As recruiting classes for the 2011 HS Class have pretty much come to a close, I wanted to hear peoples thoughts about the class of 2012. It is looking like this may indeed be one of the deepest classes as far as post players is concerned in a LONG time. Right now, Scout has 7 of their top 25 players listed as Centers, which is unlike any class they have in their ranking archives. This is a nice change from 2011, which only had 1 in Rakim Christmas (though maybe a few others listed as PF’s who could be college C’s, such as Johnny O’Bryant).

To me, this class is an incredibly exciting one for multiple reasons. Not only does it have some incredibly intriguing post prospects, but it really has some great players across the board. Its talent may indeed lie at the top of its positional ladder in the form of Rodney Purvis (top rated PG, moved up from class of 2013), Ricardo Ledo (top SG), Shabazz Muhammad (top SF) and the battle for top PF between Brandon Ashley and Grant Jerrett. Still, the most exciting factor of this class is their depth in the post.

Andre Drummond, while scrutinized heavily by members of this board, is an incredibly rare prospect due to his combination of size, athleticism and skill set. While it is commonly remarked that he at times drifts off and does not always assert his dominance, it seems as if he is really coming into his own. Listed at 6’11 and anywhere from 250-270 pounds, Drummond appears incredibly agile for his size and his movement is what appears to make him stand out amongst his peers. He seems to be learning to take full advantage of his size, and proved so by leading St. Thomas More to the National Prep Championship and taking MVP honors. UCONN appears to be the school to beat for Drummond, and it appears that whoever lands his services will be getting a potential program changing post.

With Drummond, their are three other centers who all look like sure college contributors. DaJuan Coleman, at 6’10 and 280 pounds, with soft hands and a strong skill set, seems like maybe the best all-around player at this current time. Conditioning will of course be a focus, but as of right now, stopping DaJuan is easier said than done, and he should come out of the gates as a constant double double threat. His college choices appear to be numerous, though I would think his New York ties may lead him to Syracuse, and of course their are rumors that Kentucky is also in the mix. Either way, DaJuan is probably in the fight for being the top player in the class, and has tools to be a monster on the low block at any level as long as he keeps working.

The other two who should contribute out the gates both have verballed to Texas colleges, Isaiah Austin (Baylor) and Cameron Ridley (Texas). Isaiah is the nephew of former NBA big man Ike Austin, yet unlike his uncle, he is skinny as a rail. Nonetheless, he is a legit 7 foot lefty with a sweet mid range stroke. Drawing comparisons to Texas product Chris Bosh, Austin is nonetheless a strong defensive post presence, though building strength will have to be addressed. On the other hand, Ridley is a rugged low post guy, with some meat on his frame. He has a great low post touch and a nice back to the basket game. Conditioning may be an issue as well for Cameron, but he has a nice frame to start off with and should do more pushing around than being pushed even as a true freshman. He is probably the best Center prospect Rick Barnes has ever signed as far as being able to play in the post right off the bat.

As impressive as the top may be, the depth is what could make this class special at the post. Rounding out the 5 star prospects are Kaleb Tarczewski, a 7 footer with offers all over the board, Daniel Ochefu, a commit to Villanova and another promising big from Texas in Shaquille Cleare. From what has been reported, Cleare may indeed be the most developed of these players and could have a big impact as well. Tarczewski and Ochefu are both more projects that may be in school for a while, but could pay huge dividends down the road.

Still, their is even more depth here, as some 4-star guys may indeed move up the rankings of this class when all is said and done. Tony Parker, a 6’8 and 260 pound post not to be confused with the Spurs PG of the same name, is another player who could possibly contribute early in college. He has played for Team USA’s U-16 and U-17 teams, not to mention had a fantastic year in HS this past year. Steven Adams is a 7 foot prospect from New Zealand who has promised his services to Pittsburgh for over a year now, and showed a lot of promise at Adidas Nations. Mitch McGary is another prospect who was recently highlighted on the board, and he looks like another possible winner as a post prospect. The list even goes on to AJ Hammons and Landen Lucas, both of whom play at respective powers Oak Hill Academy and Findlay Prep, both of whom have been legitimate prospects even before than.

Huge posts seem to be another theme of this class, as their are some really big guys who use not only their height, but their size to their advantage. The biggest easily being Sim Bhullar, the Canadian import for Huntington Prep in West Virginia. Bhullar’s measurements are reportedly around 7’5 and 340 pounds, and while he is incredibly raw, he is also a terror to stop once he has the ball in the paint. Athleticism will be an issue, as will speed, but in limited minutes, he is nearly guranteed a couple close baskets and definitely provides a cog in the middle of a zone defense. Also, Joell James, a prospect from Florida listed at 6’10/280, is coming into his own. Zach Banner, who is a top rated OT in football, is another player to consider, as he wants to play basketball as well. With quick feet and a soft touch, Banner is a legit 6’9 and probably over 300 pounds.

This is just a small sampling, leaving out three major African projects, one of whom, Peter Jurkin (which is somehow his name) is committed to Indiana, talented skinny pivot Willie Cauley and a couple players rounding out the top 10 of scout in Robert Carter and Jarnell Stokes. What I wanted to pose as a final statement, is that this class could lead to one of the more exciting drafts we have had in a long time come 2013. The 2012 draft may be deeper, with arguably 3 of the top 4 of the top prospects from the class of 2010, not to mention probably most of the top talent in 2011, but the 2012 HS class might provide more depth in the long run than either of these classes. It is definitely becoming more of a guards league, and a bevy of the NBA’s top players are wings, but games are still won with rebounding and defense, in which post players play an invaluable role. This is why I think 2012 will more than likely be the best HS class since 2007, and neither 2013 or 2014, though both young classes, do not seem to have its depth. I know talented players come out of every class, and that each class tends to be known for something, but this classes big guys truly stand out after a fairly long drought of talent at the position, which gives something to look forward to for those wanting to see a resurgence in the field of post play.