Ranking the Nation's Top 20 Centers for 2014-15 NCAA Basketball Season
Alert the lovers of big men. Of the Mikan Drill and the Sampsons, the Olajuwons and the Ewings!
This college basketball season is the return of the center!
It's certainly not the deepest position in college basketball, and unless the age-limit rules change and the evolution of the game takes a turn back to the past, it never will be. But for the first time in a long time, some of the best centers in college basketball are also some of the game's best players.
Jahlil Okafor and Frank Kaminsky are the two most popular Player of the Year choices. Kentucky's Karl Towns is the best prospect on a loaded Kentucky roster. Heck, one reason John Calipari has resorted to a platoon system is he has three NBA-caliber centers and wants to figure out a way to play all three. There are some years where it's tough to find three NBA-caliber centers in all of college basketball.
As with all the position rankings, the players were selected based on projecting their value, production and opportunity this season.
Last year, I opened the position rankings with centers just to get them out of the way. This year, I saved them for last for a reason. Let's get to it.
Just missed the cut: Amida Brimah, Connecticut; Mike Tobey, Virginia; Skylar Spencer, San Diego State; Tony Parker, UCLA; Chris Obekpa, St. John's; Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga
This is the fifth installment in B/R's positional ranking series in the lead-up to the 2014-15 season. In case you missed it, here are the top 20 point guards, the top 20 shooting guards, the top 20 small forwards and the top 20 power forwards. The series will culminate on Wednesday with our ranking of the top 100 players in college basketball.
20. Stefan Nastic, Stanford
1 of 20
Class: Senior
2013-14 Stats: 7.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.9 BPG
During the NCAA tournament, Stefan Nastic showed how effective he can be when featured in Stanford's offense. Nastic averaged 11.7 points and made 14 of 18 shots during the tourney.
He has the opportunity to be a much bigger part of the Stanford attack this year. The Cardinal lost second-leading scorer Dwight Powell along with John Gage (top big man off the bench) and Josh Huestis, who played some as a small-ball 4. Incoming freshman Reid Travis is talented, but Nastic will likely be the go-to guy inside in Stanford's triangle offense.
19. Joshua Smith, Georgetown
2 of 20
Class: Senior
2013-14 Stats (13 games): 11.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG
If Joshua Smith could ever get his weight under control, he'd be one of the top centers in the country. Smith showed what he could do when he got minutes last year at Georgetown before academics forced him out the second semester.
In the three games when he played 27 or more minutes, he scored 25, 17 and 18 points, respectively. He made 66.3 percent of his twos on the year. He scored 92 points on 79 post-ups, according to Synergy Sports (subscription required). That's great production.
Smith knows how to post up and use his size to his advantage. He has great hands, good feet and good instincts. He's just never really gotten in great shape, and that has been the story of his career. He has one last season to change that.
18. Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse
3 of 20
Class: Senior
2013-14 Stats: 5.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.9 BPG
The numbers don't exactly show how valuable Rakeem Christmas is for the Orange. He is a really good defender who understands exactly what head coach Jim Boeheim wants of him in the zone.
Christmas has evolved into a decent post-up threat and made the most of his limited chances last year, shooting an efficient 61.3 percent from the field and 72.6 percent at the line. With all the scoring Syracuse lost, he could become more of a focal point in the offense instead of just a defender and energy guy.
17. Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga
4 of 20
Class: Junior
2013-14 Stats: 10.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.7 BPG
Przemek Karnowski is a mountain on the blocks and does a good job of using his great size (7'1", 288 lbs) to establish position and put himself in scoring spots. He gets to the free-throw line often but shot only 50 percent there last season.
Last year, Sam Dower was the go-to guy in the post for the Zags, and Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer could be that guy this year. Karnowski could also get pushed by Domantas Sabonis, the son of Arvydas Sabonis. But Karnowski is going to get his minutes because he's such a mismatch.
16. Myles Turner, Texas
5 of 20
Class: Freshman
2013-14 Stats (High school): 18.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 7.2 BPG, 3.8 APG
Right away, Myles Turner will be one of the best shot-blockers in the country. He has good timing and great length. On the offensive end, he's a bit more raw.
Turner can shoot from the perimeter, but he'll be best served as a freshman to stick around the bucket. He runs the floor well and should benefit from playing with lightning-quick point guard Isaiah Taylor.
The Longhorns are stacked up front, returning starters Cameron Ridley and Jonathan Holmes along with Connor Lammert (20.7 minutes per game last season) and Prince Ibeh (13.6 minutes). Turner will earn minutes because of his defense, but he may not be as heavily involved in the offense as you would think a highly touted recruit would be right out of the gate.
