Henricksen: Next season’s top juniors

The buzz for the Class of 2017 continues to grow. The excitement surrounding the class is a result of the Division I depth and high-level prospects at the very top.

While it’s still early there are six that stand out as the best prospects in the class.

Currently, two of the top six are from outside the Chicago area. There hasn’t been this many players from outside the Chicago area near the top of a class since the Class of 1997, which included Peoria Manual’s Marcus Griffin and Sergio McClain, along with East Peoria’s Mark Vershaw and Decatur’s Tarise Bryson.

Here are the City/Suburban Hoop Report’s top six sophomores in Illinois:

Nojel Eastern, Evanston

Eastern is as versatile as they come due to his skill level, size and ability to play multiple positions. Eastern has a high basketball IQ and for a high-profile prospect, he’s extremely unselfish. Eastern looks to pass and make those around him better. He may not be dominant in one area, but he can make plays in multiple ways.

Jordan Goodwin, Belleville Althoff

Up to this point the 6-3 do-it-all guard been the most productive player in the sophomore class. Goodwin has recorded 1,000 career points and led Althoff to a runner-up finish in Class 3A last month.

His perimeter jumper must improve, but he’s tough, strong, possesses basketball savvy and might be the best pure basketball player in this group.

Christian Negron, Larkin

He still has to develop his overall skill set, but the 6-6 forward already has areas of his game that he excels in — rebounding, blocking shots and finishing at the rim. That’s due to his high energy and hustle, bounce off the floor, length and athleticism, which all translate to the college level.

Justin Smith, Stevenson

A big year lies ahead for Smith, who looks the part of a high-major player as he’s off the charts physically. The 6-6 forward has superior athleticism. He’s taken a back seat to Jalen Brunson and Connor Cashaw thus far in his career, but he’s ready to blossom and has an extremely high ceiling. Smith has an improving perimeter jumper out to the three-point line.

Jeremiah Tilmon, East St. Louis

Tilmon is the best prospect and highest-ranked player in the class nationally.

The 6-10 forward has the mobility, coordination and size to impact the game at both ends of the floor. What is striking is how advanced Tilmon is when it comes to his skill set for his position. Now it’s a matter of refining it all and fine-tuning his overall game.

Alonzo Verge Jr., Willowbrook

The 6-3 guard has a smooth, fluid, effortless overall game. Verge averaged 30 points during a 10-game stretch late in the season. Along with his passing, vision and feel, Verge has range on his jumper and is capable of getting to the rim.