One of the better big men in the 2017 class displayed great improvements within his half-court skillset on Sunday evening in his team’s overtime victory. Derek Culver, a 6-foot-9 power forward out of the Warren Harding High basketball program, is perceived as a top-50 recruit nationally. While he didn’t score it a ton, Culver did showcase great passing abilities and noted on the recent uptick with his recruitment.

A native of Youngstown, Ohio, the junior 4-man has been a pretty well-known name throughout the Midwest for some time now. While he didn’t show off much of a back to the basket game on Sunday, Culver did display immense passing skills due to his quality vision. He can hit the back cutter off the high elbow, kick out to the open teammate from the low-post, and also find his guy leaking out with a solid advance pass off of the defensive rebound.

With Illinois head coach John Groce and assistants from Arizona and Cincinnati in the gym for him, Culver, who runs with the Ohio Basketball Club program on the travel circuit, finished with a complete stat line of seven points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. Now, the Buckeye State native was a little less than willing to score it himself as he attempted just one field goal in 29 minutes of play, but the high-post abilities out of the big man is pretty well developed.

On the recruiting front, Culver noted that he has 25 offers in hand at the moment but that there also were a few others standing out compared to the rest. “I am hearing a lot from Arizona, Indiana, Florida, and Florida State,” the Harding junior said. “Michigan State also wants me to visit soon but I’m not sure when.”

While he has yet to really indulge on his offers and interest, there are a few things that the skilled lefty is looking for when it comes time to select a college. “I just want a coach that I can be compatible with and will hold me accountable,” Culver said.

There are not many around like the mobile and improving big man within the 2017 class and entering his senior summer within the coming months, expect for the productive junior to become a highly prioritized recruit from inside and outside of his geographical niche.