Naperville North's Johnson earns MVP selection

Naperville North senior forward Chris Johnson has earned the first Daily Herald MVP honor of the boys basketball season for his recent performances.

Chris Johnson, Naperville North: The Huskies won the Hoops for Healing title behind the play of Johnson, the tournament MVP. The 6-foot-7 senior forward averaged 15.8 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 3 assists as the Huskies went 4-0. Johnson had 19 points and 15 rebounds in a 59-50 win over Proviso East in the final.

AJ Franklin, St. Edward: This Green Wave senior, who led his soccer team to fourth place in Class 1A, started off the basketball season with a bang as St. Edward won the Westminster Christian Thanksgiving Tournament. Franklin, a 6-foot-3 forward, had 86 points in the four games, accounting for 36 percent of his team's scoring. He had 16 points against Alden-Hebron and 13 against Elgin Academy before breaking out with 26 in a 61-48 win over Indian Creek and then 29 in the 55-41 championship game win over Westminster.

Jeremiah Hernandez, St. Viator: The junior forward was the picture of consistency as the Lions turned back four quality foes in their own Majkowski Classic over a long Thanksgiving week. Hernandez finished with 18 points in a 58-52 win over Conant to clinch the title and also had efforts of 18 (against Libertyville) and 15 (against Prospect).

Drew Peterson, Libertyville: An all-area player since his sophomore year, the 6-foot-8 senior guard continues to raise his game. He averaged 26.5 points in four games and surpassed 1,000 career points in the Wildcats' season-opening tournament hosted by St. Viator. He poured in 35 points in an 85-75 loss to Evanston.