Illinois Class of 2017 Post Breakdown

<p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">The class of 2017 post prospects have a nice mix of stars, upside, and productive small school prospects.  It is led by a pair of high-majors and the top two overall players in Jeremiah Tilmon (East St. Louis) and Christian Negron (Larkin).  Tilmon is in a tier above everyone in this class.  The 6’11” center has a great combination of athleticism and skill.  He became more dominant scoring on the block this summer with a variety of low post moves.  Defensively he clears the glass and is a shot blocking presence.  Negron is the top power forward with his ultra-athletic game.  He is a little undersized at 6’6”, but makes up for it with tremendous length and a never ending motor.  He finishes with thunder at the hoop, snatches boards, and has flashed perimeter skill.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">The power forward position after Negron is followed by a pair of prospects that are getting mid-major and even some high-major looks in Manny Patterson (Kenwood) and Cameron Krutwig (Jacobs).  Both are big boys that can rebound and have shown the ability to score on the block.  AJ Epenesa (Edwardsville) is in this group as well as he dominated during the high school season, but the 5-star football prospect will be playing defensive end in college.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">Lenell Henry (Morgan Park) and Tee’Aaron Powell (Marian Catholic) are two power forwards that showed upside on the circuit with their long and athletic frames as well as potential on both ends of the floor.  You have tough and physical posts such as Malik Binns (Morgan Park) and TJ Clifford (Downers Grove South) that rebound and play tough in the paint along with having good athleticism.  Justin Carpenter (Mt. Carmel) and Connor Niego (Lyons) are skilled four men with size that are just scratching the surface of their potential.  Collin Stallworth (Rochester) and Jackson Perkins (Barrington) each have shown ability to hit the glass and be a presence defensively.  Tyler Dancy (Belleville West) and Brandon McCombs (Jacksonville) are a pair of power forwards that project as great D2 prospects at this stage.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt">There isn’t much depth at the center position behind Tilmon.  The top prospect after him is wide bodied 6’9” center Anthony Cameron (Tilden).  Cameron is intriguing with his size and showed improvement offensively from spring to summer.  Sam Ohlrich (Marian Central Catholic) is a 6’8” post that is a bit raw, but has some tools to work with.</span></span></p>