Yes, the month of June is a platform for players to get in front of college coaches. But it’s also the best time to get a sneak peak at what’s to come during this winter’s high school basketball season from a team perspective.
It doesn’t take long to figure out East St. Louis is primed and ready to repeat as Class 3A state champs. The exciting Flyers looked the part after spending two weekends in June in the Chicago area.
There are three returning starters, including underrated point guard Phillip Jones. And the talented youth in this program, highlighted by super sophomore Emaurion Jackson and three incoming freshmen, will turn this team into one of the very best when the calendar turns to 2027.
As far as the Chicago area is concerned, even the teams that looked the best are far from finished products. But after several first impressions and observations from June, here is a post-summer power ranking of potential top 10 teams placed in two tiers.
Tier 1: Teams ready for the preseason top 10 right now
Benet
Evanston
Neuqua Valley
St. Ignatius
St. Laurence
Neuqua’s Cole Kelly and Mason Martin continue to show there isn’t a better or more potent 1-2 punch in the state, while Benet’s Ed Stasys is emerging as a bona fide star at both ends of the floor.
The depth, balance and versatility of St. Ignatius and St. Laurence is arguably the area’s best.
Evanston’s experienced talent, featuring junior scoring guard Ben Ojala, Mr. Everything Vito Rocca, scorer Dion Lane and the fast-improving Tate Schroeder, impressed all month.
Tier 2: Teams with an eye on the preseason top 10
Bolingbrook
DePaul Prep
Homewood-Flossmoor
Kenwood
Leo
Lockport
Mount Carmel
Bolingbrook often played shorthanded in the month of June, but the presence of Brady Pettigrew, who has turned into a dynamic force, is enough for now.
And while there are certainly names with more familiarity in this tier, don’t dismiss Lockport and Leo, the Class 2A school with every player returning.
The returning experience showed in Lockport’s summer execution, while twins Nojus and Nedas Venckus just keep getting better.
Other teams that caught our eye in June
• We find the defending Class 4A champs in this next wave and a better-than-expected team. Returner Kendall Meyers is poised to take the reins, but there are a surplus of intriguing pieces that will keep the RedHawks prominently mentioned this winter.
• Glenbrook North is an entertaining team to watch with their cohesiveness and all kinds of spunk and scoring in the backcourt.
• Bloom is young and fun. A lot of eyes will be on the guard trio of freshman Larry Ellis and sophomores Keiwon Gulley and Kaden McClellan.
• Young quietly impressed all month. The Dolphins played hard and competed every time you watched them play.
• Buffalo Grove big man Alex Sirbu was one of June’s main attractions, and there is a supporting cast around him. This could be the best team in the Mid-Suburban League.
• Guard-heavy Geneva has been bolstered by the arrival of brothers David and Jonny Udiowod to go with returning point guard Cody Rader.