With the 2025-26 season fast approaching, it’s time for seniors in the Class of 2026 to shine. The development will continue, but their experience warrants even bigger production and headlines this season.
The following is a mixture of seniors who have produced but without a whole lot of attention last season — or players poised to put up bigger numbers simply with their natural progression.
Here is a short list of breakout players in the senior class.
Tyjuan Hunter, Hope
The 5-6 Hunter is ready to become one of the main stories of the winter.
He did make a name for himself over the final weekend of last season as the driving force behind a team that captured a Class 1A state championship. He led little-known Hope while providing some memorable moments and stat lines.
Hunter combined for 43 points and 21 assists in two state tournament wins in Champaign. On the season he averaged 23.6 points and five assists a game. That’s some serious impact.
But now as a known commodity, Hunter will be a marked man and be asked to lead Hope in its quest for a second straight state title and flirt with Super 25 status at some point this season.
Matt Szafoni, Lane
He’s the lone returning starter back from a 20-win team that experienced the program’s first postseason success in decades. And he’s bigger and better since last season, growing to 6-8 and emerging as a Division I prospect — Szafoni has signed with Illinois State — before even averaging double figures.
Last season the versatile Szafoni averaged 8.3 points, five rebounds and 2.4 assists a game. The most promising part of his development last season was that he shot 32 percent from three while making over one a game.
Now as the senior centerpiece with way more responsibility, all the numbers will rise.
Carter Newsome, Waukegan
You could throw improved teammate Jaali Love into this conversation as well on a crowded, talented and experienced Waukegan team that is set to shine. But Newsome is the engine.
Yes, he’s on the small side but he packs a punch. The 5-10 point guard is a shooter, scorer and playmaker all rolled into one. Now he needs some wins on the big stage while leading a highly-ranked team this winter.
Sam Golden, Loyola
The 6-3 guard quietly put together a stellar junior season for a 26-win team, averaging 12 points a game while showcasing outstanding shooting ability (78 threes on 42 percent). His perimeter punch is even more serious now as he has added scoring off the dribble to his repertoire.
Charlie Pomis, Hersey
Last season was a sneak peek at all the athletic 6-3 wing could do. He put up significant numbers — 16.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists a game — with little to no fanfare outside the northwest suburbs.
A monster senior season is expected after the strides he’s made with his play and showed over the spring and summer.
Braylon Walker, Warren
As star Jaxson Davis’ running mate, the runway is clear for this forceful guard to bolster a highly-ranked team’s fortunes and up his production (6.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg) from a year ago. It’s imperative his impact is felt from the first tipoff.
Adam Flowers, Downers Grove South
The 6-4 guard was one of the more potent perimeter scorers in the junior class last year, putting up 18.2 points a game with 12 games of 20-plus points. Still, Flowers played in relative obscurity last season. If the DGS win total is upped and the numbers flow as easily as a year ago, that will change.