Best high school boys basketball posts in the nation entering the 2023-24 season

Expect these 20 interior players to put up big stats this winter

The high school boys basketball season is officially underway, with Alabama becoming the first state to tip off Nov. 2.

SBLive Sports is highlighting some of the best players in the nation as we begin the winter season, which starts with Montverde Academy ranked No. 1 in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Top 25.

We've been taking a position-by-position look at some of the best of the best in high school boys basketball, starting with the top point guards, combo guards, wings and forwards, and now we'll finish the series with the top posts.

Here are 20 of the best posts in the nation entering the 2023-24 high school boys basketball season.

Flory Bidunga, sr., Kokomo (Indiana)

Flory Bidunga, a Kansas commit, blocks a shot during the 2023 Indiana 4A state championship game / Photo by Julie Brown, SBLive Sports

Bidunga, the No. 1 senior center in the country, averaged 20.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots per game as a junior while shooting a staggering 81 percent from the floor. The Kansas commit was voted Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year. He has 274 career blocks and 218 career dunks. 

James Brown, sr., Link Academy (Missouri)

Brown put up 11 points and nine rebounds as a junior for Chicago’s St. Rita. Now at Link Academy, the North Carolina commit is a dominant interior presence at 6-foot-10 and 210 pounds. 

Sam Funches, so., Germantown (Mississippi)

One of the top sophomores in the country, Funches is a five-star center whose Division I offers include Alabama, Arkansas and Auburn. He averaged a double-double last winter with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. 

Kendre Harrison, so., Reidsville (North Carolina)

Harrison was close to unstoppable as a freshman for Reidsville, filling up the stat sheet with 21.5 points, 15.1 rebounds and 4.4 blocks. A dual-sport athlete, Harrison is the No. 1 sophomore tight end recruit in the country. 

Bradey Henige, sr., Cactus (Arizona)

A true 7-footer, Henige averaged 28.8 points, 20.6 rebounds and 4.3 blocks during his junior season. The Cal Baptist commit is also a star volleyball player. 

Matthew Hodge, sr., St. Rose (New Jersey)

Hodge put up 14.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 blocks last season for St. Rose. A four-star prospect, Hodge committed to Villanova in September. 

Morez Johnson, sr., Thornton (Illinois)

Another former St. Rita standout, Johnson transferred to Thornton over the summer. The four-star Illinois commit excels as a defender and rebounder. 

Austin Maurer, sr., Cascade Christian (Oregon) 

Maurer was the Class 3A player of the year as a sophomore but missed a good chunk of his junior season due to injury. The 7-footer is a difference-maker at both ends of the court and will play college basketball for Grand Canyon. 

Jackson McAndrew, sr., Wayzata (Minnesota)

McAndrew averaged 17 points and eight rebounds as a junior, leading Wayzata to a state championship. The versatile four-star big man is committed to Creighton. 

Jesse McCulloch, sr., Lutheran East (Ohio)

Jesse McCulloch, a Michigan State commit, takes a shot during the 2023 Ohio Division 3 semifinals. Photo by Ben Jackson, SBLive Sports 

McCulloch is a power post player who can also function on the perimeter. The Michigan State commit averaged 17.3 points, 11 rebounds and three assists a season ago for a Lutheran East team that won a state championship. 

Robert Miller, sr., Pasadena Memorial (Texas)

Miller was a double-double machine as a junior, putting up 19.7 points, 13.1 rebounds and 5.4 blocks. The four-star prospect will play college basketball for LSU. 

Patrick Ngongba II, sr., Paul VI (Virginia)

The big man in the middle for national power Paul VI, Ngongba II moves very well for his 6-foot-10, 250-pound frame. The five-star senior signed with Duke this week. 

Doryan Onwuchekwa, sr., Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy (Texas)

Onwuchekwa helped Faith Family Academy repeat as UIL 4A state champions last season. Now a senior, the 6-foot-10 Colorado signee will look to lead the nationally ranked Eagles to a three-peat before heading off to Boulder.

Jayden Quaintance, sr., Word Of God Christian Academy (North Carolina)

The 6-foot-10 Quaintance is an explosive big man with plenty of skill. The nation’s No. 2 overall senior center recruit, Quaintance’s suitors include Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio State. 

Derik Queen, sr., Montverde Academy (Florida)

Derik Queen, a five-star recruit, enters his senior senior at Montverde Academy in Floirda. Photo by Matt Christopher, SBLive Sports

Queen averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds as a junior for a stacked Montverde Academy team. The five-star recruit recently narrowed his recruiting list to Houston, Indiana, Kansas and Maryland. 

Pupualii Sepulona, jr., St. Louis (Hawaii)

Sepulona put up 18.2 points, eight rebounds and two assists as a sophomore en route to Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound beast shined with 27 points in an Iolani Classic matchup against Montverde Academy. He also plays football for St. Louis.  

Aiden Sherrell, sr., Prolific Prep (California)

Sherrell averaged 18.8 points and 9.3 rebounds for Arizona’s Hillcrest Prep as a junior. Now at Prolific Prep, the five-star Alabama commit is hoping to close his high school career with a national title.

Lathan Sommerville, sr., Richwoods (Illinois)

A four-star Rutgers commit, Sommerville averaged 13.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks during his junior season. He is a true five-man at 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds. 

Thomas Sorber, sr., Archbishop Ryan (Pennsylvania)

Sorber did a little bit of everything as a junior, averaging 17.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.2 blocks, 2.5 assists and one steal. The four-star recruit is committed to Georgetown. 

Caleb Wilson, jr., Holy Innocents Episcopal (Georgia)

Another walking double-double, Wilson stuffed the stat sheet with 14.5 points, 12.6 rebounds, 5.2 blocks, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals a season ago. The athletic big man is the nation’s No. 5 overall senior recruit. 

(Flory Bidunga photo by Julie L. Brown)

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports