The boys basketball season tips off tonight. We reached out to all CPL schools to see how their teams are looking this winter. Their answers are below.
*All coaches were contacted numerous times for this exercise. Don’t see your school? Contact Michael Wojtychiw (mmwojtychiw@cps.edu)
School: Amundsen High School
Last Year’s Record: 8-15
Social media handle: @amundsenhoops
Starters returning (Name, class, position, stats, honors):
Ashawn Powell, Sr, Guard
CJ Fortier, Sr, Foward
Nour Mohammed, Jr, Guard
Lucas Hereford, Sr, Forward
Key non-starters returning (Name, class, position):
Jackson Tate, Jr, Guard
Amadeus Valdez, Jr, Forward
Newcomers to watch (Name, class, position):
Miller Avery, Sr, Guard
Tournaments/Shootouts participating in or hosting:
North Lawndale Thanksgiving Tournament
Michelle Clark MLK Shootout
School: Dunbar Vocational Career Academy
Last Year’s Record: 20-9, 8-1 (conference)
Social media handle:
IG – @dunbarmightymenbball
Key non-starters returning (Name, class, position):
Tyler Nixon – Jr, PG
Jordan Wordlaw – So, G
Connor Martin – Jr, F
Paxton Ligon – Jr, G
Antonio Richardson – Sr, G
Newcomers to watch (Name, class, position):
Bryce Capers – Sr, G
Aking Jordan – Jr, G
Justin Howard – Jr, F
Christian Crawford – So, F
Tournaments/Shootouts participating in:
Glenbrook North Holiday Tournament
Kankakee Holiday Tournament
Coach’s season outlook: Our team is young, hungry, and ready to compete. With no seniors in our starting lineup, this group has a unique opportunity to grow together and build a strong foundation for the future. We’re focusing on fundamentals, teamwork, and developing a winning mentality. The goal is to be competitive in every game and establish ourselves as major players in Class 2A. This season is about progress, resilience, and laying the groundwork for sustained success.
School: Kennedy HS
Last Year’s Record: 13-15, 5-4 Conf
Social media handle: IG: jfkboyshoops; X: @crusaderjfkball, @jfkhs_athletics
Starters returning (Name, class, position, stats, honors):
Joseph Dahl Sr G/F
Jovani Navarrete Sr F
Key non-starters returning (Name, class, position):
Ja’Veon Sargent-Williams, Jr, G
Kylen Henderson, Jr, G
Aiden Rivera, Sr, G
Newcomers to watch (Name, class, position):
Julian Cuevas, So, G/F
Tournaments/Shootouts participating in or hosting:
Spartan-Ram Thanksgiving Classic
Elgin HS Holiday Tournament
Coach’s season outlook:
We’re expecting to compete for a top position in the White-Central. Relatively young team, but looking to build team chemistry and continuity throughout the season, then play at an optimal level when the state playoffs begin.
School: Lake View
Last Year’s Record: 21-9 (2nd best in school history)
Social media handle:@lakeview_hoops
Starters returning (Name, class, position, stats, honors):
Frank Fregoso, 2025, Guard, 5.6 spg and 5.7 app. State Leader in steals last season with 168, 3rd all time. He was also top 10 in the state for asissts.
Daniel Loza, 2025, SG, 13.1 ppg, 44% from 3 point and 43% from 2 point. Led the CPL in 3 pointers made (77). Daniel is a 4 year starter that will likely score his 1000th point before Christmas.
Scottie Hightower, 2026, G/F, Last year a role player that started by the end of the season. He will be a major part of this team’s success.
Dyami Rolon, 2026, G/F, Long, Athletic. Late season starter last season, will be a major part of the team’s success.
Key non-starters returning (Name, class, position):
Javaris Allen, 2026, G,
Matthew Chico, 2027,G,
Foster VanVliet 2027, G,
Anthony Williams 2026, G
Newcomers to watch (Name, class, position):
Chris McManus, 2029, F,
Isaiah Betancourt, 2026, G/F
Tournaments/Shootouts participating in:
Lake Villa Thanksgiving
Elgin Christmas Tournament
Coach’s season outlook:
Better team and a tougher schedule. We had a good summer and lost one game in overtime so we stepped up a level in the Fall and lost every game. We will face adversity this season but it will prepare us for the playoffs. We could possibly win our first regional championship.
