Class of 2018 Position Rankings: Power forwards

We’ve brought back the position rankings to basketball and we reintroduce them this week by ranking the best point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards and centers in the class of 2018.

NEW RELEASE: Power Forwards | Small Forwards | Shooting Guards | Point Guards

MORE RANKINGS: 2018 Team | 2018 Rivals150 | 2019 Rivals150 | 2020 Rivals150

Today, we move to the power forwards led by the nation’s No. 7 player, Vanderbilt-bound Simisola Shittu of Vermont Academy. What stands out about the 2018 crop of power forwards? Who is the best fit for his college destination and who might be getting a bit overlooked? National basketball analysts Eric Bossi and Corey Evans weigh in with their thoughts.

Eric Bossi: “I’m not sure that this group is going to produce that many instant impact guys and I don’t think it’s a group that is crawling with one-and-done players. It’s a group of players who will need some time to develop. It should be good long-term for college basketball. We might get to know a few of these five-star guys such as currently undecided Jordan Brown or Mississippi State-bound Reggie Perry a little bit better during their college stays. Even the current No. 1 player at the position, Simisola Shittu, doesn’t yet strike me as a one-and-done talent. Because of that, I don’t think expectations will be too over the top for this group when it hits college campuses.”

Corey Evans: “The somewhat inconsistent nature of the power forward crop stands out. The talent remains with Shareef O’Neal, Marcus Bingham, Pete Nance, Miles Norris and slew of others but there is going to be a time, and that moment will be shortly, that they will have to tap into that raw potential and develop into consistently productive ballplayers. Right now, there are a lot of what-ifs with this position but five years from now the power forward spot could become a strength of the 2018 class if the light turns on for a few of these guys.”

Bossi: “I think that upper-end four-star Taeshon Cherry looks like a perfect fit for Bobby Hurley and Arizona State. We debated a lot about whether to list Cherry as a power or small forward but went with him as a power forward because we feel he creates the most matchup problems as a face-up four with some wing skills and versatility. In Tempe, Hurley loves versatile pieces and he likes guys who can get up and down the floor. I also feel like Hurley’s style and how they give players freedom to make plays will ultimately bring out the best in Cherry.”

Evans: “Maybe the best fit of them all is Nate Laszewski, who had the chance to attend a glamour program such as North Carolina or Arizona but instead, found the ideal landing spot at Notre Dame. Laszewski is a floor-stretching four with toughness and an elite shooter off the spot-up, but he's becoming better at attacking closeouts. He comes to Notre Dame after three years of competing against the best within the New England prep ranks. Laszewski has already been through the gauntlet and under the well respected tutelage of Mike Brey, the four-star forward should flourish.”

Bossi: “In the summer of 2017 I was taken by the rapid ascension of Georgia-bound four-star Amanze Ngumezi. I saw his near 6-foot-9 size and athletic gifts, but there is a lot of raw potential with him that may take a year or two to tap into but could pay huge dividends. I also like what he’s walking into at Georgia. There isn’t likely going to be much choice about whether or not to play him and being thrown into the fire will bring the best out of him. The big key is going to be his jump shot. He’s got a chance to turn into a good jump shooter and if that happens he could cause some serious damage down the road in the SEC.”

Evans: “Marcus Bingham is someone that just oozes potential, and he might have one of the highest ceilings in the entire 2018 class. The next step is developing all facets of his game and turning potential into consistent production at the highest levels. Headed to Michigan State, Bingham is a 6-foot-9, mobile and skilled face-up power forward that can score out to the perimeter, take his man off the bounce, and most of all, guard more than two positions on the floor. He could be someone that doesn’t pan out or he could be someone that develops into a major piece in East Lansing and plasters his name onto a handful of NBA Draft boards in the future.”