upset from these underdog teams. Crane and Lockport might be onto something with their talent, but they'll need to put it together on the court if they wanna make some noise. And don't even get me started on Hersey - all that experience is great, but can they execute? The rankings will probably be a mess come March 
. like, seriously, JR Swift? Julian O'Neal? those names sound more like NCAA basketball player archetypes than actual human beings 
. and don't even get me started on Evan Harris... sounds like someone's trying to make a name for themselves with a dad joke of a name 
. anyway, I guess it'll be fun to watch these teams try to live up to their hype (or not).
I mean, Crane is lookin good with those transfers comin in - JR Swift, Julian O'Neal, and Evan Harris can definitely bring the heat to that court. And Lockport's got a solid junior class lead by Nathan Munson, they should be able to take down some of those top teams.
, especially with Jamier Montgomery's scoring skills and Brad Blackmon's length advantage. Lockport's got a strong junior class too 
, led by Nathan Munson's playmaking prowess.
, those senior guards are gonna be a force to be reckoned with! St. Patrick rebuilding after losing their perimeter punch? Bring it on 
. And St. Patrick's 1-2 punch inside is definitely intriguing, especially if RJ McPartlin and Omar Ajanovic can live up to the hype.
. And don't sleep on Lockport either, their junior class is straight fire 
.
I heard from a trusted source that some of these teams are getting extra support from booster clubs 
. Like, I know Lockport's coaching staff has been sneaking around the city with a bunch of flashy new sneakers and energy drink cases, trying to build up their hype 
. But, I mean, you can never count out a team with heart and determination 
... or maybe that's just what the coaches want us to think 
.
. They got a sweet mix of scorers and defenders, and coach Posey seems confident about their chances. And can you believe they're adding transfers to boost their squad? That's like trading in for new textbooks at the start of semester 
i mean, it's cool to see some fresh faces and new talent on the court, but can we talk about how oversold the whole "sleeper team" narrative is? like, most of these teams are still pretty solid and have been making moves to stay competitive 
And who knows, maybe one of these sleepers will even crack into the rankings!