High school basketball has entered a new era. Highly regarded freshmen make immediate impacts on varsity, and sophomores are so talented and poised that they are occasionally the best players on the state’s top teams.
In the past it was rare—Derrick Rose and Jalen Brunson territory—for a sophomore to lead one of the state’s best teams. But this season, five teams in the area were led by freshmen or sophomore stars: Oswego, Kenwood, Bolingbrook, Warren and Neuqua Valley.
Bolingbrook guard Davion Thompson took early success a step beyond even Rose or Brunson. The lefty scoring guard is the 2025 Sun-Times Player of the Year. He’s the first sophomore to earn the honor in the award’s 67-year history.
Teenagers’ eyes glaze over at the mention of history. Thompson is 16 and he’s focused on the future. Learning about juniors who won Player of the Year (Quinn Buckner, Jereme Richmond, Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor) is only mildly interesting. Thompson’s concern is maintaining his level and holding off all his challengers over the next few years.
“My parents preach being humble and to keep working,” Thompson said. “People are coming up all the time, working as hard as me. I have to stay dedicated and not get excited about all the noise around me.”
Thompson’s smooth-scoring touch and level-headed, calm demeanor stood out immediately as a freshman. He’s under control, efficient, and effective on the court, and there were no growing pains adjusting to varsity basketball.
“That came from playing so long on the travel circuit,” Davion’s dad, Dennis Thompson, said. “He’s met all the kids that can play. And he learned from playing quarterback that if he wants to win he has to keep a cool head. Quarterbacks have to stay calm and observe what everyone is doing.”
Thompson was chased by all the Catholic League football powers but decided to stick with basketball in high school.
“People say I was better at football but I just like basketball more,” Thompson said. “It’s more fun and I liked traveling for [club basketball]. Basketball was for me.”
Thompson averaged 24 points and five rebounds this season. He posted multiple games of more than 30 points and shot 58% on two-point shots, 49% on three-pointers and 90% from the free-throw line.
“His efficiency jumps off the page,” Bolingbrook coach Rob Brost said. “He has an ability to not force things and play within our system. That’s rare for a player of his caliber. I’ve coached some of the best players on the planet at USA Basketball. Davion exhibits the skill level of those players but is even more efficient.”
Most high school basketball phenoms have tunnel vision. The only hobby they cite is playing video games. Thompson is different.
“He loves fishing,” Tenia Thompson said. “Anytime he gets some downtime and the weather is ok he’s fishing. He doesn’t like the worms though, he uses his little niece to put the worm on the hook.”
The Raiders lost to Downers Grove North 29-26 in the Class 4A sectional semifinals on Tuesday. Bolingbrook began the season as the top-ranked team in the Super 25 and had state championship dreams.
“It was sad,” Tenia Thompson said. “He shed some tears with his brother.”
The state’s two other elite sophomores, Kenwood’s Devin Cleveland and Warren’s Jaxson Davis will play for sectional championships on Friday. Cleveland finished second in this season’s Player of the Year vote.
It takes more than just mega-talented sophomores for a youth movement to take over Chicago area high school basketball. The emergence of the talented sophomores coincided with a downturn in talent in the senior and junior classes.
Would Thompson and Cleveland have been able to fend off a highly successful senior heading to Duke for the Player of the Year award? It’s hard to say, but they would have had a chance. Things have changed. Freshman Cole Kelly posted the best season in Neuqua Valley school history this year. The best 15 and 16-year-olds have suddenly become dominant players at the varsity level.
“It’s just normal to me,” Thompson said. “Our class is very special. There are a lot of really skilled players. It’s basketball. If you show what you can do and how you can make an impact on the game it doesn’t matter if you are a sophomore or a freshman.”
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
2023—Jeremy Fears Jr., Joliet West
2022—Braden Huff, Glenbard West
2021—Max Christie, Rolling Meadows
2020—DJ Steward, Young
2019—DaJuan Gordon, Curie
2018—Talen Horton-Tucker, Simeon
2016—Charlie Moore, Morgan Park
2014—Cliff Alexander, Curie
2013—Jahlil Okafor, Young
2012—Jabari Parker, Simeon
2011—Wayne Blackshear, Morgan Park
2010—Jereme Richmond, Waukegan
2009—Jereme Richmond, Waukegan
2008—Kevin Dillard, Homewood-Flossmoor
2007—Derrick Rose, Simeon
2006—Jon Scheyer, Glenbrook North
2005—DeAndre Thomas, Westinghouse
2004–Calvin Brock, Simeon
2003—Shannon Brown, Proviso East
2002—Sean Dockery, Julian
2001—Eddy Curry, Thornwood
2000—Cedrick Banks, Westinghouse
1999—Leon Smith, King
1998—Quentin Richardson, Young
1997—Melvin Ely, Thornton
1996—Ronnie Fields, Farragut
1995—Kevin Garnett, Farragut
1994—Jerry Gee, St. Martin de Porres
1993—Rashard Griffith, King
1992—Chris Collins, Glenbrook North
1991—Sherell Ford, Proviso East
1990—Jamie Brandon, King
1989—Deon Thomas, Simeon
1988—Eric Anderson, de Sales
1987—Marcus Liberty, King
1986—Nick Anderson, Simeon
1985—Michael Ingram, Proviso West
1984—Hersey Hawkins, Westinghouse
1983—Len Bertolini, St. Patrick
1982—Bernard Jackson, Phillips
1981—Walter Downing, Providence
1980—Glenn Rivers, Proviso East
1979—Isiah Thomas, St. Joseph
1978—Mark Aguirre, Westinghouse
1977—Eddie Johnson, Westinghouse
1976—Glen Grunwald, East Leyden
1975—Pete Boesen, Maine South
1974—Audie Matthews, Bloom
1973—Mark Vitali, St. Charles
1972—Quinn Buckner, Thornridge
1971—Quinn Buckner, Thornridge
1970—Lloyd Batts, Thornton
1969—Jim Brewer, Proviso East
1968—Jeff Hickman, Lockport
1967—Rick Howat, Downers Grove
1966—Rich Bradshaw, Marshall
1965—Terry Hurley, Steinmetz
1964—Eugene Ford, Crane
1963—Joe Allen, Carver
1962—Cazzie Russell, Carver
1961—Bob Caress, Thornton
1960—George Wilson, Marshall