Pennsylvania high school boys basketball: Meet the state’s best post players for the 2023-24 season

Who are the top post players in Pennsylvania high school boys basketball this season?

With fall sports in the rearview mirror, the high school basketball season is finally here.

SBLive Sports is highlighting some of the best players in Pennsylvania heading into the winter season.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a position-by-position look at some of the best of the best in high school boys basketball. We’ve already highlighted the point guards, combo guards, wings and forwards and will wrap things up with the biggest players on the court.

Here are 20 of the best post players in Pennsylvania entering the 2023-24 high school boys basketball season.

There are hundreds of standout boys basketball players in Pennsylvania, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive! You can discuss the other post players worthy of fans’ attention in 2023-24 by connecting with us on Twitter @SBLivePA or emailing ryan@scorebooklive.com. 

Franco Alvarez, sr., Greensburg Central Catholic

Working alongside star point guard Tyree Turner, Alvarez put up big stats during his junior season for Greensburg Central Catholic. The center averaged 16.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 63 percent from the floor.

Everett Barnes, jr., Father Judge

Playing for Burlington City as a sophomore, Barnes put up 9.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and three blocks per game. The two-way big man is now at Father Judge. 

Luke Bevilacqua, jr., George School

A true five-man, Bevilacqua is an imposing physical presence at 6-foot-11 and 230 pounds. He is a mobile junior who excels at both ends of the court. 

Jay Clover, sr., Allegheny-Clarion Valley

Clover is a force in the paint at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds. He nearly averaged a double-double as a junior with 17.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, one block and 0.8 steals. 

Macon Emory, sr., Perkiomen

Emory is a versatile big man who averaged nine points and six rebounds as a junior while shooting 36 percent from 3-point land. He signed with Delaware in November.

Bradyn Foster, sr., Highlands

Foster put up 20.7 points, 11 rebounds and 4.2 blocks as a junior, receiving 4A third-team all-state honors. He will play college basketball in the Ivy League for Penn. 

Virgil Hall, sr., Imani Christian Academy

Hall is a physical big man whose Division I offers include South Florida and Wichita State. He averaged 12.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and one block as a junior for Class 1A state champion Imani Christian Academy. 

Justin Houser, jr., Phelps

Houser is a 7-footer who is light on his feet. He averaged 2.6 blocks as a sophomore and holds offers from Penn State, St. Joseph’s and Temple, among others. 

Shareef Jackson, jr., Roman Catholic

Jackson is the lone returning starter for a Roman Catholic team that captured last year’s Philadelphia Catholic League title and reached the state championship game. He averaged 10.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks as a sophomore and holds offers from La Salle at St. Joseph’s. 

Larenzo Jerkins, sr., Neumann-Goretti

Jerkins transferred to Neumann-Goretti from Chester after his sophomore season and played a supporting role behind star center Sultan Adewale last winter. Jerkins is now the top interior presence for the Philadelphia power. 

Haze Puttlitz, sr., Solebury

Puttlitz is most impactful as a rebounder and rim protector for Solebury. He put up 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 assists as a junior.

Malik Rasul, sr., Westtown 

Rasul played with Bronny James at Sierra Canyon before making his way to Westtown. The Lafayette commit averaged 8.2 points, seven rebounds and 1.2 blocks as a junior. 

Ben Rill, jr., Central York

Rill is the man in the middle for Class 6A contender Central York. The 6-foot-8 junior is a bruising center who can protect the rim and clean up misses. 

Grant Rochkind, sr., Cheswick Christian

Rochkind averaged a double-double as a junior with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He had a 28-point, 20-rebound performance against Pittsburgh Christian. 

Thomas Sorber, sr., Archbishop Ryan

A four-star Georgetown commit, Sorber averaged 17.8 points per game as a junior en route to 5A first-team all-state honors. Sorber wasn’t just a scorer as he also put up 11.2 rebounds, 4.2 blocks and 2.5 assists. 

Zeke Staz, jr., Downingtown West

The 6-foot-8 Staz is capable of playing small forward, power forward and center for Downingtown West. He is a strong interior finisher and rebounder. 

Makye Taylor, sr., Imhotep Charter

Taylor dealt with major knee injuries early on in his high school career but is back to 100 percent health for his senior season. The big man is committed to Albany.

Richard Vinansky, sr., Mid Valley

Entering his fourth season as an important piece of the varsity rotation, Vinansky is the man in the middle for Mid Valley. He averaged 15.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists last winter. 

Carter Wamsley, jr., Eastern York

Wamsley will likely be more of a perimeter player in college, but the athletic 6-foot-6 junior plays down low for Eastern York. He put up 15.8 points, 10 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.6 blocks last winter. 

Bailey Ziolkowski, sr., Nativity

Ziolkowski is an athletic big who nearly averaged a double-double last season with 18.4 points and 9.3 rebounds. He was also effective in other areas, putting up three assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 steals. 

(Makye Taylor photo by Jonah Hinebaugh/USA Today)

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports