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Naperville Today
By the People, for the People
Naperville High Basketball Team Shrinks During WWII
Wartime draft depleted roster of Naperville High's basketball squad in 1943.
Feb. 20, 2026 at 9:50pm
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A photo from 1943 shows the Naperville High School basketball team had just 10 players, a much smaller roster than normal due to the number of young men fighting in World War II at the time.
Why it matters
The photo highlights how the war effort impacted local communities, with many young athletes leaving to serve in the military and depleting the rosters of high school sports teams.
The details
The Naperville High School basketball team in 1943 had just 10 players, a much smaller squad than typical for the school. This was likely due to the number of older teenagers who had left to fight in World War II, which was raging at the time.
- The photo was taken in 1943, during the height of World War II.
The players
Naperville High School
A high school located in Naperville, Illinois.
The takeaway
The small basketball team size reflects how the war effort impacted local communities, with many young athletes leaving to serve in the military and depleting the rosters of high school sports teams.
