With winter sports drawing near, Niles North is less than a week away from the start of the 2025-2026 boys basketball season, and the hype is here.

Last year, the Varsity basketball team had a phenomenal season. They ended with a 24-7 record, were ranked 21st in the state, making school history by winning their 7th 4A regional championship, becoming conference champions for the third consecutive year in a row, and adding three Seniors to the 1,000 point club. 

T”he team’s mission is no different from other years,” head coach Glenn Olson said. “The goal is to win the Central Suburban League North and play the best basketball throughout the season. And put ourselves into a position to compete for a regional title.”

With the loss of last year’s seniors, there will be a fresh new lineup and new athletes to step up and fill those spots.

“We lost a ton of points, but I don’t think this team’s biggest issue is gonna be our scoring,” Olson said. “I think we’ve got enough guys to score the basketball. What we’re lacking is experience. We probably are gonna have a few lumps here and there, but we’re gonna learn and grow from them.”

The road to success is definitely not an easy path. Next week, the team starts its season playing DePaul College Prep. Who was ranked 42nd nationally, following Lane Tech, and a tournament over Thanksgiving break.

The team, along with students, is hyped for a season of success.

“I’m looking forward to playing Depaul Prep, who was ranked nationally, and playing alongside my boys for one last time,” senior captain Mustaf Rexhepi saying,

Be sure to catch the Boys play Depaul Prep today at 5:30, November 24th, at Lane Tech High School.