The preseason rankings often overlook teams that fly under the radar, but these seven squads are poised to surprise and climb into the top 25 this season.
First up is Crane, a Class 2A powerhouse on the rise. With an impressive roster of experienced players and talented newcomers, Coach Mekiel Posey's team is ready to make some noise in the city and state tournaments. Junior guard Jamier Montgomery is a smooth scorer, while senior Brad Blackmon brings size and length to the table.
Other sleeper teams to watch include Lockport, which boasts a potent junior trio of playmaking point guard Nathan Munson and twin brothers Nedas Venckus and Nojus Venckus. The Porters are looking to surpass last year's win total and creep into the Super 25 rankings.
Lyons is another team that should take advantage of a slight dip from perennially strong West Suburban Silver. Coach Tom Sloan's squad has a talented roster, with returning guard Owen Carroll and junior Timmy Sloan taking big steps forward.
In the North Suburban Conference, Stevenson won a share of the title last season and returns a productive backcourt in seniors Rocco Pagliocca and Donny Williams. The Patriots have a good chance to make some noise this year, despite limited experience returning.
St. Patrick is another team that's primed for success. Coach Mike Bailey has an impressive 1-2 punch inside with 6-7 seniors RJ McPartlin and Omar Ajanovic, who are both significantly improved from last season. The team will need to adapt to new roles for perimeter players like point guard Steven Quach and shooters Jimmy Czeslawski and Joe Costanzo.
Palatine is another team that's looking strong this year, with coach Eric Millstone returning five of his top seven players. The Pirates have a talented roster, including 6-4 behemoth Tony Balanganayi, who returns as an all-conference performer.
Finally, Hersey is looking to make a push in the stacked Mid-Suburban League West under veteran coach Bob Widlowski. The team boasts a versatile starting lineup led by senior guard Charlie Pomis and returning starter Logan Luxem.
First up is Crane, a Class 2A powerhouse on the rise. With an impressive roster of experienced players and talented newcomers, Coach Mekiel Posey's team is ready to make some noise in the city and state tournaments. Junior guard Jamier Montgomery is a smooth scorer, while senior Brad Blackmon brings size and length to the table.
Other sleeper teams to watch include Lockport, which boasts a potent junior trio of playmaking point guard Nathan Munson and twin brothers Nedas Venckus and Nojus Venckus. The Porters are looking to surpass last year's win total and creep into the Super 25 rankings.
Lyons is another team that should take advantage of a slight dip from perennially strong West Suburban Silver. Coach Tom Sloan's squad has a talented roster, with returning guard Owen Carroll and junior Timmy Sloan taking big steps forward.
In the North Suburban Conference, Stevenson won a share of the title last season and returns a productive backcourt in seniors Rocco Pagliocca and Donny Williams. The Patriots have a good chance to make some noise this year, despite limited experience returning.
St. Patrick is another team that's primed for success. Coach Mike Bailey has an impressive 1-2 punch inside with 6-7 seniors RJ McPartlin and Omar Ajanovic, who are both significantly improved from last season. The team will need to adapt to new roles for perimeter players like point guard Steven Quach and shooters Jimmy Czeslawski and Joe Costanzo.
Palatine is another team that's looking strong this year, with coach Eric Millstone returning five of his top seven players. The Pirates have a talented roster, including 6-4 behemoth Tony Balanganayi, who returns as an all-conference performer.
Finally, Hersey is looking to make a push in the stacked Mid-Suburban League West under veteran coach Bob Widlowski. The team boasts a versatile starting lineup led by senior guard Charlie Pomis and returning starter Logan Luxem.
. Those twins Nedas and Nojus are like a dynamic duo on the court - they should be interesting to watch 
. I'm not sure about Lockport though, their junior trio is cool and all but I don't think they've got what it takes to take down the big boys 
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There are some hidden gems on that list, you know? Like, have you seen the Lockport trio of Venckus brothers? 
️. And have you seen Lockport's junior trio? That's some Next Level stuff right there 
. I'm also loving the vibe from St. Patrick, that 1-2 punch inside is straight fire 
. And don't sleep on Crane, they got that Coach Posey know-how 
. I remember when I used to watch Crane play back in the day, they were always the underdogs but would come out swingin' 
! The key is those sleeper teams gotta step up and show 'em what they're made of 
... can't wait to see how it all plays out this year 
. There's gotta be some other teams that should be in the top 25 instead of these sleepers. I mean, Hersey's got a solid lineup, but are they gonna take down all those stronger teams? It's gonna be an interesting season to watch 
. And I gotta say, the Lockport trio of Munson, Venckus, and Venckus is fire 
or are they just getting a little too much hype from me? 
, and Lyons is looking strong with that squad from West Suburban Silver 
. Stevenson's backcourt is gonna be a game-changer 
️ teams like lyons and st patrick are gonna be interesting to watch this season 
but let's see if they can keep it together all year 
. Stevenson's backcourt is solid, they're def makin some noise this year 
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. I'm hyped to see how these teams stack up against each other 
, and Hersey's squad is so deep w/ Charlie Pomis leadin' the way 
. These teams gotta be taken seriously or else 
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i'm lovin the sleeper picks lockport and lyons gotta step up their game or else they'll be left in the dust 
. It's easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding the perennial powerhouses, but it's refreshing to see these underdogs emerge and show us what they're made of 
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anyway Crane is looking pretty solid, they got that Jamier Montgomery dude who's like a combo guard ninja 
I mean who wouldn't want a smooth scorer and some length on the wing? Lockport's junior trio sounds like a recipe for success too, Nathan Munson's point guard skills are gonna be key 
And then there's Lyons trying to capitalize on West Suburban Silver's weakness 
Palatine's got a behemoth of a player in Tony Balanganayi, I wonder if he's ready for the big leagues 