Tillman, a 6-foot-7, 190-pound power forward at Berkeley High in suburban St. Louis, recently committed to play his college basketball at SEMO.
“Abel is an incredible talent,” Jones told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “For those coaches who haven’t seen him or didn’t recruit him, they are missing out.”
Tillman averaged 8.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 5 blocked shots per game as a junior and is averaging 7.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.7 blocked shots per game this season.
“They are getting an incredible steal,” Jones said. “He’s got incredible upside.”
The slender forward plays much bigger than his height, using his long arms and quick leaping ability to block and alter many shots. His defense and rebounding ability has made Berkeley one of the top small schools in the St. Louis area for the last few years.
The Bulldogs went 22-5 last winter and are 9-0 this season.
When he signs in the spring, Tillman will join recruiting class that includes 6-5 Nashville wing Martino Brock and 6-5 Indian River (Fla.) Community College forward Mark Caviness.
Abel Tillman Profile