Five Sauk Valley area boys basketball players to watch in the 2024-25 season

Here are five returning standout boys basketball players to watch this season in the Sauk Valley area.

Darius Harrington, Dixon, sr., F

The 6-foot-3 forward averaged 20 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game as a first-team All-Big Northern Conference pick last season. He also shot 61.9% from two-point range, 41.2% from 3-point range and 71.5% from the free-throw line. He is over 1,000 points for his career and set the school’s single-season scoring record with 599 points last season. He scored 34 points in a loss to Burlington Central on Wednesday.

Kuitim Heald, Rock Falls, sr., G

The 6-foot-3 combo guard averaged 15.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a first-team All-Big Northern Conference pick last season. He shot 46.5% from the field and 41.4% from 3-point range. He’s scored over 1,000 points in his career.

Parker Krogman, Eastland, jr., F

The 6-foot-3 wing averaged 13.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game as a unanimous first-team All-NUIC South pick and IBCA Class 1A special mention All-State pick last season. He shot 54.1% from the field.

Kaedon Phillips, Sterling, sr., PG

Phillips steps into a bigger scoring role this season following multiple productive players graduating. He started 24 games last season, averaging 7.5 points per game. Phillips scored 27 points to open the season in an 80-68 win over Plano.

Kade Girton, Oregon, sr., PF

The 6-foot-3 power forward has had a strong start to his senior campaign, scoring 25 points against Newman and leading the team with 15 against Marengo.

Also keep an eye on: Newman’s John Rowzee, George Jungerman and Garret Matznick; Rock Falls’ Ryken Howard; Sterling’s Nico Battagila and Maddux Osborn; Milledgeville’s Micah Toms-Smith.