Every year, with approximately 400 schools spread across the Chicago area, you’re bound to have many players who fly under the radar over the course of the season.
As the high school basketball season tips off on Monday, it’s time to shine a light on several senior sleepers.
Tre Watkins, Metea Valley
Simply put, Watkins is one of the more underrated players in the Chicago area. Watkins should have a bigger name as a player who put up 17 points a game last season and is a Division II recruit headed to Illinois-Springfield.
An exciting player with athletic, blow-by ability and some shooting range to go with it, the polished 6-2 senior guard is primed to take his game to another level this season.
RJ McPartlin, St. Patrick
In addition to providing a veteran presence — McPartlin has been starting since his freshman year — the production is set to take a jump as a senior after modest numbers as a junior and a bigger workload ahead.
Fresh off an impressive summer, the 6-7, 220-pound big man was instrumental in helping the Shamrocks to their first State Finals in program history last year with 7.2 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Donny Williams, Stevenson
The Patriots hope to contend in the tough North Suburban Conference and be a fringe Super 25 team, thanks to the backcourt of Donny Williams and Rocco Pagliocca.
The lanky 6-foot Williams uses one-on-one footwork and his versatile scoring ability in constantly putting pressure on opposing defenses. He averaged 11.5 points a game and led his team in threes and was even better this past spring and summer.
Will Johnson, Sandburg
A scoring threat at multiple levels, Johnson is one of the better, more productive players in the south suburbs but without the name recognition. The 6-2 guard can score the ball (14 ppg) and impact in multiple ways as he averaged six rebounds a game.
Gabe Jensen, Geneva
Whether it’s with long-distance threes or attacking the basket with his shifty quickness, Jensen is a point guard with a scoring acumen. He averaged 10 points a game as a junior. But his passing and vision set him apart.
Jack Dempsey, Oak Lawn
This is a player set to put up significant numbers as a senior, thanks to both his shooting and self-creation scoring ability. Last year the lefty scorer put up 12.9 points and 4.7 rebounds a game while knocking down 36 percent from beyond the arc for a 24-win team.
Kain Kretschmar, Lake Zurich
You can be overshadowed in the talent-filled North Suburban Conference. Plus, the 6-3 shooting guard isn’t flashy. But he’s steady, consistent and clutch. Kretschmar knocks down shots with range and finds ways to score. He’s now a coveted Division III prospect after averaging 12 points a game as a junior.
Freddy Battaglia, Lake Park
While Lake Park struggled a year ago, it was a young team looking towards significant improvement in 2025-26. And the 6-4 Battaglia (12 ppg), who can finish with a dunk and work in the mid-range, headlines a returning group that could challenge in the DuKane Conference.
Darron Greer, Argo
There might not be a more productive returning player who is known less than Greer. The 6-4 wing helped the Argonauts to 15 wins a year ago as he put up 18 points and eight rebounds a game.
Uros Mitrovic, Grayslake North
A starter since his freshman year and a three-year captain, the 6-4 Mitrovic will surpass 1,000 career points Thanksgiving week and become the school’s all-time leading three-point shooter. Mitrovic
Marc Gamble, Timothy Christian
For a player who garnered some all-state recognition as a junior — he was a third-team Class 2A all-stater last season — he still remains relatively unknown.
The 6-8 Gamble, who averaged an eye-opening 18 points and seven rebounds a game as a junior, is at his best spacing the floor with his face-up jumper and range out to the three-point line. He should help Timothy to a turnaround season after just nine wins a year ago.