Ten players poised for breakout high school basketball seasons

Even with what were very modest numbers, Deerfield’s Tommy Donahue was instrumental in helping Deerfield to a Class 3A state runner-up finish a year ago as a junior.

While he averaged just under seven points a game, he filled his role exceptionally well and most importantly made plays when they counted. But the 6-4 guard took off when the postseason began, emerging as a regular double-figure scorer as the Warriors reached the State Finals for the first time in program history.

“Tommy’s emergence, really starting with the regional championship game, kind of shifted our season,” said coach Jack DiMatteo, who takes over the program this year after being an assistant the past four years.

The confidence he gained in the state tournament run propelled Donahue. He turned in what was an ultra-impressive summer. There were multiple games in June where he drained eight or more three-pointers while he was a regular 20-point scorer.

“He really is a product of the work he’s put in,” DiMatteo said. “The coolest part is he doesn’t do it alone. He’s always bringing in teammates with him to work.”

The last few years the offensive strategy remained pretty simple: utilize Dartmouth-bound big man Jake Pollack to the fullest. The four out, one in offense was designed to do just that with Pollack in the high or low post.

But this year it will be more guard heavy. DiMatteo will rely on his perimeter players, setting up what should be a breakout season for Donahue, one of the premier shooters in the area.

While Donahue’s strength is his perimeter shooting, he will be both on the ball and off the ball for the Warriors, creating a versatile scoring threat for DiMatteo and matchup challenges for opponents.

“We will use Tommy as a playmaker with some ball screens while also creating open catch-and-shoot situations for him,” DiMatteo said. “He is capable of posting up smaller guards as well. This summer he showed a variety of ways that he can score.”

Donahue ended his recruitment this fall with a commitment to Division III power Washington-University in St. Louis. That makes Donahue one of the highest ranked City/Suburban Hoops Report players to go the Division III route.

Donahue’s overall numbers of 6.8 points a game and 36 made threes last season will skyrocket this winter. With what he showed this past offseason, Donahue is poised to be one of the true breakout players in the 2026-27 season.

Here are nine other prime breakout candidates this season.

Kendall Meyers, Marist

The defending state champs graduated four starters and six of their top seven players. That leaves a long, wide open runway for the lone returning starter. The 6-5 Meyers can play multiple positions and will continue to be a Swiss Army knife. But expect even more of an impactful scorer this season after averaging 7.7 points a game as a junior.

Jamier Montgomery, Crane

The show will revolve around the smooth scoring, Kent State-bound guard. But now as a senior he’s ready for it as he’s shown greater consistency, efficiency and confidence during the spring and summer circuit.

Michael Woods, Perspectives-Leadership

The biggest strength of this sleeper team could be the downhill force of Woods, who could be the biggest impact player in the Public League. The bucket-getting guard transferred back to the city from Don Bosco Prep in Indiana and may very well provide 20-plus points a night.

Terrence Davis, Libertyville

Thus far the injury bug has slowed the 6-2 junior down over the past year; Davis played just one game last season. But a healthy Davis will display his talent and explosiveness quickly and emerge as a big name in the Class of 2028.

Ryan Whitt, Phillips

This is a unique young player in the city. Whitt is a unknown sophomore with the strength and body to go with athleticism and emerging skill on the perimeter. Big numbers and an emergence awaits for the rugged 6-5 Whitt.

Grant Smith, Lyons

The feeling is Smith flew under the radar a bit last season when you consider he averaged 17 points a game as a sophomore. With a big productive year under his belt and plenty of recruiting steam, the athletic 6-6 Smith will be a game-changer this season.

Dajuan Brown, Bradley-Bourbonnais

An under-the-radar freshman season included leading the team in rebounding and assists while averaging 9.1 points a game. The 6-2 guard will break out as one of the top players in the sophomore class as Bradley-Bourbonnais will enjoy more success with Brown and three other returning starters.

Noah Van Tholen, Riverside-Brookfield

Van Tholen passes the look test with athleticism and outstanding positional size as a 6-3 point guard. Fresh off an impressive summer, Van Tholen could double his sophomore numbers of nine points and three assists a game.

Orlando Bohlen, Payton

Bohlen is only a sophomore, but he will firmly put his name on the radar this season after a freshman year where he quietly but impressively averaged 15 points a game. Even more remarkable? He’s a shooter who made 49 percent from beyond the arc a year ago.