Class of 2019 Top Posts
We close out the 2019 with our evaluations of the top post prospects in the class which is led by the top two overall players in the class!
Francis Okoro (Normal West)
Overall Rank: #1
Travel Team: Brad Beal Elite
Okoro is the #1 prospect in 2019 and it isn’t close! The 6’9” center has elite physical tools. He is built like a grown man with broad shoulders and incredible strength. He is without question the best rebounder in the state of Illinois. Okoro snatches them in traffic with his strong hands. He high points them consistently. Gets on the offensive glass. He gets a lot of his points off rebounds. Physical force finishing. He powers slams home. Flashes skill on occasion with a hook shot or a short jumper, but is mostly power. Defensively Okoro protects the rim with his length and explosion off the floor. Can also defend in a ball screen with his mobility. Okoro is without question a high-major prospect.
EJ Liddell (Belleville West)
Overall Rank: #2
Travel Team: Brad Beal Elite
Liddell is a 6’7” four man that is a great athlete. Right handed hook shot is one of his go to moves on the block. He gets on the offensive glass for put backs. Liddell can catch lobs and finishes dump off pass with slams. Liddell even showed some handles attacking from the top of the key and going right around his man for scores this spring. Got on the glass at a nice clip this spring and gets to the foul line. High-major and top 5 2019 prospect.
Ciaran Brayboy (New Trier)
Overall Rank: #6
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Brayboy stands at 6’9” with broad shoulders and a strong upper body. He is a physical low post prospect that when he gets involved plays with a lot of energy. Seems to play much better with his Mac Irvin Fire team than when we saw him during the high school season. Displays skill with hook shots over both shoulders. High/low finish. Also gets on the offensive glass consistently. Converts dump off passes. Rim protector on the defensive end. Impressed with the motor he has played with early in the spring. Mid-major need to start looking into one of the better 2019 post in the state.
Chris Payton (Bloomington)
Overall Rank: #8
Travel Team: Brad Beal Elite
Payton stands at 6’6” with a strong body. He is a powerful athlete on the interior that plays with a motor and aggression. Very physical player around the hoop. Gets on the glass on both ends of the floor. This is an area that despite being slightly undersized he has proven he can rebound at a high enough rate to play the four at the next level. Payton gets tip slams at the rim. Skill set isn’t all the way there yet, but you can’t deny the raw athleticism and strength he brings to the table. Mid-major prospect at this stage.
Spencer Boehm (New Trier)
Overall Rank: #16
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
Boehm is a skilled 6’8” post with quality strength. Crafty low-post scorer that does most of his damage on the block. Not the most explosive athlete, but he has a knack for scoring in the paint with his back to the basket. Runs the floor and can face up on occasion. Skill potential is what makes him intriguing at the mid and low-major levels.
Chris White (Marian Catholic)
Overall Rank: #26
Travel Team: Meanstreets
White has a long and lanky frame that projects well long term. He has great mobility around the hoop on both ends of the floor. Quick second jump to get on the offensive glass. Runs the floor well. Potential as a rim protector. One to track over the next year.
Keenon Cole (Streamwood)
Overall Rank: #27
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Cole is a monster on the glass. Quick second jump and explosion off the floor as he snatches boards off the rim. Length plays very well on the defensive end of the floor as he is a major shot blocking presence. Runs the floor tremendously well and finishes above the rim for slams. The most impressive development in his game we saw was some pick and pop skill. The form is a little off, but with some tweaking he could be a good shooter. Significant upside especially if he continues to grow! D1’s should start monitoring him early in the process.
Thomas Welch (Naperville North)
Overall Rank: #30
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
Welch is a 6’5” four man with good length and should grow a little more. He is a solid athlete that displayed quickness around the hoop. Gets on the offensive glass. Runs the floor extremely well. One to track in July and this upcoming season.