Naperville North's Will Harvey Balances Basketball, Football, and Running a Business

The senior forward excels on the court and in the classroom, while also co-founding a successful home services company called Neighborly Needs.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Naperville North senior Will Harvey is a standout athlete, playing varsity football and basketball, while also co-founding and running a thriving home services business called Neighborly Needs. The 6-foot-3 forward averages nearly 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game for the Huskies basketball team, but his off-the-court accomplishments may be even more impressive.

Why it matters

Harvey's ability to excel in multiple arenas - athletics, academics, and entrepreneurship - is a testament to his strong work ethic and leadership skills. His story highlights how high school students can develop valuable real-world business experience through school programs, while also balancing the demands of being a student-athlete.

The details

In addition to his roles on the football and basketball teams, Harvey co-founded Neighborly Needs, a home services business that employs around 40 high school students. The company provides lawn care, snow removal, power washing, and other labor services to over 150 clients in the Naperville area, generating nearly $40,000 in revenue. Harvey is involved in all aspects of the business, from communicating with clients to scheduling jobs and overseeing the student workers.

  • Neighborly Needs was founded out of Naperville North's business incubator program.
  • The company has completed over 500 jobs for clients in the past few years.

The players

Will Harvey

A 6-foot-3 senior at Naperville North High School who is a starting lineman on the football team and the starting center on the basketball team. He is also the co-founder and operations manager of the home services business Neighborly Needs.

Max Steele

A senior guard on the Naperville North basketball team who also runs a web design business called Nova Sites with two other classmates.

Gene Nolan

The head coach of the Naperville North boys basketball team and a business teacher at the school.

Neighborly Needs

A home services business founded by Naperville North high school students, including Will Harvey, that provides lawn care, snow removal, power washing, and other labor services to clients in the local community.

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What they’re saying

“Will's an absolute winner in everything he does. He's going to do everything he can to get something done.”

— Max Steele, Senior guard, Naperville North basketball team (Chicago Tribune)

“Will is a high-character kid and the kind of young man that you ask, 'Has he ever had a bad day?'”

— Gene Nolan, Head coach, Naperville North boys basketball team (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

Naperville North's boys basketball team is in contention for the DuPage Valley Conference title, and Will Harvey will look to continue his strong play to help the Huskies achieve that goal in the final stretch of the season.

The takeaway

Will Harvey's story demonstrates how high school students can develop real-world business skills and experience while also excelling as student-athletes. His ability to balance multiple commitments and find success in the classroom, on the court, and in entrepreneurship is an inspiration for other young people looking to maximize their potential.