Class of 2018 Outlook
Every class has their own strengths and weaknesses as a group. The class of 2018 in Illinois is no exceptions. Here we breakdown what we feel are the positives and negatives with this group as a whole.
Strengths
Mid-Major and Low-Major PGs
Probably the biggest strength of the class is the quality point guard play at the mid-major and low-major levels. This has been an area that colleges have focused their recruiting efforts on early in the game. The those targets include Xavier Castaneda, Kendle Moore, DeAndre Heckard, Kaleb Thornton, and Tyronn Mosley. Other potential options at the low-major level include Maurice Commander, Xavier Pinson, and Branden Ellis.
Posts Rise in Spring
The post group looked pretty bleak after the high school season. Many of the power forward and centers that we expected to make big jumps during their junior seasons just didn’t do it. That certainly changed in the spring. The emergence of George Conditt gave the post class a lead dog that enters the rankings in the top five overall. Big men Jalen Shaw, Ryan Davis, Tamell Pearson, and Dusan Mahorcic all helped their recruiting stock in recent months.
Mid/Low-Major and D2 Wings
Tim Finke, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Drew Peterson lead the way at the wing positions and are considered high-major prospects. The depth at the position is in the mid/low-major and D2 prospects. Shooting guards that fit this category include Malachi Smith, Darius Beane, Cardell McGee, and Quinlan Bennett. Small forwards to track include Zion Griffin, Raekwon Drake, Justin Hardy, and Kani Acree.
Weaknesses
D1 Talent
Most classes we project somewhere between 50-65 D1 prospects in a class if they would all qualify. The 2018 class is far from that. At this stage we are looking at somewhere around 25-35. Once you take out some prospects that won’t qualify this number will shrink even more.
High-Major Depth
Illinois does have one shot at a McDonald’s All-American in Ayo Dosunmu in 2018. Tim Finke and Talen Horton-Tucker are lock high-major prospects. Drew Peterson and George Conditt are trending in that direction. After that there is a significant drop off and no high-majors in sight after that.
Overall Depth
The HM depth isn’t there, the D1 depth isn’t there, and even once you get deeper into the rankings it just isn’t there depth wise. The 100-150 range just doesn’t have the usual small college pop that we are used to seeing in Illinois.