Big Man Board - 2/15/25

Let's be honest, big guys don't get nearly as much recognition as they deserve. Our N.C. team prides itself on covering under the radar prospects, I love scouting guards, and my friend and colleague Jay Anderson is plugged in on the perimeter with his Wigman Report series. While that content is important and will not stop, it's important to show some love to the big fellas down low. So, today I thought we'd start a new series, the Big Man Board. Each week, I'll do my best to scout five post players that should be on your radar. Let's jump right in.    Class of 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1931989' first='Matthew' last='Huffman'] out of Greater Vision Academy is a prospect from the Triad region I've had my eye on for a while now. At 6'4", Huffman is a well-sized post player in a competitive level of high school basketball. We've got him listed a small forward because of his athleticism and the versatility it presents. Huffman is a long, athletic, fundamentally sound prospect who can excel underneath the basker and around the perimeter. I've seen his jumpshot blossom into a consistent make from the 10-12 foot range and have been impressed with is footwork when he goes to work down low. What I also like about Huffman is his physicality. He utilizes his body to create space and finish through contact regardless of where he his on the floor. Defensively, Huffman is a prospect who you feel comfortable guarding 3-5 because of his quickness and length. He's a guy who reminds me a lot of Ven-Allen Lubin at UNC. Huffman is an intelligent basketball player who is efficient on both ends of the floor. The one area I would like to see him improve on is his outside shooting. If he can become a knock down shooter from behind the three point line, he will have the opportunity to play more on the perimeter, and at times, as a stretch four. I think this is where he will thrive the most. Keep an eye out for [player_tooltip player_id='1931989' first='Matthew' last='Huffman']. We've got him on our waitlist right now, but he's a prospect on the rise.       [player_tooltip player_id='2128807' first='Ben' last='Medlin'] is another class of 2026 guy who is an underrated prospect in the Triad region. A 6'5" big man out of Ragsdale high school in Jamestown, N.C., Medlin is a guy not a ton of people have on their radar as of now. There's a lot to like about Medlin. Staying on the theme of comparing these guys to well-established big men in the ACC, I think a good comparison for Medlin is Ben Middlebrooks of NC State. Medlin is a prospect who is incredibly fundamental sound, plays a physical brand of basketball, and lives at the free-throw line. What I like most about Medlin's game is his craftiness underneath the basket. This is a guy who really knows how to create space down low and draw contact. He's excelled at times in actions when he's in the high post, and is an underrated distributor to his teammates. I think the next step for Medlin is developing more of an outside jumpshot. Similar to Huffman, if he can take this next step, he'll become more versatile offensively and will not have to be stagnant in the post. I'm excited to [player_tooltip player_id='2128807' first='Ben' last='Medlin'] finish out what's been a great junior season and look forward to seeing him put it all together in 2026.     [player_tooltip player_id='1837056' first='Izaiah' last='Drew'] out of Northern Guilford is a name you need to know. The last time I saw Drew player, which was about a year ago, he was 6'4". He's now a solid 6'8", and I wouldn't be surprised if he hits a Jason Tatum-like spurt where we see him hit another one or two inches before he graduates. [player_tooltip player_id='1837056' first='Izaiah' last='Drew'] is a dominant post player in the paint in a competitive conference. He's an elite prospect on both ends of the floor who does the little things right. Drew's game is not the flashiest, but this is a day-in, day-out, double-double kind of guy who is efficient around the basket and is a valuable big to have on the court at all times. I like Drew's defensive mindset a lot. He's a poised prospect who is cognizant of his body and does not give up unnecessary fouls. Drew does need to develop a better jumpshot, specifically on the free-throw line. He gets fouled often because of his frame and if he can live around the 75-80 percent range from the line, he is a legitimate 20-point-per-game scorer. Keep an eye out for [player_tooltip player_id='1837056' first='Izaiah' last='Drew'], we've got him ranked as #225, but expect him to make a jump soon. He's a talented prospect with a ton of upside in a nice system that will maximize his strengths.     [player_tooltip player_id='2175500' first='Gavin' last='Palmore'] is a guy I like to check in on from time to time. He's a star on a well-respected program in my region, Ben L. Smith, that is a consistently competitive program at the state level. At 6'4", Palmore is an athletic stretch four who can really space the floor. Similar to a lot of the prospects we've evaluated today, he's a versatile big who can play 3-5 on any given night. I think Palmore excels the most when he's playing a hybrid of attacking around the perimeter and creating shots for himself down low. Defensively, he's a tough kid who can step up and match up with bigger post players down low. Palmore is an elite three level scorer who thrives when he's in attack mode out in transition. I think he's got legit mid major potential, and would not be surprised if we start hearing more about him getting offers from some of those programs here in N.C. Ben L. Smith is one of my favorite public school programs to keep up with, and [player_tooltip player_id='2175500' first='Gavin' last='Palmore'] is one of the main reasons why.     [player_tooltip player_id='2382798' first='Adonai' last='Tyrance'] out of High Point Central is our highest rated prospect covered today. The 6'7" true center is ranked #53 in our class of 2026 rankings and I think has the potential to see his stock rise even higher next season. As a few colleagues have pointed out earlier this year, what has been most refreshing to see about Tryance's game is him learning how to use his body to his advantage down low. Aside from becoming a better finisher at the rim, he's developed better footwork, positioning and posture down low. He keeps the ball high when he catches it on the block and had adopted a fearless mentality when he finishes at the rim. Tyrance is becoming a better rebounder as well, which is allowing him a ton of second chance buckets underneath the basket. The next step for Tyrance is developing a consistent mid-range game. This will allow him to space the floor evenly and allow his team to play a faster brand of basketball. I'm excited to see what's in store for [player_tooltip player_id='2382798' first='Adonai' last='Tyrance'] as he continues his tenure with High Point Central. This is a talented big who's got a lot left to prove.

Let's be honest, big guys don't get nearly as much recognition as they deserve. Our N.C. team prides itself on covering under the radar prospects, I love scouting guards, and my friend and colleague Jay Anderson is plugged in on the perimeter with his Wigman Report series. While that content is important and will not stop, it's important to show some love to the big fellas down low. So, today I thought we'd start a new series, the Big Man Board. Each week, I'll do my best to scout five post players that should be on your radar. Let's jump right in.