Top Class of 2019 Posts
The post group in 2019 features the top two overall prospects along with depth at the D1 level. Take a look here at the best big men in the 2019 class in Illinois.
C Francis Okoro (Normal West)
Current Ranking: #1
Travel Team: Brad Beal Elite
He is a physical specimen that has a college ready body right now! His raw strength combined with his athleticism make him a special prospect. Okoro has the ability to rebound at as high of a rate as anyone in the country. He showed that in the EYBL. Also when he gets post touches Okoro can do damage with quick spins and powerful dunks. Runs the floor about as well as any big in the state. Elite high-major prospect in our eyes.
PF EJ Liddell (Belleville West)
Current Ranking: #2
Travel Team: Brad Beal Elite
The 6’7” power forward has gotten stronger especially in his upper body. He gets deep post position almost every time down the floor and finishes with an array of post moves. Really likes the short turnaround jumper. Several spin moves in the lane are in his repertoire as well. Ball handling has improved looking extremely smooth attacking from the mid-range and even beyond the arc on occasion. Finishes monster slams above the rim. Works well in the pick and roll. Jump shot has improved stretching it out to three. With all that said where he might have been best in the first half of the season was on the glass gobbling up rebounds at an insane rate on both ends. Offensively he grabs a lot of boards and then converts second chance opportunities. An area that we noticed significant improvement was his passing. Defensively he shows he is one of the better shot blocking prospects in the 2019 class. He is a priority high-major prospect for Midwest schools.
PF Chris Payton (Bloomington)
Current Ranking: #4
Travel Team: Brad Beal Elite
The Bloomington 6’6” power forward has good strength in his upper body with big time athleticism. Payton plays above the rim slamming home monster jams on a consistent basis. He is aggressive taking it at the defense with quick and assertive moves. Payton gets to charity stripe at a high rate because of his aggressiveness. Plays powerful inside and you have to make sure you have a body on him at all times because he is a big time rebounder. All areas of his game showed progress in the first half of the season.
C Ciaran Brayboy (New Trier)
Current Ranking: #10
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Brayboy ranks among the best centers in the 2019 class in Illinois. The 6’9” post is extremely physical down low and at times plays like a bull in a china shop. Finishes in a variety of ways down low with a right handed hook shot along with a high/low finishes. Plus shot blocking presence. Mid-major upside here.
PF Keenon Cole (Steamwood)
Current Ranking: #23
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
Cole is a high upside and electric athlete that is having a productive junior campaign. He flashed D1 ability last summer and has taken even more strides this year. The Streamwood forward shows athleticism with acrobatic finishes around the rim and blocks shots on the interior. The area that is evolving is his perimeter shot. Still shoots a line drive shot from both the field and free throw line, but it is improving. Plays with a great motor. Worth being monitored by low-major programs.
PF Nate Ferguson (Lemont)
Current Ranking: #24
Travel Team: Chicago Lockdown
Extremely skilled big man that also has toughness. Scores on the block with his skill set and can pass out of the post. Has the ability to stretch the defense with his shot. Quality rebounder and is becoming a better post defender with his mobility and ability to anchor. D1 prospect that needs to be on the radar of low-major and potentially mid-major programs heading into the spring.
PF Spencer Boehm (New Trier)
Current Ranking: #25
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
Boehm is a high academic 6’8” four man that plays with a lot of skill on the block. Seems to have gained more strength in his upper body since we saw him in July. Can score on the block as well as pass out of the post finding shooters. His skill extends to beyond the arc being able to shoot it from three when left open. Plays physical around the hoop getting to the line. Good defensive rebounder. Ivy League prospect all the way.
PF Thomas Welch (Naperville North)
Current Ranking: #27
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
For Naperville North he plays as a face up four which is probably the position he is best suited for at the next level. Welch moves well without the ball to get open and is very skilled. Passes the ball well making quality reads finding teammates for open threes or layups. Good athlete that can finish around the cup with an up and under along with a soft touch. Displays a right handed hook shot in the post. Also stretches it out three on occasion. Flies in on the offensive glass. Defensively he has the mobility to defend in a ball screen and his length bothers opponents on the perimeter.
C Rashaun Agee (Bogan)
Current Ranking: #33
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Agee is an intriguing post in the 2019 class. He has size at 6’8” with broad shoulders and is athletic. He is still a work in progress offensively, but flashes potential. Fluid running the floor! Knows his game is built on his defense and rebounding. Snatches rebounds in traffic with his strong hands. Rebounds extremely well in his area. Shot blocking presence and tough post defender. Agee is a big man that we will continue to track as a potential low-major/D2 prospect.
C Jermaine Hamlin (Lincoln)
Current Ranking: #34
Travel Team: Quad City Elite
He has legit size at 6’8” with strength and athleticism. Hamlin is built like a D1 prospect already. Overall fairly raw offensively. High points rebounds. Impacts the game most on the defensive end with his shot blocking and altering others in the lane. Should be monitored by low-major D1 programs at this stage.
PF CJ Wilbourn (Normal Community)
Current Ranking: #35
Travel Team: Quad City Elite
The broad shouldered 6’6” four man was physical on the glass competing on the boards. Showed more offense than we had seen in the past over the summer with a hook shots and displaying some face up skill. Big spring ahead for him.