Illinois Class of 2016 Posts Breakdown
The post prospects are pretty thin overall as far as star power and D1 talent. Where it does excel is in the D3/NAIA ranks. Let’s jump into the position a little bit more. The top post prospect in the 2016…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe post prospects are pretty thin overall as far as star power and D1 talent. Where it does excel is in the D3/NAIA ranks. Let’s jump into the position a little bit more.
The top post prospect in the 2016 class is Hinsdale South 2016 center Barret Benson. The big bodied 6’10” center has legit size along with a skilled low post game. Flashes the ability to step out and knock down a face up jumper. He is headed to Northwestern. The top power forward in Illinois is St. Joseph’s four man Nick Rakocevic. The St. Joe’s star struggled to find consistency throughout the spring and summer after a strong junior campaign. He is still a high major prospect with his size, athleticism, potential on the block, and ability to stretch the floor.
Beyond those two there are no other high-major post targets. The power forward group presents a small group of solid mid-major and low-major options. They are topped by Brandon Johnson (TF South). The 6’7” bouncy four excels at hitting the offensive glass and using his motor to get second chance points. Lorenzo Edwards (Lake Forest), Terrell Phipps (Simeon), and IUPUI commit Elyjah Goss (Plainfield East) are intriguing options that have flashed skill on the circuit. The other D1 power forward is Northern Illinois commit Noah McCarty (Sterling Newman).
Four solid prospects at the D2 level for power forwards are Anthony D’Avanzo (Niles Notre Dame), Jon Marotta (Lincoln Way West), Nick Finke (Champaign Central), and Alonzo Chatman (Morgan Park). The first three are skilled face up fours that each show potential on the block. Chatman is an athletic and tough post that is best as a rebounder. D3/NAIA options is where this position shines with the likes of Brice Robinson (Oswego), Ethan Pogge (Normal Community), Zach Grady (Bolingbrook), Peter Blust (Hinsdale Central) being a few of the headliners.
The only other D1 prospect at the center position after Benson is Loudon Vollbrecht (Geneva). The huge 6’9” center broke out on the circuit and established himself as a low-major priority. Small school options include William Miles (Rock Island), Donovan Ferguson (Downers Grove South), and Meshach Obafemi (St. Rita).