Class of 2018 Post Breakdown
Time to look at the post players in the class of 2018. This group has made strides in the last few months with several players emerging as well as others elevating their games.
The top power forward in the class is Morgan Park post Tamell Pearson. He has been in the mix for a while, but this spring he elevated his stock significantly. Pearson has size at 6’8” and is playing with a higher activity level. Runs the floor hard and finishes with athleticism at the rim. Not a refined post scorer, but is improving. He leads a group of mid-major and low-major prospects. Messiah Jones from Simeon is next in line. He is an undersized four man that is extremely bouncy and makes plays on the offensive glass. Tyree and Treavon Martin are a pair of brothers from Curie that bring a defensive presence. Barlow Alleruzzo (De La Salle) and Dusan Mahorcic (Niles Notre Dame) are two posts that have face up skill and low-major upside.
At the D2 level Jordan Boyd is an outstanding prospect to look at. He is a strongly built post that isn’t overly athletic, but is crafty scoring around the hoop. Solid area rebounder. Orlando Allen out of Thornton is a bouncy four man that presents upside at the D2 level. Could be more productive. Quietly Kyle King of St. Charles North has put his name in this conversation as well with his skilled post scoring.
The center position is led by a prospect that wasn’t even in the rankings last time. That is Corliss center George Conditt. The 6’10” big man jumped onto the scene with a monster spring for Team RWA. He is a long and rangy big man that runs the floor with fluidity and can handle it on the perimeter. He is a high-major prospect. Two mid-major big men that helped themselves out this spring are Jalen Shaw (Larkin) and Ryan Davis (Conant). Each put up significant numbers on their respective circuits.
After those three centers you have five prospects right on the border between low-major and D2. All five have the physical tools to play at the low-major level, but would also be outstanding D2+ prospects. This group includes Ben Wolf (Naperville Central), Paul O’Leary (Lemont), Jackson Marcotte (Mt. Carmel), Isa Maguire (Lindbloom), and Mick Sullivan (Marmion Academy).