There are countless must see players in the quickly approaching high school basketball season but here are several who all have big reasons to check them out. 

Nathan Freiheit - 2027 - C - Buffalo Grove

Freiheit is one of the more intriguing, high upside available big men in Illinois’ 2027 class. Not only does he have great size as a seven footer but also has a rare combination of tools as well. Freiheit moves very well at his size in addition to being able to shoot the three. He showed good growth in the grassroots season with PAC Elite and is primed for a breakout senior season with Buffalo Grove. 

Max Michalak - 2027 - PF - Whitnall

Michalak has continued to show his ability to do a bit of everything on the court over the past year. This started in his junior season with Whitnall in which he averaged 14.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. It continued into the grassroots season where he was one of the most well rounded forwards on the NY2LA Association with Team Herro. Even while having some size at 6’6”, Michalak is such a versatile forward who knows how to play. He uses his height and solid frame to be a tough interior force defensively and has good touch finishing it inside but also shoots it well from three, can handle the ball, and passes it very well with good vision. 

Preston Parmentier - 2027 - G - L’Anse Creuse North

For colleges still looking for a shooter for their 2027 class, Parmentier is a guard to watch this season. After averaging 18 points in his junior season while hitting 81 threes, the guard continued his hot shooting into the grassroots season with Reach Legends as one of the top shooters on the NY2LA Association. As well to his pure outside shooting, Parmentier has also shown growth with his playmaking with the ball both creating his own shot in the mid-range and running the point. 

Nathaniel Rouse - 2027 - F - St. Viator

Whether it has been with St. Viator or ALL IN, Rouse is a player who has continued to build his game over the past year. This has led to the senior seeing a jump start in his recruitment earning offers from Edgewood and Augustana College over the past few months. As well to standing at 6’6”, Rouse is an impactful player both in the paint as well as on the perimeter. He plays with good toughness inside battling on the glass and finishing strong but Rouse can also really shoot it from the outside plus continues to grow as a ballhandler. 

Connor Sickler - 2027 - F - East Troy

While Sickler was a major stock booster over the grassroots season playing with 24Up, he is still an under the radar player with all of his tools for the next level. As well as being 6’6”, he is an explosive athlete with some growing skills too. As well as being a versatile defender and can get to the rim and finish big, Sickler has also proven to be a consistent three point shooter. If his game continues to trend upwards, look for him to be a popular target in his senior season.