DEEP SIX: A LOOK AT SOME RISING STARS

THOMAS, FEARS, PETTIGREW, PIERCE, SCHWIEGER, JOHNSON HAVE TAKEN THEIR GAMES UP A NOTCH THIS SEASON

Young, blossoming, under-the-radar prospects. They’re the type of players who get the high school basketball fan excited and college coaches intrigued. There have been several underclassmen who have both blossomed and grabbed their share of headlines this season.

Just two weeks ago the City⁄Suburban Hoops Report labeled Glenbard West’s Braden Huff, who will ultimately be a target for high-major programs, as the best young prospect no one knows. Now people know.

Other young prospects have made their mark already, including Tinley Park’s A.J. Casey. Following his transfer from Simeon to the south suburbs, Casey’s production has matched his potential with over 20 points per game. He has been the state’s No. 1 prospect in the sophomore class since the day he entered high school.

The sharp-shooting Jaden Schutt of Yorkville Christian averaged 16 points as a freshman and is now at 24 as a sophomore. Schutt, who has been billed as the state’s best shooter, is quickly approaching 100 made threes on the season, and he set a state record with 17 three-pointers in one game.

Buffalo Grove’s high-scoring Kam Craft and Oak Forest’s Robbie Avila are two other sophomores who already have made a major impact for two seasons at the varsity level. Craft, who is averaging 22.9 points, surpassed 1,000 career points last week.

But there are a bundle of other young players who are still flying under the radar. Their day is definitely coming.

Here is a short list of players in the junior, sophomore and freshmen classes who have taken their games to another level:

ALLEN CUNNINGHAM/FOR THE SUN - TIMES Tinley Park star sophomore A.J. Casey already is playing up to his potential as the state’s top prospect.