School: Lane
Last Year’s Record: 20-12
Social media handle: @lanetechhoops (twitter), lanetechhoops (IG)
College commits: Dalton Scantlebury – UPenn, Luka Pinto – Grinnell
Top Returning Players:
Dalton Scantlebury, Center, Sr. (All-Conference, All-City Honorable Mention last season)
Zach Mazanowski, Wing, Sr.
Matt Szafoni: 6’7” W, JR.
Drew Bartolai: 6’4” W, SR.
Luka Pinto: 6’5” W, SR.
Brayden Rosenkrantz: G, 5’11” SR.
Kenny Rosario: 5’11” G, SR.
Dylan Pepper: 6’4” W, SR.
Tournaments/shootouts:
Battle of the Bridge (Thanksgiving)
Chicago Elite Classic
Gonzaga Prep Invite (Washington D.C)
Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic
Coach’s season outlook: Lane Tech will return three starters and seven rotation players from last year’s 20-win team that tied for first in the CPL Red-Northwest conference. Lane will have the toughest schedule they’ve ever played, including playing nationally ranked teams at Gonzaga Prep’s Tournament in D.C, the Battle of the Bridge Thanksgiving Tournament, the Chicago Elite Classic, the Hinsdale Central Holiday Tournament and the newly aligned CPL Shield conference.
School name: Mather
Last Year’s Record: 11-20
Social media handle: X: MatherHoops
Starters returning (Name, class, position, stats, honors):
Guard: Adin Smajlovic, Junior, All-conference, 10.2 ppg
Forward: Jeremiah Chalwe, Senior, 8.4 ppg
Guard: Steve Edwards, Senior, 10.7 ppg
Key non-starters returning (Name, class, position):
Forward: Byron Purnell, Junior
Guard: DeMoyne Thomas, Senior
Forward: Robert Benjamin, Senior
Guard: Delight Alozia
Tournaments/Shootouts participating in or hosting:
North Lawndale Jamboree
Mather MLK Shootout
Coach’s season outlook:
The Rangers come into the season with limited varsity experience, after losing three returning starters. Looking forward to the growth of the team as the season progresses.
School: Orr
Last Year’s Record: 3-18
Starters returning (Name, class, position, stats):
Cyrus Westbrook, Jr, Forward, 6.0 ppg
Greg Robinson, Sr, Guard, 5.0 ppg
Key non-starters returning (Name, class, position, stats):
Damarion Johnson, Jr, Guard, 8.0 ppg
Prince Williams, Sr, Forward, 3.0 ppg
Newcomers to watch (Name, class, position):
Maurkalen Jones, Sr, Guard
Tournaments/Shootouts participating in or hosting:
Julian High School Christmas Tournament
Mather High School MLK Shootout
Coach’s season outlook:
We are looking forward to compete in the White West this season and are preparing our young men on how to play hard and play together so that we can reach our team goals this season.
School: Perspectives MSA/Joslin
Top Returning Players (Name, Position, Year in school):
Adebowale “Bo” Sanya, Senior, Guard
Javion Thompson, Senior, Wing
Ladarrell Goss, Junior, Guard
Top Newcomers (Name, Position, Year in school):
Darrius McKinney, Junior, Guard
Bruce Thomas, Junior, Guard
Richard Dabney, Junior, Guard
Coach’s season outlook: Seniors 6’4 Javion Thompson and PG Bo Sanya will look to lead the Wolves to winning the conference. The Wolves have plenty of guards as Junior guards Lederral Goss, Darius McKinney, and Bruce Thomas are key playing in the Wolves quest to go beyond a regional final in class 2A. Newcomer Richard Dabney and Tayshawn Marble look to be in the mix.
School name: Prosser Career Academy
2023-24 Season: 16-15
Social Media: IG: prosserhoops
Returning Starters:
Chris Smith, Jr., Guard
Leavarus Grayer, Sr., Guard
Damarae Carlton, Sr. Forward
Returning Players:
Treyshaun Strong, Jr., Guard
Marcell Carter, Sr., Center
Marion Williams, Sr. Forward
Arik Weathers, Sr., Forward
Newcomers:
Omari Curri
Avion Miles
Keith Craig
Shootouts and Tournaments:
CPS Holiday Jamboree 11/25 & 11/26 North Lawndale College Prep
Legacy Shootout 12/6 & 12/7 Prosser High School
Legacy Showdown 12/20 & 12/21 Atlanta, GA.
