Sophomore Sensations Lead List of Top Post Players in North Idaho

Shem Hanks

January 13, 2020 @ 04:43 PM

Today, we are looking at the top post players in North Idaho:   Malachi Bullington 2022, 7’0” Center NICS As the saying goes, you can’t teach 7’0". I assume that Bullington wakes up in the morning and already has a double-double. Surprisingly agile for his height, he can get out and run on a fast break and finish in transition. In half-court sets, he can maneuver around the hoop and is wisely able to utilize the backboard. Being a decent free throw shooter deters defenses from going Hack-A-Shaq against him. He needs to add weight and keep working on being aggressive; clearly, Bullington will garner college attention and should be high on the list of Idaho’s class of 2022 when we release the new class rankings. While still developing his talent and increasing his feel for the game, as time goes on, every regional college and program should be making their way to small gyms in North Idaho to check this prospect out. For now, he is getting rebounds, dominating the low block, and is the top prospect on this list.   Cameron Cope 2022, 6’4” Center CHS Cope is a young post player who is still developing his skill set. Incredibly athletic, Cope is able to finish with a two-hand slam in the lane or make monster finishes on the fast break. Long, lean, and athletic, Cope is a tenacious rebounder that would remind you of a young Detroit Pistons Dennis Rodman. Cope is already elite at chasing after boards and tipping them to himself. He will need to work on his offensive prowess, but defensively, he is already a force.   Ben Postell 2020, 6’7” Center Moscow Postell can finish strong going to his left, has a solid spin move in the post, understands how to use his height to be in the correct position to get rebounds. However, he is still in the process of developing his ability to score with his right hand around the basket. As a junior in 2019, the southpaw was an All-League 4A recipient, and it is clear to see why. He is an immediate threat to score if he gets the ball in the paints and can create his own shot off of offensive rebounds. Defensively, Postell is nearly impossible to score against his height and strength.   Alex Horning 2021, 6’5” F. PFHS While less of your traditional post, Horning is a versatile forward for the Trojans. I would classify Horning as more of an athletic finisher in the post than a power finisher. He can step out of the post and knockdown 3's with confidence and is able to finish at the rim with authority. That versatility to stretch opposing defenses while pulling the opposing big away from the hoop helps create the driving lanes that teammates utilize all game long.   Luke McLaughlin 2021, 6’2” Guard Coeur d’Alene Alright, this is kind of cheating. McLaughlin is a true guard. He runs the point, guards the best opposing wing players, and does so as one of the best on-ball defenders in the state. However, McLaughlin has one of the most enjoyable post games to watch. It is old school. He gets opposing guards down on the block and uses up-and-unders, shot fakes to get guys off balance, “Dream Shakes”, and every move that would remind you of watching a young Kevin McHale. McLaughlin can make shots from outside, has a nice stop-and-pop jumper, but his offensive play in the post is fun to watch.   Honorable Mention:   Day Day Higgins 2021, 6’8” Center Lakeside Gavin Luna 2020, 6’3” Forward Kellogg Abe Munyer 2022, 6’3” Forward Lakeland Seth Neely 2020, 6’3” Forward Genesis Prep Alden Waddington 2022, 6’3” Forward Lakeland

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