Class of 2023: Five Forwards/Posts Ready to Breakout
With these players just entering their junior year of high school it is hard to call them “under-recruited” at this point as most players would just start hearing from colleges this coming season. However, these five guys are poised for…
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Continue ReadingWith these players just entering their junior year of high school it is hard to call them “under-recruited” at this point as most players would just start hearing from colleges this coming season. However, these five guys are poised for big junior seasons and should start to see their recruitment pick up this winter. We started with the point guard position, covered the wings on Monday and now we go over the forwards/posts.
Jacob Cherry Jacob Cherry 6'9" | C Eastern-Pekin | 2023 State IN (Eastern-Pekin H.S. 2023)
Anytime you have a legitimate 6’10” frame at this age it turns some heads. Cherry has all the length and size you would want in a college 5-man at any level. He is a very efficient finisher around the basket with nice skill on the block. As he gets stronger and fills out he will become extremely hard to stop inside. Love his feel for the game. Cherry scores it with a drop step over either shoulder and showcases good footwork. Very high ceiling.
Zane Doughty Zane Doughty 6'8" | C Ben Davis | 2023 State IN (Ben Davis H.S. 2023)
Doughty was one of the best big men in the class over the summer playing for INB Elite. The 6’9″ post is a real difference maker on the defensive end with excellent length and mobility to protect the rim. He alters a bunch of shots that he doesn’t block as well. Offensively, Doughty posts up hard always looking for a deep duck-in to score the basketball. Excellent rim-runner in transition that can out run other bigs. Some of the most upside of any 4/5 man in the state right now. Division 1’s need to be calling him.
Jesse Faires Jesse Faires 6'6" | PF Ben Davis | 2023 State IN (Ben Davis H.S. 2023)
The versatile Ben Davis forward played great at the Top 100 workout in June and followed it up with an excellent month of July with Grassroots Indiana. Faires has the ball skill of a guard with the size of a forward at 6’6″. Has some present strength too that will continue to develop as he gets older. He can shoot some from the perimeter, handles the ball well enough to break down his man from the the wings, and is a skilled passer. There is a ton of offensive skill to fall in love with here. Definitely a guy that coaches need to key in on.
Preston Ross Preston Ross 6'8" | PF Bishop Dwenger | 2023 State IN (Bishop Dwenger H.S. 2023)
Ross is a solid 6’7″ big man that can really get up and down the floor well. Transitions from offense to defense quickly and can rim-run ahead of opposing bigs. He is very bouncy around the basket with the ability to really get up and rebound outside of his area. Ross finishes around the basket at a high level and has all of the physical tools you would want in a 4/5 man at the next level.
Caleb Washington Caleb Washington 6'5" | PF Floyd Central | 2023 State IN (Floyd Central H.S. 2023)
Washington is an extremely skilled, versatile forward with a ton of game on the offensive end of the floor. Playing on the UAA Rise Circuit with Grand Park Premier, the 6’5″ forward showed the perimeter skill of a guard paired with the physicality of a forward. Washington can shoot the ball well from the perimeter, attack the basket off of the dribble, and score inside with his back-to-the-basket. The versatility is really, really impressive. I think he is one of the best undersized 4-men in the state right now and could see him ending up as a college “3” with continued perimeter development.