Here are the Peoria area's top 15 high school boys basketball players for 2023-24

Much like the top Peoria-area girls hoopers, Division-I talent will be on full display for the upcoming high school boys basketball season.

The 2023-24 campaign officially opens with games on Nov. 20. The Illinois High School Association postseason opens Feb. 19-23. Sectionals are Feb. 27 to March 1 with supersectionals on March 4. State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus hosts the state finals from March 7-9.

Here are 15 players to watch in and around the Peoria area. All players were named Journal Star all-area, all-state or all-conference last season. Athletes are listed in alphabetical order with statistics and honors from the 2022-2023 season.

Peoria high school basketball previews: Top girls players | Top girls teams | Top boys teams

Hank Alvey, Illini Bluffs

The 6-foot-9 senior forward will be the catalyst for arguably the state's best Class 1A team. He's committed to Lehigh after averaging 15.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 2.4 blocks last season. His individual accolades include unanimous all-Tomahawk Conference and all-Inter-County Athletic Conference first team, second-team all-state by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and The Associated Press.

Keauntry Barnes, Farmington

The 6-foot-6 senior guard/forward has become a hot commodity for colleges following his breakout junior season. He averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks for the Farmers. His accolades include being named unanimous all-Prairieland Conference-North Division first division along with being named all-tournament team at the Macomb-Western Holiday and Fulton County tournaments.

Eoin Dillon, Peoria Notre Dame

The 6-foot-9 senior guard/forward saw his stock continuously rise, culminating with a Belmont commitment in September. He averaged 13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, while shooting 40% from 3-point land and hit 85% of his free throws. PND will be a contender for the Class 2A state title contender behind Dillon's play. His accolades include being named all-Big 12 Conference second-team selection.

Tyler Heffren, Eureka

The 6-foot-4 senior forward will be not be missed by opposing coaches after dominating the small-school scene his last two years. He averaged 18.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists for the 24-win and Heart of Illinois Conference champions. His accolades include being named all-HOI first team, IBCA all-state honorable mention and AP all-state honorable mention. He's also the two-time reigning MWHT MVP.

Luke Hopp, Metamora

The 6-foot-8 senior forward will have bigger role as one of two returning starters for the reigning 3A state champions. His college interest includes Winona State, Olivet Nazarene, Augustana, Illinois Wesleyan and others. He averaged 5.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists, while starting all 36 games for the Redbirds last season. Hopp's accolades include being named all-Mid-Illini second team.

Metamora basketball: Every story from Redbirds run to the Class 3A basketball championship

Matthew Juergens, Pekin

The 6-foot-4 senior guard/forward will look to lead the Dragons to their first Class 4A regional championship since 2019. He averaged 14.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals, while shooting 41.7% percent from the field and 84.1% from the line. His accolades include being one of just two returning all-Mid-Illini first team selections. Juergens was also named all-M-I first team as a sophomore.

Cooper Koch, Metamora

The 6-foot-8 senior forward will look to make a big impact for the reigning Class 3A state champs following his transfer from PND. Koch, who is an Iowa commit, averaged 18.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals, while shooting 48% from the field and 40% from the 3-point line. His accolades include all-Big 12 first team along with being named second-team AP all-state and an IBCA first-team all-stater.

Metamora basketball: Reigning state champion Redbirds earn preseason national ranking

Tyler Mason, Metamora

The reigning Journal Star player of the year is back for the nationally-ranked and reigning 3A state champions. The 6-foot-1 senior guard and Winona State commit averaged 15.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.0 steals to lead the Redbirds in all four of those statistical categories. His accolades include all-Mid-Illini first team, IBCA third team all-state and honorable mention all-state by the AP.

Micah Meiss, El Paso-Gridley

The 6-foot-4 junior guard will team 6-foot-9 classmate Jonah Funk to be one of the area's toughest 1-2 punches in 2A. Meiss averaged 18.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals, while shooting 40.1% from the field and 88.1% from the free-throw line. The Titans won 18 games last season and last won a regional in 2022. His accolades include all-HOI first team and IBCA all-state special mention.

Malachi Persinger, Peoria Christian

The 5-foot-10 junior guard will continue to see his role expanded for the Chargers, who are looking to win a fifth consecutive 1A regional title. He averaged 17.2 points, 3.8 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals, while hitting 86 3-points last season. His accolades include all-ICAC first team and IBCA all-state honorable mention, while being named to the Peoria Heights and Williamsville all-tournament teams.

Peoria sports: 604 names to know in high school sports for the 2023-24 school year

Dietrich Richardson, Manual

The 6-foot-6 junior point guard has become one of the hottest college prospects in Peoria. Richardson, who is the nephew of former Illini standout D.J. Richardson, picked up a scholarship offer from Illinois on Nov. 11. This adds to his list that includes Bradley, Indiana State, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Vanderbilt, Southern Illinois and Bryant. His accolades include all-Big 12 first team as the Rams now play in 2A.

Tavie Smith, Richwoods

The 6-foot-1 senior guard was the leading scorer last season for the 25-win Knights, who made the 3A Sweet 16 last season. Smith will have great success with backcourt mate Jared Jackson. He averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals. His accolades include all-Big 12 first team along with being named all-state honorable mention by the IBCA and an AP special mention all-state pick.

Lathan Sommerville, Richwoods

The 6-foot-10 senior forward/center is back in Peoria following two seasons at a Georgia prep school. Sommerville committed Rutgers in April following a junior season where he averaged 13.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He joins a Richwoods program where the Knights won their first regional title in 13 years, then lost to eventual state champion Metamora in the sectional championship.

Background: Why this elite Division-I recruit is returning to play high school basketball in Peoria

Leshawn Stowers, Peoria High

The 6-foot-5 junior guard is another member of the class of 2025 leading the Peoria basketball resurgence. Stowers continues to garner college interest with scholarship offers from Southern Illinois, Eastern Illinois and Incarnate Word. He averaged 9.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists, while shooting 41% from behind the 3-point line. His accolades include being an all-Big 12 honorable mention selection.

Matthew Zobrist, Metamora

The 6-foot-5 junior guard has a slew of college scholarship offers after a great summer with Mid-Pro Academy. His offers include Eastern Illinois, Bryant, Illinois State and Bradley. He averaged 4.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists, while shooting 34% from the field and 69% on free throws. Zobrist appeared in all 36 games as the sixth-man for the reigning 3A state champs.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA boys basketball preview: Peoria players to watch for 2023-24