Five juniors to watch next season
There are a host of juniors who rose to the occasion during the just- completed 2017- 18 season. Their roles only will expand going forward with more maturity, confidence and opportunity.
Here are five less- heralded players in the Class of 2019 who are ready to shine this offseason for college coaches in preparation for what should be big senior seasons next winter.
Raymond “Ray J” Dennis, Oswego East
The talented and smooth 6- 2 combo guard was a bright light in thewestern suburbs this past season and is among the City/ Suburban Hoops Report’s top 20 prospects in the class. He averaged 17.2 points. 4.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds as a junior, and his length led to 44 steals and 72 deflections.
Dennis makes shots in bunches. He has a pull- up three- pointer, a spot- up three- pointer and a catch- and- shoot three- pointer at his disposal. He made 39 percent of his threepointers this past season ( 66- for- 171).
Marquise Kennedy, Brother Rice
A 6- 1 combo guard who continues to morph into a more traditional point guard under the tutelage of coach Bobby Frasor, Kennedy is poised to become one of the top players in the Class of 2019.
Kennedy was extremely productive all season in helping the Crusaders to 19 victories and a regional championship. He averaged 17.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists and shot 81 percent from the free- throw line. He also made an impact defensively, with 48 steals and 37 blocked shots, a whopping number for a guard.
Treyvon Calvin, St. Viator
Calvin made a name for himself by winning the Class 4A three- point shootout in March after putting together a heck of a junior season for the East Suburban Catholic Conference champs.
The 6- foot junior not only has an ability to get other players involved, but he provides a steady stream of scoring. He filled the stat sheet all season, averaging 17 points, five rebounds and three assists, and shot 44 percent from three- point range.
Chris Roberts, Lincoln Park
There isn’t a player in the junior class who plays at a more breakneck pace than Roberts, a blur with the ball in the open court. He is an absolutely devastating weapon in transition.
The 6- foot point guard averaged 16 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 steals this past season, including a 42- point, 10- rebound effort in a victory against Whitney Young in December.
Fred Cleveland, Leo
The 5- 7 mighty mite was pretty dynamic this past season. He immediately became the Lions’ go- to player and was named the Catholic League Player of the Year in the small- school division.
Cleveland has a lot to his game and plays with sizzle and creativity. He can push the tempo and get into the teeth of a defense and has a nice feel as a passer and scorer once he’s there. He averaged 20.3 points, seven assists and 3.5 steals as a junior.