Boys Basketball: Suburban Life All-Area team

Led by Player of the Year Bryce Hopkins, here is the Suburban Life All-Area boys basketball team.

Parker Brown, Wheaton Warrenville South, senior: DuKane Conference Player of the Year for a Tigers team that went 16-2 and won its last 13 league games. Brown, a quarterback who will play football in college at Indiana Wesleyan, led the Tigers in points (11.3 a game), rebounds (5.7) and assists (3.9) and was second in steals. Shot 51% from the floor, 38% on 3-pointers.

JP Hanley, Riverside-Brookfield, junior: Leader of junior-laden Bulldogs team that finished 11-2. The 6-foot-3 Hanley averaged 16 points and 5.8 rebounds, shot 45.7% from the 3-point line and 56.9% from inside the arc.

Josh Harris, Timothy Christian, senior: Quick, athletic 6-foot-5 guard led Trojans to Metro Suburban Blue title this year and first state tournament appearance since 1980 last year. Harris, an Illinois College commit, averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals for 14-2 Trojans.

Fenwick's Bryce Hopkins drives to the basket during Proviso West Holiday Tournament game.  Dec 29 2019

Bryce Hopkins, Fenwick, senior: The 6-foot-6 Kentucky recruit, the second-ranked senior in Illinois and a top 30 recruit nationally, was a matchup nightmare with his blend of power and guard-like skills. Hopkins averaged 24.4 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists and shot 62.2% from the field. Recipient of the Chicago Catholic League’s Lawless Award.

Braden Huff, Glenbard West, junior: With added muscle, 6-foot-10 junior enjoyed breakout season, averaging 17.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 blocks in just 22 minutes a game for Hilltoppers team that went 16-1, shared West Suburban Silver title and won the West Suburban Conference Tournament. Shot 3s at a 46% clip. Has offers from Wisconsin, Northwestern, Creighton and Virginia Tech.

Tavari Johnson, Lyons, junior: The 6-foot point guard was unselfish, an excellent passer and a disruptive on-ball defender who wanted to guard the other team’s best player. Johnson averaged 17 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, shot 47% from the 3-point line and 58% inside the arc.

Kyle Kostes, Lemont, senior: Guard averaged 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Leader of an Indians team that finished 12-1.

Jack Mielke, Downers Grove North, senior: Southern Indiana recruit led Trojans team that finished 13-2 and was West Suburban Silver co-champion. Mielke, a 6-foot-7 forward, averaged 15.9 points and 7.2 rebounds. Scored 25 points in overtime win over Lyons and 19 to knock off previously unbeaten Glenbard West.

Jesus Perez, Morton, senior: Electric with the ball in his hands, senior guard was a one-man press breaker and led Mustangs team that was leading West Suburban Gold when season was shut down because of COVID-19 protocols. Also a soccer star, Perez averaged 24 points, 7.3 assists, 4.8 steals and 3 rebounds. Scored a career-high 31 points in last game, a win over Oak Park-River Forest.

Glenbard East's LaDonus Rogers grabs a rebound against Aurora Christian during the When Sides Collide Shootout at Glenbard East on Jan 25 2020. Rogers scored 19 points Saturday in a loss to Naperville Central, a day after scoring a career-high 27.

LaDonus Rogers, Glenbard East, senior: The 6-foot-5 two-year varsity player averaged 16.2 points and 10.8 rebounds. Had career-high 27 points and 17 rebounds against Streamwood. Shot 54% from the field.

Charlie Sessa, Hinsdale Central, senior: Columbia football recruit enjoyed stellar basketball season for 11-4 Red Devils. The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 19 points and 6 rebounds and shot 57% from the field.

Benet's Tyler Van Eekeren (3) tries to get around Timothy Christian's Josh Harris during a game at Timothy Christian in Elmhurst on Friday, March 12, 2021.

Tyler Van Eekeren, Benet, senior: Skilled 6-foot-5 wing will play in college at Division III power Washington University in St. Louis. Averaged 9.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists and was strong defender for 10-4 Benet team that gave up just 36 points a game.

Joshua  Welge

Joshua Welge

I am the Sports Editor for Kendall County Newspapers, the Kane County Chronicle and Suburban Life Media, covering primarily sports in Kendall, Kane, DuPage and western Cook counties. I've been covering high school sports for 24 years. I also assist with our news coverage.