Class of 2018 Post Prospects
Here we analyze the best post prospects in the class of 2018. Who are the best of the best?
George Conditt (Corliss)
Overall Rank: #5
Travel Team: Team RWA
The 6’10” post has a long and lean frame that he will need to add significant weight on to over the next year to be ready for college. As an interior scorer he makes quick moves with the ball. Soft touch around the hoop. Lacks the strength to finish through bigger defenders at this stage. Likes to utilize a face up game. Good form on his jump shot. Connects on one dribble pull ups from mid-range along with a step back threes. Shoots it with confidence. Shows he could put it on the deck a couple dribbles. Quality rebounder that uses his length to grab boards at the highest point. Runs the floor with ease and dunks with ease in transition. Defensively he contests shots both on the interior and swatting threes.
Jalen Shaw (Larkin)
Overall Rank: #11
Travel Team: Kessel Heat
He is still growing into his body, but the post has become much more fluid with his movements over the last year. He is starting to get confident and play with a swagger. Rebounds well in spurts snatching boards at their highest point. At times he can miss time his jump and get there a little too early, but he is improving in this area. Has several dunks a game. Also has displayed his face up game this spring with Kessel Heat hitting from mid-range and even stretched it out three every now and then. Defensively is more comfortable than he would have been a year ago chasing a perimeter oriented post on the arc and staying with them laterally. Shot blocking presence. Shaw is a no doubt mid-major prospect that needs to be a guy that more schools are making a priority.
Tamell Pearson (Morgan Park)
Overall Rank: #15
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
The 6’8” 2018 power forward from Morgan Park is mostly known as a rebounder that can occasionally contribute an easy bucket or two. He showed much more than that with his play in this spring. Pearson was aggressive when he touched the ball on the block. Couple quick baseline drives and a nice right handed hook shot. Most aggressive we have seen him throughout his career offensively. Snatched rebounds at a solid clip. If he can continue to improve as an offensive player while maintaining his rebounding presence he will be one of the more coveted mid-major/low-major players in Illinois.
Ryan Davis (Conant)
Overall Rank: #16
Travel Team: Wisconsin Playground Warriors
Davis has had a breakout spring on the UAA circuit. The 6’9” thick bodied center landed a load of D1 offers. Davis was assertive on the glass. For his size he moves extremely well rebounding both in and out of his area. Was all over the offensive glass having several offensive rebound put backs when we saw him. Finished strong through contact around the hoop. Davis has really developed into a pick and pop five man. Is an underrated passer out of the high post. Mid-major prospect.
Messiah Jones (Simeon)
Overall Rank: #17
Travel Team: Caron Butler Elite
Jones is a 6’5” 2018 forward out of Simeon that is starting to show more combo forward skills. He is an elite level athlete that is great getting on the offensive glass using his quickness around the hoop to finish at the rim. Second jump is outstanding. Has the ability to hit a couple jumpers from mid-range. Also can attack from the high-post converting with explosion at the rim. Passes it well when facing up. Big time rebounder despite being undersized with his explosive jumping ability. Mid-majors and low-majors should look at him with his athleticism, ability to board, and skill development.
Tyree Martin (Curie)
Overall Rank: #18
Travel Team: Team Rose
Tyree Martin is one of the higher upside posts in his class. At 6’8” Martin has tremendous length and agility on the interior. Protects the rim and is starting to get a little more of a mean streak on the interior. Solid rebounder and offensively he shows flashes with dunks and is getting more comfortable hitting a mid-range jumper. Young for his grade.
Treavon Martin (Curie)
Overall Rank: #22
Travel Team: Team Rose
Martin is a long and lanky post that has been on the radar for a couple years. Martin has gotten stronger in his upper body since he broke on the scene as a sophomore at Curie. He is a presence in the lane with his defense and rebounding. Martin does a nice job of protecting the rim on the defensive end swatting shots from guards coming from the weak side and can defend straight up against opposing posts. Solid rebounder that high points them. Offensively is still a bit raw. Finishes well on dump off passes and in transition. Should be on the radar for mid-major and low-major programs.
Barlow Alleruzzo (De La Salle)
Overall Rank: #35
Travel Team: Illinois Stars
Alleruzzo is one of the more intriguing post prospects in the junior class. Alleruzzo is a 6’8” power forward that is a face up four man. Mostly likes to play out on the perimeter. He can shoot it well from three, but sometimes falls in love with it. He has great length and a projectable body. Would like to see him bang a little more inside and display development in his post-game. Flashes with a couple moves off the bounce using his long strides. Runs the floor with ease for his size. Can rebound both in and out of area with quickness.
Ben Wolf (Naperville Central)
Overall Rank: #36
Travel Team: Mercury Elite
Wolf is one of the more physically imposing post prospects in the state’s 2018 class. Wolf is a solid rebounder especially in his area. Has strong hands to snatch rebounds. Physical bodied post that has the physical tools to play at the D1 level. Mixes in a couple of strong dunks around the hoop on the offensive end. Every now and then he drops a short jumper. Should be under consideration by low-major D1 programs.
Paul O’Leary (Lemont)
Overall Rank: #39
Travel Team: Illinois Stars
With the lack of legit post players with size in the 2018 class that is exactly what this kid brings to the table. Great strength and frame on the interior. Plays physical on the block going right through weaker or smaller big men. Finishes through contact consistently. Good fundamentals in the paint and also flashed some face up ability on occasion. Area rebounder. D1 potential.