The NBCSPreps Top 50 Boys Basketball Players to Watch By Scott Phillips • Published November 18, 2017 • Updated on November 19, 2017 at 7:03 pm Share #NBCSPREPS50 Camron Donatlan (@DonatlanCamron), West Aurora senior guard. Perhaps the area's best multi-sport athlete, Donatlan is already over 1,000 points in his career.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 20, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Xavier Castaneda (@castaneda_x), Whitney Young senior point guard. Already a state champion and USF commit, Castaneda is one of the state's more accomplished players.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 20, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Perry Cowan (@_pc_23), DePaul Prep junior guard. A known Division I prospect the past few seasons, Cowan could become an All-Area player this season.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 20, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Ethan Schuemer (@E_schuems32), Willowbrook senior forward. Already helping Willowbrook to a school record for wins, Schuemer is hoping to lead the school to postseason success.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 20, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Zion Young, Simeon senior guard. An exciting transfer guard with very good athleticism, Young adds to a ridiculous Simeon backcourt.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 19, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Sam Shafer (@sam_shafer11) Lincoln-Way East wing. One of the area's best sharpshooters, this Southern Illinois commit is capable of 30-point games.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 19, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Aaron Strong (@strongaaron750), Farragut junior guard. The Admirals have high hopes this season thanks to Strong and younger brother Reggie. They form one of the city's best backcourts.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 19, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Joseph Yesefu, (@_liljoe1) Bolingbrook junior guard. Already experienced heading into his final two years, Yesefu is an All-Area candidate.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 19, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Zion Griffin (@BabyKd14) Hinsdale South senior forward. The Iowa State commit put up monster numbers last season and got even better this offseason. Player of the Year candidate.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 19, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Jeremiah Hernandez (@aintujerry_), St. Viator junior forward. At times very good as a sophomore, Hernandez is the go-to guy for the Lions this season.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 19, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Alex Casieri, Deerfield senior guard. A three-year starter, Casieri is a playmaking guard and one of the area's more underrated players.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 19, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Markese Jacobs (@TheShowJacobs), Uplift junior guard. The Kansas commit is one of the area's biggest highlight reels as he can make defenders look silly.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 19, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Evan Taylor (@Evant2415), Glenbard West junior wing. An intriguing Division I prospect, Taylor has the size, length and athleticism to take over a game.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 19, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Adam Miller (@AceWolf44), Morgan Park sophomore guard. Miller could be the city's next superstar after transferring in from Peoria Manual.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 19, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Jalen Shaw (@JalenShaw30), Larkin senior center. After a breakout spring, Shaw is expected to be one of the area's best post players.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 19, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Ty Mosley (@TyBuckets10), Orr senior wing. Defending 2A champs are loaded, and Mosley, a Milwaukee commit, is a very promising long-term prospect.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Tom Welch (@Welch8Tom), Naperville North junior forward. After helping the Huskies to a sectional title, the 6-7 Welch became a DI prospect this summer.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Xavier Pinson (@xpinson3), Simeon senior guard. Transferring from St. Pat's this offseason, Pinson is a dynamic playmaker and one of the best unsigned seniors in IL.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Lance Jones (@LanceBuckets), Evanston junior guard. With Nojel Eastern now at Purdue, Jones is part of a talented group of junior guards for the Wildkits.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Ayo Dosunmu (@AyoDos_11), Morgan Park senior guard. The Mr. Basketball favorite and Illinois commit is hoping to lead the Mustangs to back-to-back state titles.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Eddie Creal (@eddiecreal03), Romeoville senior guard. The Joliet West transfer could be the missing piece that Romeoville needs to be one of the area's elite teams.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Javon Freeman (@AintuJavon), Whitney Young senior guard. State champion had a strong summer before committing to Valparaiso. Sleeper Player of the Year candidate.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Jack McDonald (@jackmcdonald_3) Geneva junior point guard. The Vikings are in good hands as long as the steady McDonald has the ball.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Toraze Dobbs (@t_dubs25) Uplift senior forward. A noted perimeter shooter, Dobbs is also willing to mix it up on the interior as he's a nightly double-double threat.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Demaria Franklin (@just_a_hooper23), Niles North senior. Capable of playing above the rim and putting up 30-point games, Franklin is the leader of a Niles North team with high hopes.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Nas Turner (@__nasx25), Kenwood senior forward. A potential breakout player for the Broncos, the 6-foot-6 Turner has a lot of upside.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Brandon Ellis, Warren senior guard. Underrated in the area, Ellis could put up monster numbers thanks to his tremendous athleticism.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Jordan Matthews, St. Rita senior guard. A varsity mainstay for the Mustangs, Matthews is a strong two-way player.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Talen Horton-Tucker (@Thortontucker), Simeon senior wing. One of the area's most versatile threats, the Iowa State commit is a major Player of the Year candidate.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Ryan Davis (@thelegendRD3), Conant senior center. The Vermont commit might be the area’s best post scorer as he’s a constant double-double threat.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 16, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Kejuan Clements (@Glogodke), Simeon junior guard. One of the smoothest players in the area, Clements doesn't get nearly enough credit for the loaded Wolverines.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 17, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Jake Wolfe, (@wolfee_jake3), Aurora Christian senior wing. The Lipscomb commit is one of the area's best shooters as he has a chance to put up big scoring numbers this season.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 17, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Justin Boyd, Whitney Young senior wing. Armed with a picturesque perimeter jumper, Boyd's impressive state-title game performance could carry over into a big senior season.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 17, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Ryan Kutsor (@ryankutsor), Lake Zurich senior guard. The leader of the Pekin Holiday Tournament in scoring last season, Kutsor can fill it up from all over the floor.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 17, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Raekwon Drake (@balllingdrake), Orr senior forward. The area's premier dunker, and a human highlight reel, Drake and the Spartans are heavy favorites to claim another 2A title.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 17, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Justin Hardy (@jhardy_32), St. Charles East senior forward. One of the area's best clutch players, Hardy regularly contributes double-doubles while scoring from all over the floor.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 17, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Maurice Commander (@ReeseMC3), Curie senior point guard. The reigning ESCC Player of the Year is one of the area's biggest transfers. Commander gives the Condors a high-level shooter.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 17, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Bryant Brown (@B_brown_25), Waukegan junior forward. After a promising sophomore season, Brown could be a poised for a huge season.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 17, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Tamell Pearson (@tamellpearson) Morgan Park senior center. The UAB commit has a chance to be the area's best big man this season. Pearson had a very good summer.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 17, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 D.J. Steward (@djsteward21), Fenwick sophomore guard. One of the state's best players, regardless of class. Steward is polished and unflappable despite being an underclassman.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 17, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Tyler Cochran, Bolingbrook junior guard. Emerged this summer as one of the better players in the state's junior class. Part of a lethal perimeter for the Raiders.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 17, 2017 #NBCSPREPS50 Chase Adams (@chasec0urage), Orr senior point guard. An impact transfer for the Spartans, a talented and unselfish team gets one of the area's best floor generals.— Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps) November 17, 2017