Libertyville’s Aidyn Boone is the 2022-23 News-Sun Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Football? Not an option.

Libertyville’s season became a personal proving ground for Aidyn Boone, whether or not he intended it.

Over 35 games, the senior forward blossomed into the best player on the best team in Lake County.

“All I was hoping for was to make a positive impact for the betterment of the team,” Boone said. “None of this would have been possible without my teammates.”

Indeed, Boone was surrounded by four other senior starters. But after a season as the Wildcats’ sixth man, he quickly proved to be the missing link that made the entire operation hum like clockwork.

Boone, the 2022-23 News-Sun Boys Basketball Player of the Year, averaged 16.0 points and 6.0 rebounds as Libertyville (29-6) set a school record for wins and reached the Class 4A Hoffman Estates Supersectional. He scored at least 20 points 10 times, putting up a career-high 30 points against Zion-Benton on Jan. 10, and had seven double-doubles.

He was selected for the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s Class 4A all-state third team and was named all-conference in the North Suburban.

Team accomplishments were plentiful too. Libertyville won the Wheeling Hardwood Classic in December, the conference title and its first sectional championship since 1994.

That final milestone was achieved when Boone hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat Barrington on Feb. 28.

“If you take Aidyn out of the picture, we’re not nearly the same team,” Libertyville coach Brian Zyrkowski said. “He’s a win-first type of guy who does all of the intangibles. But the way he defends and what he can do on offense make him someone really difficult to deal with.”

Boone’s versatility sets him apart. His 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame allows him to be physical in the paint, both finishing at the rim and effectively working the glass.

But Boone is also quick enough to be effective on the perimeter. If an opponent gives him space, Boone can knock down a jumper, and if someone comes too close, he’ll blow by or kick to a teammate.

“I take pride in being able to guard different positions,” Boone said. “And in the offseason, I really focused on shooting and being more physical.”

Boone led the Wildcats’ summer shots calendar and was a fixture in the gym. He also broke into the starting lineup for his talented Full Package AAU team, where Dmitry Pirshin was his coach.

“We have everyone bring up the ball, and him showing he could do that showed a universal nature to his game,” said Pirshin, who is also the coach at Carmel. “You could see his confidence growing.”

Boone’s fall workout regimen got him in tiptop physical condition and set the stage for him to shine in the sport his mother, Sarah Buckley, played at powerhouse Marian in Detroit’s suburbs.

Boone’s singular devotion to basketball might be surprising. He played soccer more than any other sport while he was growing up, and his father, Alfonso, was a defensive lineman in the NFL for 10 seasons, including six for the Chicago Bears.

But basketball ultimately won Boone’s favor.

“Football was never really on the table, unless he wanted to be the kicker,” Buckley said. “He outgrew soccer, and basketball was an afterthought when he was younger. But as his confidence grew, his love for the game grew too. It’s been a fun journey, and now we’re figuring out the next step.”

Boone’s “next step” includes playing in college. Determining where is his primary extracurricular activity this spring. Boone has received interest from 10 to 15 programs across several levels, including NCAA Division III, NAIA and junior college.

Having those options puts Boone in a much different position than he was in before the season. But he’s not necessarily surprised.

“Even though I was a late bloomer, I was always hoping to play in college,” Boone said. “I appreciate the people who pushed me, and there was a lot of self-want. The competition fuels that.”

Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.