Illinois Class of 2017 Post Player Breakdown
We continue our look at the 2017 class in the state of Illinois with our breakdown of the post players at the power forward and center positions. Let’s just say it isn’t a pretty sight when it comes to the…
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Continue ReadingWe continue our look at the 2017 class in the state of Illinois with our breakdown of the post players at the power forward and center positions.
Let’s just say it isn’t a pretty sight when it comes to the bigs in the state of Illinois in the class of 2017 anyway you look at it. There are some quality prospects that will be contributors at the next level, but the star power isn’t there and neither is the depth. The class did get a huge boost with the decision of the #1 prospect in Illinois Jeremiah Tilmon to return to East St. Louis for his senior season. The skilled big man can score with his back to the hoop and protect the rim.
The power forward group is led by Larkin’s Christian Negron. The bouncy power forward from the Mac Irvin Fire is a 6’6” undersized four man that makes up for his lack of ideal height with a great motor and high athleticism. Uses his quickness on the interior to score and get on the offensive glass. Has a chance to develop into a versatile defender at the next level. Jameel Alausa (Chicago U-High) is an athletic forward with some skill potential. Justin Carpenter (Mt. Carmel) is a southern Illinois 6’7” post that is efficient around the hoop. Manny Patterson (Kenwood) is the most physical four man in the class with his ability to rebound and be a defensive enforcer. Collin Stallworth is intriguing at the low-major level with his athleticism and even flashed a jumper in late July. Three D1 commits already include Connor Niego (Lyons) to Holy Cross, TJ Clifford (Downers Grove South) to Western Michigan, and AJ Epenesa (Edwardsville) to Iowa for football.
Taylor Bruninga (Illini Bluffs) leads the intriguing D2 list of prospects. He can stretch the floor with his three point shooting and showed more toughness in July. Lenell Henry (Morgan Park) and Tee’Aaron Powell (Marian Catholic) are both upside wings with projectability that aren’t always consistent. Cameron Gross (OPRF) and Logan Windeler (Manteno) opened eyes with this play on the circuit. Justin Bottorff (Quincy Notre Dame) and Brandon McCombs (Jacksonville) are a pair of central Illinois kids that in the right situation could be D2 players. D3/NAIA kids that we like include Brandon Lawani (Bolingbrook), Dolapo Olayinka (Mather), Matthew Szuba (Prospect), Charlie Bair (Glenbard South), Will Boles (Springfield Lanphier), and Tyler Dancy (Belleville West) to name a few.
The center position lacks hardly any depth at all. It is clearly headlined by Jacobs 6’9” big man Cameron Krutwig after Tilmon. The Loyola commit is a big bodied post that plays physical with a soft touch around the hoop. Great passer. The next tier behind him includes Joey St. Pierre (Richmond Burton) who is another physical big man and Addison Lubert (St. Viator) with a long and lanky frame that has considerable upside. Potential D2 candidates are Anthony Cameron (Hyde Park) and Alex Filo (Neuqua Valley) who are intriguing because of their size. Jacob Pfeiffer (Springfield Lutheran) and Sam Ohlrich (Marian Central Catholic) would be great guys for small colleges to work with and develop.