Which skilled post players should be on your radar?

The back-to-the-basket post player position has evolved over the past few years. So-called post players are now proving they are complete players and can do much more than just post up. These post players are some of the most skilled I have seen.    [player_tooltip player_id='428046' first='Izellah' last='Kendrick'] is a physical presence that draws attention immediately, but once she starts playing, her footwork is what truly makes her stand out. Wherever Izellah catches the ball, she is a threat. She uses her size to shield defenders from the ball and handles it well enough to get to her spot and score. Kendrick doesn't need to post up, either—she has a smooth jumper. Her mid-range shot is the most dangerous, but you can't leave her open at the 3-point line, either.   Izellah also has great hands and knows how to get herself open, making her a threat in both pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop offenses. Kendrick is a good decision-maker with the ball, possessing the ability to pass her teammates open, making her equally effective in the Princeton offense.   Izellah helped lead her high school team to a 30-1 season and a state runner-up finish, averaging 13.7 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game. Bloomingdale has loaded up in the transfer portal with a lot of good talent, making them a favorite to win the 6A state championship.     [player_tooltip player_id='514584' first='Casey' last='O'Connell'] is one of the smoothest stretch forwards you'll ever watch score the ball. She can light up the net from anywhere on the floor, and shooting the 3-ball is just one of the many ways she can score. Casey's ability to stretch the floor and shoot at a high percentage makes her a matchup nightmare, forcing shot blockers on the opposing team to step out and guard her on the wing.   Casey also loves to play physically, drawing contact from defenders at the rim and finishing strong. This past season, she averaged 20.5 points per game, with a season-high of 32 points, and 8.1 rebounds per game, including a season-high of 13 rebounds. She recorded nine double-doubles.   Casey scored 491 points on the season while shooting 47% from the field, showing she can score in bunches. Look for her to increase those impressive numbers in her junior year, as her confidence and swagger were clearly on the rise this travel season with ECU, where she continued to put up big numbers against top talent.     Sanae Graham, the 6'3" center from Plant High School, averaged 7.5 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game in her sophomore year. Graham is agile moving laterally and disciplined when defending at the rim, often playing straight up against opponents.   Sanae's footwork when she gets the ball is impressive; she knows how to use minimal moves to position herself for easy scoring opportunities. She also has good hands, able to catch passes in traffic from her guards, and consistently works early to seal off defenders, putting them in tough positions. This combination of footwork and strong hands also makes her a reliable rebounder, frequently providing her team with second and third-chance points.   Sanae significantly improved her game over the summer with [program_tooltip program_id='713590' first='FGB' last=''] and garnered a lot of attention. I expect her to have a breakout junior season, with her points and rebounds increasing as she becomes a primary scoring option for Plant, especially with some players transferring out. Sanae could easily average a double-double this season.     [player_tooltip player_id='515288' first='Dezuray' last='McGill'] (cover photo) is one of my favorite players to watch. She runs the floor like a guard, looking to out-hustle and outwork her opponents on every play. When she gets the ball, she knows what to do with it—she's looking to score. Dezuray seeks contact and makes defenders pay for trying to guard her, using good footwork and a soft touch around the rim.   Even with two Division I recruits at the guard positions on her team, they still feed her the ball and let her go to work. McGill is coming off a 5A state championship season, where she averaged 10.0 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game, and had a very successful travel season with New Era Hoops, earning a few Division I offers.   I expect Dezuray to increase both her points and rebounds this season, as her team is favored to win their newly reclassified 4A state championship.     Even though [player_tooltip player_id='783627' first='Dominique' last='Boone'] stands at 6'3", she has the versatility to score from more than just the post. She can handle the ball well enough in transition to go coast-to-coast, take defenders off the dribble, and get low to score at the rim. Boone also has a smooth jumper, capable of knocking down shots from both midrange and beyond the arc.   Not only does she beat defenders up the floor to score easy transition buckets, but she also takes pride in getting back on defense, where she defends the rim and paint as a top-notch shot blocker. Last year, Boone averaged 11.1 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, 3.0 steals per game, and 2.6 blocks per game, proving she can do it all on the floor.   This year, Boone has transferred to Tampa Catholic, a team loaded with talent. However, that won't stop her from putting up similar or even better numbers as they make their run for the 3A state championship, where they are one of the favorites to win.     [player_tooltip player_id='346854' first='Jolena' last='Gardner'] is one of the most skilled forwards in the state, capable of playing both on the wing and in the post, making her a mismatch problem for any opposing team. She can blow by bigger defenders and bully smaller ones, or shoot over them, whether in the post, off the dribble, or on the catch.   You can also run your offense through Gardner, as she has a high basketball IQ and consistently makes the right passes. She's quick to read situations in transition, which leads to her either scoring or setting up her teammates for easy baskets.   Coming off a season where she averaged 11.9 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, and 4.3 steals per game, I expect Jolena to improve those numbers in her senior season, following a successful travel season with the Essence EYCL team.     [player_tooltip player_id='400775' first='Amaya' last='Shaw'] is a WORKER—she's everywhere on the floor. While she can score, what stands out the most is her ability to guard positions 1 through 5. She's quick enough to stay in front of her defender on the wing and track her opponent in transition, yet strong and confident enough to dominate in the post.   Shaw plays with an edge but is never out of control. I've never seen her get upset about a play or call; she just goes out and makes the next big play. If coaches could, they'd leave her in the game the entire time because she makes everyone around her better without sacrificing her own production.   Amaya averaged 15.9 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game this past season. She will be transferring to the powerhouse Winter Haven, a team full of multiple college prospects, and she will still shine as she can fit into any system.     [player_tooltip player_id='846674' first='Eni' last='Oyedeji'] is one of those players who commands attention the moment you enter the gym, standing tall at 6'4". If you don't immediately see her, you'll definitely hear her, as she is very vocal on the floor. Once you start watching her, you won't be disappointed.   Eni has the footwork to score at will in the paint, with effective up-and-under moves and strong finishes off two feet. Defensively, she excels at protecting the paint, and she's a glass cleaner, ensuring every rebound is hers—a player you must box out at all times. Eni also forces opponents to second-guess attacking the paint, as she will either block or alter their shots.   This past season, Eni averaged 11.5 points per game with a 69% field goal percentage, along with 7.0 rebounds per game and 2.3 blocks per game—all as a freshman. Expect those impressive stats to increase this year, as her team, Windermere Prep, is one of the favorites to compete for the 3A state championship.

The back-to-the-basket post player position has evolved over the past few years. So-called post players are now proving they are complete players and can do much more than just post up. These post players are some of the most skilled I have seen.