Articles
2011 Spring Recruiting Update - Top Available Centers and Power Forwards
Tuesday, 22 February 2011 20:27 Written by Van Coleman
It may not be as deep as coaches would like, but they're are a number of intriguing talents headed by Stan Simpson (pictured), Otto Porter, Philip Jurick, God's Gift Achiuwa, Kevin Thomas, and Eric Katenda...
Make no mistake about it, the available bigs and power forward may not contain a lot of program turners or immediate impact talent, but it does have a lot of quality depth for the mid and high major programs that need to add players to help them next fall. We've had a couple recent commitments that slimmed down our top group recently.
Two of the bestavailable made commitments in the past couple weeks, one was our No.76-rated senior in 6-9 Angelo Chol from San Diego , CA Hoover. He is a long and explosive inside scorer who can block shots too. He is headed to Arizona. One of the top fifth year talents and a player who will rate among our top one hundred in our final rankings, 6-9 Walter Pitchford from East Lansing, MI Summit Christian Academy is a bouncy and aggressive rebounder who can face from arc and hit 17-footer on pull-up, but is at his best using his quicks to score in paint. He committed recently to the Florida Gators.
So with that in mind here's a look at some of the top Posts and Power Forwards whose recruiting we will be covering this spring as we head toward the April signing period -
Top Available Centers and Power Forwards for the Spring of 2011 - (Listed By Height)
Kyle Luckett 7-00 235 Chabot CC, CA - 24-year old big man is growing into own...Eligibility (D-1?), but he has excellent skill set on block or facing hoop. If he's eligible look for a high major to take a chance on him, he has the tools.
Phillip Jurick 6-11 265 Chattanooga State CC, TN - Skilled big man is tough to stop around hoop and he is a solid rebounder who can make an immediate impact at the next level. He is hearing from Cincinnati, Georgia, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Southern Miss, Mississippi State, Central Florida, UTEP, and West Virginia.
Gabe Olaseni 6-11 215 Wichita, KS Summit Christian Academy Long and athletic shotblocker has really improved his ability to control glass. His offensive skills are just starting to come. Good jump hook in paint. He is hearing from Clemson, Iowa, TCU, Drexel, Rhode Island, Wichita State, Utah State, Missouri State, and Auburn
Blaise Mbargorba 6-11 215 Newark, NJ St. Benedict's - Long and lean shot blocker has tools to dominate in the paint on defense, and is just coming into his own on offensive end. He has had looks from Virginia Tech, Providence, Boston College, Siena, and Georgetown.
Isaac Freeman 6-11 235 Manassas, VA Osbourne - Mobile big man who can block shots and score in paint with touch. He has good hands so offense will come in the future.
Niko Stojilkovic 6-11 220 Lon Morris CC,TX - Solid big man who can face up on perimeter or roll to block and score with either hand around the hoop. He is hearing from Boston College, Hartford, Hawaii, Rutgers, and California, but is wide open.
Melvyn Oliver 6-11 285 Southwest Tennessee State CC, TN - He is averaging 8.8ppg & 4.8 rpg. Wide bodied low block scorer can score in paint & runs court.
Gatete Djuma 6-10 205 Salt Lake City, UT West - Fast developing Rwandan import can swat shots and board above rim. Offense is coming into its own. He has interest coming from Utah State, Chattanooga, Colorado, and Washington, but is still open.
Monterale Clark 6-10 210 Highland CC, IL - Long and lanky big man can swat shots or outlet, run floor and score in transition. His length has brought interest from Georgia State, Georgia Southern, and recently Gonzaga, Iowa, Missouri State, and Iowa State.
Matt Gorski 6-10 220 Midlothian, VA Crosby - Solid low post scorer can also pop to 17-feet and hit jumper. Good rebounder and shot blocker in paint. He has had looks from Auburn, Clemson, Georgetown, James Madison, N.C. State, Temple, Virginia, VCU, Virginia Tech, and Western Kentucky.
Casey Arent 6-10 225 Sierra CC, CA - He's averaging 21.1ppg & 8rpg. He can score with either hand on the blocks, runs floor and blocks shots too. Late blooming big should draw mid to high major looks.
Lekan Ajayi 6-10 240 Winston-Salem, NC Quality Education - Athletic rebounder is just coming into his own on offensive end of court. He has huge upside and that potential is drawing interest from Seton Hall, Florida, Tennessee, and Loyola Marymount.
Jaleel Roberts 6-10 215 Greensboro, NC Day School - Long and lean shot blocker can run court like a wing forward. He has touch on blocks and can pop jumper from elbow this week. He has had looks from South Carolina, Wake Forest, Clemson, Maryland, and Virginia Tech.
Cheikh Mbodji 6-10 230 Grayson County CC, TX - He is averaging 15ppg & 6.3rpg. Athletic big who can face and finish around hoop or post & score with jump hook. Mid and High majors are evaluating this long and athletic big man.
Stan Simpson 6-09 230 John Logan CC, IL - He is averaging 17ppg & 10rpg. Physical low post scorer can pop 12-footer or post and finish with both hands. He is hearing from Kentucky, Memphis, Gonzaga, North Carolina, West Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Cincinnati, and DePaul.
Kevin Johnson 6-09 240 Woodland Hills, CA Taft - Low block scorer finishes in paint and can pop & hit 12-footer. He dominates glass when motivated. He is hearing from Illinois, USC, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Texas, San Diego State, Oregon, Oregon State, and Arizona, but good end up in prep school.
Ryan Rhoomes 6-09 230 Newark, NJ NIA Prep - Athletic rebounder can flat out finish in traffic around the rim and he can dominate glass in stretches. He is hearing from Cincinnati, Xavier, Seton Hall, West Virginia, Providence, Pittsburgh, and Florida.
God's Gift Achiuwa 6-09 225 Erie CC, NY - He's averaging 21.8ppg & 13.2rpg. Athletic big man attacks glass and can finish at rim or pop and hit 12 footer. He is hearing from St. John's, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Iowa, and Niagara, but is just starting to see interest take off.
Otto Porter 6-09 200 Sikeston, MO Scott County - Skilled big man can score with jumper from arc on in, he uses quicks and bounce to score around the rim. He is hearing from Missouri, Purdue, Southern Illinois, Iowa, Missouri State, and SE Missouri State, but list is growing.
Brandon Mobley 6-09 210 Delafield, WI St. John's Academy - Long and athletic rebounder can flat out run the floor and finish with dunk or jump hook on block. He is hearing from DePaul, Providence, Seton Hall, Iowa, Auburn, and Wisconsin Green Bay.
Brennan Cougill 6-09 255 Kirkwood CC, IA - He's averaging 15ppg & 9rpg while hitting 71% from foul line. Iowa transfer has slimmed down, added quicker feet and bounce to go with more aggressive low block game. Good finisher!
Ibrahima Djimde 6-09 240 Temple Hills, MD Progressive Christian - Wide bodied big scores around hoop and crashes boards. He is a strong rebounder who can fill lane in transition.
Marcus Hopper 6-09 240 Flushing, NY Holy Cross - Physical rebounder has really picked it up on offensive end, scoring with jump hook, pop out 12-footer and drop step. On rise this winter!
Hooper Vint 6-09 200 Van Buren, AR High - Thin, but bouncy scorer with touch and quicks in the paint. He is wiry and can get to ball off glass and start break. he has looks from Arkansas, Alabama, Marquette, Mississippi, UAB, and Arkansas Little Rock.
Deng Gol 6-09 220 Elkhorn, NE Mount Michael Benedictine - Long and athletic post can block shots and run floor. Offense is starting to develop in paint. he has had interest from Cincinnati, Iowa, Creighton, Iowa State, Louisville, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, and Xavier.
Yvan Ngirabakunzi 6-09 210 Piney Woods, MS School - Low block scorer can drop step and dunk, block shots and runs floor well. He can pop open jumper facing too
Daouda Soumaoro 6-09 220 Centerreach, NY Our Savior New American - Long and athletic shot blocker can control paint defensively. He has really improved offensive tools and is on the rise!
Daquan Brown 6-09 210 Barstow CC, CA - Athletic and long rebounder and scorer who can run the floor and finish in transition. Good shot blocker too
Desmond Hubert 6-08 210 New Egypt, NJ High - Athletic and bouncy forward can face from 16-feet, or roll to the block and score with either hand in paint. He is hearing from Maryland, North Carolina, Wake Forest, and Princeton.
Kevin Thomas 6-08 205 Creedmoor, NC Christian Faith - Aggressive rebounder who can finish in paint with dunk or face & drive and finish at the rim. He is hearing from Wake Forest, Marquette, Arkansas, Cincinnati, N.C. State, and Colorado, but he's really seeing interest grow.
Eric Katenda 6-08 200 Wichita, KS Summit Christian Academy - Athletic and explosive scorer, who has excellent length, and ball skills to get to hoop or pop 15-footer. He has Iowa, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest as his leader board.
Leon Gibson 6-08 225 Navarro CC, TX He's averaging 10.1ppg & 7.2rpg. Strong board man can finish with either hand on the blocks. Pops 15-footer on face up. He has interest from Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge, Florida International, Georgia State, Houston, Utah State, and Texas Southern.
Max Bielfeldt 6-08 230 Peoria, IL Notre Dame Wide-bodied post man can score in paint, rebound to the rim, and has nose for ball on both ends. Has range to arc and a nose for finishing in close. He has Illinois, Michigan , Valparaiso, Western Michigan, Illinois Chicago, and Wright State showing interest.
James Farr 6-08 200 Evanston, Il Township - Skilled big can face and pop three or create drive then pull-up. He is a solid help defender with rise to block shots.
Luke Mergerson 6-08 215 Duncanville, TX High - Athletic face-up forward can hit 17 footer or roll to the block to score with either hand around the hoop. He has had looks from Houston, Iowa, Boston College, SMU, Bradley, Colorado, VCU, West Virginia, and Wichita State.
Jonathan Holton 6-08 200 Miami, FL LaSalle - Athletic slasher and driver who can finish at the rim, hit 17-footer or crash the boards
George McGrew 6-08 225 Mt. San Antonio CC, CA - Physical big man can finish with flush in post up. He has ability to step out and pop 12-15-footer too
Kaimyn Pruitt 6-08 210 Mt. San Antonio CC, CA - Athletic and bouncy big man can score around hoop with regularity. He is quick to rim on put back
Lavon Harper 6-08 220 Farmville, VA Fuqua School - Athletic and bouncy shot blocker, can score with dunk on drop step or jump hook. Has quick feet!
Keith Coleman 6-08 225 Lee, ME Lee Academy - Physical insider scores in the paint and hits the glass on both ends of the court. He is hearing from Drexel, Temple, Penn State, Marquette, VCU, Miami (FL), Rutgers, Seton Hall, and Texas.
Dwight Miller 6-08 245 Midland CC, TX - He averages 7.7ppg & 5.9rpg. Wide body who can run floor, pop open 16-footer and rebound with strength in traffic. Former Pitt Panther is just starting to get interest this spring.
Nemanja Djuristic 6-08 225 South Kent, CT School - Face up four man has range to the arc, is a good passer who can roll to blocks and finish in traffic
James Watson 6-08 220 Cowley County CC, KS He's averaging 11.1ppg & 7.1rpg. Bouncy power forward can block shots in paint, finish with both hands on face-up, knock down 17-footer or get job done on glass
Chris Bryant 6-08 180 Tallahassee, FL Rickards - Thin, but long and wiry face-up four can finish with flush off dribble, has big hops, or hit 17-footer. He has had interest from Auburn, Georgia, East Carolina, TCU, College of Charleston, Marquette, Alabama, South Florida and Florida State.
Victor Holloway 6-07 235 Arizona Western CC, AZ - Low post scorer can finish in paint with vengeance. He runs floor and gets to line often
Jabari Traylor 6-07 220 Bradenton, FL IMG Academy - Strong, athletic, finisher who can post and score with dunk or kiss off the glass. He gets to boards with bounce
Travion Leonard 6-07 270 Durham, NC Kestral School - Wide bodied and surprisingly bouncy big man gets on glass. He has good hands and catches & finishes in traffic
Adrick McKinney 6-07 240 Angelina CC, TX - He is averaging 8.8ppg & 8.2rpg. He is a physical rebounder who can post and horse it around the hoop to score
Zamarius McLendon 6-06 230 Motlow State CC, TN - He is averaging 15.2ppg & 10.6rpg. This physical rebounder can crash class and finish in paint to 15-feet
We will be updating the available wing guards and forwards over the next couple days as we get ready to look forward to the April signing period and the talent available to fill the needs of schools looking for additional help this spring, right here at Hot100Hoops.com.