State Farm Holiday Classic 12/26-29 & 12/30 Bloomington, IL
Season Outlook:
Prosser returns a team that only lost 2 seniors last season. We are leaning on the leadership from the 5 returning seniors to help push our young backcourt into the White North championship race.
School: Taft
Last Year’s Record: 11-19
Social media handle: taftboysbball
Starters returning (Name, class, position):
Nathan Serrano, Junior, G
Erik Ramirez, Senior, G
Key non-starters returning (Name, class, position):
Connor Cantafio, G, Senior
Newcomers to watch (Name, class, position):
Noah Hester, Freshman, G/F
Marty Dempsey, Senior, G
Tournaments/Shootouts participating in or hosting:
Loyola/New Trier Thanksgiving Tournament
ICCP/Westmont Holiday Tournament
Coach’s season outlook:
We are looking to come out and compete in every game. We don’t have a lot of size so we are looking to speed the game up and make teams turn the ball over.
School: Von Steuben High School
Last Year’s Record: 9-17 overall/7-2 conference
Social media handle: X @BoyVon23192
Starters returning (Name, class, position, stats, honors):
Axel Rivera, Sr., PG, 12 ppg, 8 apg, 2 spg
Matthew Martinez, Sr., 2G, 16 ppg, 2023-2024 All-Conference
Key non-starters returning (Name, class, position):
Jaiden Cardona , Sr., G
Oludele Oyeleye, Sr., G
Newcomers to watch (Name, class, position):
Anthony Smith, Sr., F
Matthew Gardner, Jr., F
Tournaments/Shootouts:
Kankakee Holiday Classic @ Kankakee High School
Martin Luther King Jr Classic @ Marshall High School
Coach’s season outlook:
We will continue to build, and get better as a team with something to prove we compete.
School: Wells Community High School
Last Year’s Record: 15-11
Starters returning (Name, class, position, stats, honors):
Cornell Barrow, Sophomore, Point Guard, 6.7ppg, 4apg, 2spg
Newcomers to watch (Name, class, position):
Chris Tyus, Junior, Guard
Marcquan Patrick, Senior, Forward
Urhiness Cathery, Junior, Guard
Jacoby Cail, Junior, Forward
Kahlil Humphrey, Junior, Guard
Tournaments/Shootouts participating in or hosting:
Showdown in West Town (11/25-11/27)
Galesburg Holiday Tournament (11/29-11/30)
MLK Shootout at Marshall (1/18 or 1/19/25)
Chops Shootout (2/1/25)
Coach’s season outlook:
We are a young team, with only one player that played significant varsity minutes last year. Early in the season will be a complete mystery. We are lacking height, but we do have speed and defensive intensity. Excited to see how quickly they develop as a cohesive team.
School: Westinghouse
Last Year’s Record: 20-9
Social Media Handle:
X-@wwarriorsbball
Instagram-wwarriorsbball
Starters returning (Name, position, class):
Joseph Johnson, Guard, Senior
Amari Hudson, Wing, Senior
Nasir Fields, Guard, Junior
Terry Ricks, Guard, Senior
Key non-starters returning (Name, position, class):
Jemari Jackson, Guard, Senior
Newcomers to watch (Name, class, position):
Shawn Donaldson, Guard, Senior
Xavier Johnson, Wing, Sophomore
Tournaments/Shootouts you’re participating in and/or hosting:
St. Ignatius Thanksgiving Tournament
Adidas Showdown Atlanta
Big Dipper Christmas Tournament
Hyde Park Classic
Chops Billinger Classic
Coach’s season outlook:
This year’s team will have to adapt the old Westinghosue way of being blue collar and working hard team. We’re looking to be very disciplined and scrappy. Our goal is to compete for the Red Shield conference championship. Should be lots of high scoring games as we look to play an uptempo offensive style of basketball.
