Jahlil Okafor was a 14-year-old eighth grader when he received his first scholarship offer. Two years later he has developed into one of the nation's top college basketball prospects.
Now a 6-foot-10, 260-pound sophomore at Chicago's Whitney Young High School, Okafor is a consensus top-five recruit in the Class of 2014 — second overall by Scout.com, third by ESPN and fourth by Rivals. He has offers from schools like North Carolina, Ohio State, Illinois and Missouri, among others.
Whitney Young, which includes another top sophomore in 6-8 forward Paul White, will be among the teams showcased in the eight games of the Coaches vs. Cancer Shootout on Thursday at Scottrade Center.
"He's a ferocious competitor," Whitney Young coach Tyrone Slaughter said of Okafor, who he describes as a throwback to an old-fashioned post player. "He's a young man who loves basketball and loves to compete."
Whitney Young will play Soldan (13-3), the No. 1 team in the STLhighschoolsports.com small-schools rankings, in the final game of the day at 8:30 p.m. The Tigers will have to find a way to limit the sophomore post player's impact.
Playing for the USA U16 national team last summer, Okafor averaged 14.6 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting 71.1 percent from the field and 82.6 percent on free throws over five games. Team USA won the 2011 FIBA Americas championship.
"He's a guy with Jared Sullinger-like size and with a great set of hands and mobility for a kid his size," said Evan Daniels, a national recruiting analyst for Scout.com, referring to Ohio State all-American Sullinger. "I was really impressed with his ability to score around the basket and lock in on his area from a rebounding perspective."
Paul Biancardi, a former St. Louis University assistant coach who is now a recruiting analyst for ESPN.com, described Okafor as a prospect with elite upside.
"His post-up game is advanced at a young age," Biancardi said. "He makes and maintains contact with his defender to establish his deep post position. He possesses strong hands to catch the ball and soft hands to score the ball. His signature move now is a jump hook over his left shoulder. He's a dependable rebounder because of his enormous size and sure hands. He is hard to score over because he provides a barrier to the basket when he challenges the shot."
Despite its young talent, Whitney Young has struggled this season. Young fell to 8-7 with recent losses to Chicago schools Marshall and Curie.
Okafor had nine points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots against Curie on Sunday after scoring 34 points on 14-of-16 shooting in a 79-75 overtime loss against Marshall on Wednesday.
TOP ST. LOUIS PROSPECTS ON DISPLAY
Two of the area's top prospects also are in the event -- Cardinal Ritter senior swingman Cameron Biedscheid and Belleville East junior shooting guard Malcolm Hill.
A 6-8, 185-pounder who signed with Notre Dame, Biedscheid is averaging an area-best 31.5 points. Ranked eighth among area small schools, Ritter (10-4) will take on undefeated Vianney (18-0), the area's top-ranked large school.
Hill, a 6-5 guard who made an early commitment to Illinois, is averaging 22.4 points. He will lead the Lancers (11-7) against crosstown rival Belleville West (8-9) at 12:30 p.m.
BOLINGBROOK, ST. JOSEPH'S ARE LOADED WITH TALENT
The girls game between St. Joseph's and Bolingbrook (Ill.), which is set for 5:30, will feature at least 12 players who will go on to play at Division I schools.
Bolingbrook (15-1), No. 7 in the USA Today Super 25 national rankings, has won three straight Illinois Class 4A championships. Bolingbrook had eight players sign with Division I schools in November: forwards Morgan Tuck (Connecticut), Nia Moore (Illinois), Cabriana Capers (Auburn) and Annaya Moore (Alabama-Birmingham) and guards DeLacy Anderson (George Washington), ChaRosese Williams (Stetson), Keiera Ray (Pennsylvania) and Allie Hill (Texas-Pan American).
"Most (elite) teams that we run across may have three to four really strong legit D-I's," said St. Joe's coach Julie Matheny. "You've got eight here, with UConn leading it off with Morgan Tuck. They can come at you from a lot of different angles."
St. Joseph's (17-2), No. 1 among area large schools, has plenty of talent as well. The Angels are led by Mizzou signees in 6-1 senior guards Maddie and Morgan Stock, and they have junior prospects in 6-3 center Sydney Stipanovich and forward Erin Nelson.
Maddie Stock is averaging 18.1 points and has made 62 3-pointers. Stipanovich is averaging 12.5 points, 11 rebounds and 6.5 blocks.