15. Dakari Johnson, Kentucky
6 of 20
Class: Sophomore
2013-14 Stats: 5.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 0.6 BPG
It's a crowded frontcourt at Kentucky, and Dakari Johnson could come out on the short end for minutes. At almost any other school, he'd be a go-to guy.
Depending on how things shake out in UK's rotation, Johnson still has a chance to be a breakout player. He has good hands, a good feel for playing with his back to the basket and was moving better this summer in the Bahamas than he did last season. He could just end up a victim of being surrounded by so much talent.
14. Cady Lalanne, Massachusetts
7 of 20
Class: Senior
2013-14 Stats: 11.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.2 BPG
Cady Lalanne was a solid secondary scorer at UMass last year and often a beneficiary of the penetration of Chaz Williams.
This season could go one of two ways with Williams gone. Lalanne will either be a star as his touches increase, or he could miss Williams setting him up. He's always been a good finisher at the rim, but he needs to improve his post-up game. He got a lot of his points from the post last year but wasn't overly efficient with his opportunities.
13. A.J. Hammons, Purdue
8 of 20
Class: Junior
2013-14 Stats: 10.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.1 BPG
A.J. Hammons has been a bit of a disappointment because his numbers haven't exactly met his potential on the offensive end. Part of the problem could be he just doesn't get enough touches, and he needs to get the ball on the blocks to be effective. Both starting guards from last year's team are gone, so maybe the Boilermakers will make it more of a priority to pass him the ball.
The 7-footer was productive on the defensive end last year. His block percentage (13.3) ranked seventh nationally, per kenpom.com (subscription required). He has the game to be one of the better two-way centers in the country.
12. Chris Walker, Florida
9 of 20
Class: Sophomore
2013-14 Stats: 1.9 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.4 BPG
Don't buy too much into Chris Walker's numbers last year. He had to sit out the first semester and only averaged 4.8 minutes per game. Even if he had been eligible all year, head coach Billy Donovan rarely gives big minutes to freshmen. He especially wasn't going to give real minutes to a guy coming in late who was playing behind a rock in Patric Young.
In those limited minutes, Walker would show off some of the potential that made him such a highly ranked recruit. He plays with great energy and is an extremely explosive athlete. Florida has a really good penetrating point guard in Kasey Hill, who Walker will benefit playing with (read: lobs galore). He also projects to be a great rim protector.
11. Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona
10 of 20
Class: Junior
2013-14 Stats: 9.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.0 BPG
Kaleb Tarczewski was the anchor of the best defense in the country last year, and the Wildcats once again will be one of the most difficult teams to score against in the paint.
On the offensive end, Tarczewski has been helped by point guard T.J. McConnell. He was really good in the pick-and-roll as the roll man for McConnell. He also does a good job of getting to the line, where he shot 75.6 percent last season.
10. Brad Waldow, Saint Mary's
11 of 20
Class: Senior
2013-14 Stats: 15.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.3 BPG
Brad Waldow is a space-eater who does all of his damage at the basket. Waldow does an excellent job of establishing himself on the blocks, utilizing all 270 pounds of his frame.
Waldow gets to the line often—he shot 239 free throws last year—and he's always been an excellent offensive rebounder, ranking in the top 51 in offensive rebounding percentage in each of his first three seasons, per kenpom.com.
9. Kennedy Meeks, North Carolina
12 of 20
Class: Sophomore
2013-14 Stats: 7.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 0.8 BPG
Kennedy Meeks is listed 20 pounds lighter than he was as a freshman. He's still a hefty 270, so it's not like he won't be able to throw his weight around, but he should be lighter on his feet and able to play more minutes.
It was obvious as a freshman that Meeks has a lot of ability and potential. He has great hands and does a good job getting position in the post and on the boards. He's a good fit in UNC's fast-paced system because of his ability to throw terrific outlet passes.
8. Josh Scott, Colorado
13 of 20
Class: Junior
2013-14 Stats: 14.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.1 BPG
Josh Scott is a crafty low-post scorer with a variety of moves and counters. He can score over either shoulder and with either hand. Scott is also really good at getting to the free-throw line, where he shoots 81 percent.
The Buffs have been to three straight NCAA tournaments. With Scott as the go-to man this year, there's a good shot they'll make it four.
7. Shawn Long, Louisiana-Lafayette
14 of 20
Class: Junior
2013-14 Stats: 18.6 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.7 BPG
Shawn Long is a rarity—the stretch 5.
Long is a terrific spot-up shooter who drained 42.3 percent of his threes last season. He's also a legitimate threat scoring in the post. On the other end, he is a good shot-blocker and great defensive rebounder, another combo that is rare—most are either one or the other.
Long will have to adjust to playing without Elfrid Payton, who was a lottery pick in June's NBA draft. Payton was the team's only elite distributor, but NBA scouts are still stopping at Louisiana-Lafayette this year. If Long continues to produce without Payton, the Ragin' Cajuns could have a player in the draft for the second year in a row.
6. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
15 of 20
Class: Junior
2014-15 Stats: 6.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.9 BPG
Willie Cauley-Stein is one of the most valuable defensive assets in the country. He's the rare rim protector who can also get out on the floor and check a guard if necessary.
On the offensive end, Cauley-Stein has been a work in progress throughout his career, but he has gotten better every season. He's great in transition because of his speed and hands. It's tough to predict how head coach John Calipari will rotate his big men once he ditches the platoon, but it's a good bet he'll find minutes for Cauley-Stein because of the impact he can make on the defensive end.
5. Cameron Ridley, Texas
16 of 20
Class: Junior
2013-14 Stats: 11.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.2 BPG
A big reason for Texas' comeback last season was the development of Cameron Ridley, a 247Sports composite 5-star recruit who disappointed as a freshman. Ridley went from an oversized non-factor to an intimidating presence as a sophomore.
It's clear why at one time he was such a sought-after prospect. At 6'9" and 285 pounds, Ridley has great hands and a soft touch around the basket. He's also a strong defender in the paint. Much of the preseason hype around Texas will surround incoming freshman Myles Turner, but I expect Ridley to be the team's most valuable big man.
4. Alan Williams, UC Santa Barbara
17 of 20
Class: Senior
2013-14 Stats: 21.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 2.4 BPG, 1.2 SPG
He's not a household name because he plays at UC Santa Barbara, but no player in the country does more for his team than Williams. He averaged 21.3 points and 11.5 rebounds last season, taking 37.2 percent of his team's shots when he was on the floor. It's rare for a man his size—6'8" and 265 pounds—to play the kind of minutes he plays (31.1 per game last season).
Williams is arguably the best back-to-the-basket scorer in college basketball. He scored more points on post-up opportunities (298 points) than any player in the country last year, per Synergy. He was also a force in the paint on the defensive end, helping the Gauchos rank as the 21st-best two-point field-goal percentage defense.
He's the rare shot-blocking presence who can also control the boards. He blocked 2.4 shots per game and was one of only three players to rank in the top 50 in both block percentage and defensive rebounding percentage—Kansas' Joel Embiid and Minnesota's Elliott Eliason were the others, per kenpom.com.
See what I mean? The man does everything for his team.
3. Karl Towns, Kentucky
18 of 20
Class: Freshman
2013-14 Stats (High school): 20.9 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 6.2 BPG
The first time I saw Karl Towns play was in the Jordan Brand Classic practices last spring. I came away thinking he might be the odd man out in Kentucky's crowded frontcourt. Then I watched all of UK's games in the Bahamas and came away thinking Jahlil Okafor has some actual competition for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft.
Towns was impressive in the Bahamas—11.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in only 19.7 minutes per game, and that was against grown men. His size and skill are really impressive, and his feel for the game puts him on another level. He showed off some passing ability in the Bahamas and has good vision.
The only thing he didn't do well in the Bahamas is hit the three—he went 1-of-9 shooting—but he's shown in the past that he can knock down perimeter shots. He's the five-tool big man.
2. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
19 of 20
Class: Senior
2013-14 Stats: 13.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.7 BPG
It's incredible where Frank Kaminsky's game went from one year to the next. Last season when I ranked the top 100 players, he wasn't even in consideration. He had been a fringe rotation player the year before for Wisconsin, averaging 4.2 points and 1.8 rebounds.
By the end of November, he had dropped 43 points in a game. In March, he was one of the stars of the NCAA tournament, scoring 28 points against Arizona's stacked front line to send Wisconsin to the Final Four.
Kaminsky is an extremely difficult matchup because of his ability to hit the three (37.8 percent last season), drive to the basket off the bounce and score from the blocks with his back to the basket.
The Badgers are a legitimate title contender, and Kaminsky will be in the conversation for National Player of the Year if his team lives up to expectations.
1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke
20 of 20
Class: Freshman
2013-14 Stats (High school): 24.1 PPG, 11.3 RPG
It's rare that a big man comes along as ready to be a star in the college game as Jahlil Okafor. It's difficult to find many pros with his assortment of post moves. To give an idea of how far along Okafor is for his age, he played for the United States' U19 team in the summer of 2013—he was 17 at the time—and he averaged 10.8 points and shot 77.2 percent in only 14.2 minutes per game.
Okafor will likely get the opportunity to be the man right away for the Blue Devils, who lost leading scorers Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood to the NBA. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski will be able to surround Okafor with shooters and give him space to operate on the blocks. If he gets his touches, it's a safe bet that he'll put up numbers.
C.J. Moore covers college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @CJMooreBR.
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