What a difference a year has made for Zion-Benton senior Karl Wilson.

In the past 12 months, the 6-foot-4 wing has gone from injured and inexperienced varsity rookie to self-assured leader.

“Our conference is very competitive, and that teaches me to work harder and prepare for intense games,” Wilson said of playing in the North Suburban Conference. “I try to give the best effort I can to help my team win. It helps that compared to last year, I feel much more comfortable on the court.”

There are multiple reasons Wilson, who is averaging 12.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks for the Zee-Bees (4-10, 1-2), is more comfortable this season. For starters, he’s completely healthy. He suffered an ankle injury on the second day of tryouts last season and wasn’t ready until late December.

“I was extremely nervous at first because it was like playing with a whole other team,” Wilson said. “It was a little awkward because people already had their roles and I was just trying to find mine.”

Due to the Zee-Bees’ roster makeup, Wilson was asked to play in the post almost exclusively. He was happy for any minutes he could get on the court, but he was playing a bit out of position.

“JV to varsity is a big jump to begin with, so I had to lock in and do what I could to help the team as a big man,” Wilson said. “I do have to say it did help me become more aggressive and physical, which was something I wasn’t used to.”

That experience made Wilson more versatile for the expanded role he occupies this season. He’s not only thriving in space but also exploiting matchup advantages down low.

Teammates like Rashad Love have noticed the difference.

“It seems like he’s bouncier, more explosive this year,” Love said. “He came into the season with a winning approach, and he knows when to score and when to help his teammates. He’s been showing that he’s a senior in games.”

Zion-Benton’s Karl Wilson (21) tries to block a shot by Lake Zurich’s Zach Bonelli-Schultz (20) during a North Suburban Conference game in Zion on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Mark Ukena / News-Sun)

Zion-Benton coach Rod Henry appreciates what Wilson did last season and knows it’s paying dividends.

“With him more on the perimeter, he’s shooting more and can get out into transition, and we’re calling sets for him,” Henry said. “You can tell that with this being his last year that he’s making a concerted effort to help in any way he can.

“There was one negotiating point that we talked about, that just because he’s not down low all the time, that doesn’t mean he can’t rebound.”

To Henry’s point, Wilson is leading the Zee-Bees in rebounding. He also showed coaches enough in workouts to be named one of three team captains.

“I was kind of shocked,” Wilson said of becoming a captain. “I knew I was working hard in the preseason. There’s a lot of weight on your shoulders, and it can be stressful. I’m a pretty outgoing person, but sometimes I have to push myself to keep the team together and communicate with everyone.”

All of Wilson’s positive vibes are directed toward one goal, which is winning. The Zee-Bees went 7-22 with just two conference victories last season. He believes the pieces are in place to improve on that.

“I have high expectations, and I’d like to get as many wins as possible,” Wilson said. “We sometimes do little things that show we have potential, but we have to put our heads down and make sure we give top effort for all four quarters.”

Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/07/basketball-zion-benton-karl-wilson/