Class of 2018 Top Post Prospects
Time to jump into breaking down the top 10 post prospects in the 2018 rankings. Which power forwards and centers made the cut?
C George Conditt (Corliss)
Overall Rank: #5
Travel Team: Team RWA
The skilled 6’9” post went from complete unknown to a high-major recruit in a matter of a couple months. He brought more notoriety and star power to this Team RWA program as well. Conditt is a long and lanky post that runs the floor tremendously well. He is face up five man that can handle the ball on the perimeter, make pull up jumpers, and is a force blocking shots. Conditt is a high-major recruit.
C Jalen Shaw (Larkin)
Overall Rank: # 11
Travel Team: Kessel Heat
This Larkin 6’10” center is one of the premier big men in the state with his combination of size and potential development. He has a great frame and upside. Still learning the game and how to play consistent every game. He showed a motor in stretches getting on the glass and flashed skill. Shaw is a guy that mid-major programs should go on with his developmental potential.
C Ryan Davis (Conant)
Overall Rank: #12
Travel Team: Wisconsin Playground Warriors
Davis has secured a spot as one of the best posts in Illinois with his play for Wisconsin Playground Elite this spring and summer. Davis is a big bodied 6’9” center that has improved his mobility and can really shoot it from deep in the pick and pop or off the catch. His rebounding has also taken a major step forward. Mid-major prospect.
PF Tamell Pearson (Morgan Park)
Overall Rank: #13
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
The 6’8” 2018 power forward from Morgan Park was mostly known as a rebounder that can occasionally contribute an easy bucket or two after his junior season. He showed much more than that with his play in this spring and was a standout at the Nike Peach Jam in July. Pearson was aggressive when he touched the ball on the block. Quick baseline drives and a nice right handed hook shot. Most aggressive we have seen him throughout his career offensively was during the last four months. Snatched rebounds at a solid clip. Mid-major player.
PF Messiah Jones (Simeon)
Overall Rank: #15
Travel Team: Caron Butler Elite
Jones is one of the most athletic and competitive kids in the rising senior class. What he lacks in ideal height at only 6’5” he makes up for with athleticism and toughness. Jones is super bouncy around the hoop and is a monster getting on the offensive glass. Quick around the hoop and is improving his face up game. Good mid-major player with big time ability at the low-major level.
PF Tyree Martin (Curie)
Overall Rank: #25
Travel Team: Team Rose
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. He should be a major presence for Curie on the interior this upcoming season. Low-major prospect.
PF Treavon Martin (Curie)
Overall Rank: #26
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 low-major programs.
PF Ethan Schuemer (Willowbrook)
Overall Rank: #34
Travel Team: Mercury Elite
Schuemer is a skilled face up four man that can knock down some shots from mid-range. Handles it solid from 15 feet and in. Does a lot of his damage however on the block where he gets after it with fundamentally sound post moves using his outstanding footwork and a soft touch around the hoop to covert. Despite not being the biggest he has a knack for scoring on the block. Also runs the floor tremendously well getting from end to end while having his head up looking to catch a pass for a score. Fights on the boards and is a sound passer both on the block and out of the high-post area. Elite D2 prospect!
PF Kyle King (St. Charles North)
Overall Rank: #42
Travel Team: Tri City Thunder
We have been big fans of this skilled post for a while, but he even elevated his game more this spring and summer. King put his team on his back for stretches in games and even tournaments. What he does best is go to work on the block. He isn’t the most athletic prospect, but his array of fundamentally sound post moves and soft touch are what allows him to score against bigger defenders. Excellent footwork with this prospect who should be a D2 recruit.
C Gabe Bergeron (Dundee Crown)
Overall Rank: #43
Travel Team: Fundamental U
Bergeron is a 6’8” post that has length and broad shoulders. Good athlete that is mobile and runs the floor well for a post. Rim runner in the open floor. Works well in the pick and roll setting good screens and finishing at the rack. Finishes well in the paint with quick and bouncy post moves where he gets height on his shots. Quality rebounder in and out of area. D2 prospect that needs to be on more schools radars.