Ranking the Nation's Top 20 Centers for 2015-16 NCAA Basketball Season
It's harder to find a true quality center than any spot in college basketball, but those who do have a major advantage.
Two of the last four national champions, Duke (Jahlil Okafor) and Kentucky (Anthony Davis), had lottery picks at the position. The three best teams in college basketball last year had the three best centers: Duke (Okafor), Wisconsin (Frank Kaminsky) and Kentucky (Willie Cauley-Stein).
The center position is not quite as stacked at the top this year, but the incoming freshman class has at least provided some depth at the position. Out of the top seven players in that class, according to 247Sports.com's rankings, four are on this list.
It's difficult to rank freshmen, but I had the luxury of watching most of the top center prospects when they were in high school. And given the success of elite freshmen centers in the one-and-done era, it's foolish to ignore them. Experience can matter, but these rankings are made by considering talent and opportunity/system more than any other factors, and then trying to predict success for this upcoming season.
Just missed the cut: Hassan Martin, Rhode Island; Angel Delgado, Seton Hall; Tonye Jekiri, Miami; Johnathan Motley, Baylor; Mike Tobey, Virginia
This is the fifth installment in B/R's positional ranking series for the 2015-16 season. In case you missed it, here are the top 20 point guards, shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards. And here is the series finale: the top 100 overall players in college basketball.
20. Amida Brimah, Connecticut
1 of 20
Class: Junior
2014-15 Stats: 9.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.5 BPG
Amida Brimah offers the best rim protection in the country. He led the NCAA in blocked shots (121) last year. Offensively, he's never been aggressive but finishes well when he gets his chances. He shot 67.4 percent as a sophomore and 64 percent as a freshman.
If Brimah can show more of an offensive game this season, that raises the Huskies' ceiling and could make him an intriguing NBA prospect. He got off to a good start by scoring 18 points in UConn's opener against Maine.
19. Tyler Davis, Texas A&M
2 of 20
Class: Freshman
2014-15 Stats (High School): 18.7 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 3.4 BPG
Tyler Davis arrives at Texas A&M with a mature game that should allow him to have a very successful season. Davis has a big body (6'10" and 265 pounds) and already understands how to use his size to score from the blocks. He has solid post moves, good hands and a soft touch around the bucket. That combination is not easy to find anymore.
Davis isn't going to excite scouts with his athleticism, but he should be a productive player at A&M for years.
18. Ivan Rabb, California
3 of 20
Class: Freshman
2014-15 Stats (High School): 24.5 PPG, 16.3 RPG, 4.5 BPG
Ivan Rabb has one of the highest upsides of any player in the freshman class. He's an athletic 6'11" and is a skilled low-post scorer. He can shoot with either hand—he's ambidextrous—and his footwork is textbook.
If you catch Rabb on the right day, he looks like a star. But he also had some games on the EYBL circuit as a high schooler when he was hardly noticeable. He's not always aggressive.
There are a lot of mouths to feed at California. The Bears have talented perimeter players who are going to want to shoot. Whether Rabb puts up numbers or not will depend on how willing they are to get him involved. If head coach Cuonzo Martin makes it a priority to play through Rabb, he could very well be one of the most productive post players in the country.
17. Ryan Spangler, Oklahoma
4 of 20
Class: Senior
2014-15 Stats: 9.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.1 BPG
Ryan Spangler does not need touches to get his points or keep his intensity level up. The dirty-work man for the Sooners is all about playing hard, defending and rebounding, which is perfect on a team that has plenty of scoring from the perimeter. Any scoring opportunities he gets are just gravy.
That's not to say Spangler isn't gifted. He can step out and hit a jumper and is a good finisher around the rim. He shot 62.7 percent inside the arc last season. But his value for Oklahoma is more about the intangibles and hustle he brings to the table. His intensity is contagious, and he played a big role in OU's defensive improvement last year. The Sooners ranked ninth in adjusted defensive efficiency, per kenpom.com, and Spangler helped limit opponents to just 42.2 percent shooting inside the arc.
16. Devin Williams, West Virginia
5 of 20
Class: Junior
2014-15 Stats: 11.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.3 APG
The culture that West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins wants is personified by Devin Williams. Tough. Rugged. Relentless.
Williams is not a guy anyone wants to cross paths with in the paint. His size and build alone are intimidating, and he's just as strong as he looks. The Mountaineers were not particularly skilled last year, but they got by playing harder than everyone else and creating a ton of turnovers.
Williams helps allow West Virginia to play a helter-skelter defense by gobbling up rebounds on the back end. He ranked fourth in defensive rebounding rate last year, pulling down 30.0 percent of available defensive boards, per kenpom.com. On the offensive end, he gets most of his points by simply outworking opposing bigs and drawing fouls. He averaged 5.8 free throws per game last season.
And lastly, he rocks a mean pair of rec specs. That earns him some extra street cred.
15. Cheick Diallo, Kansas
6 of 20
Class: Freshman
2014-15 Stats (High School): 17.6 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.5 BPG
The Jayhawks are hoping that Cheick Diallo can be what they hoped Cliff Alexander would be: An inside scorer who dominates with his motor.
Alexander didn't help much last season, and if Diallo is allowed to play, he'll start his freshman year behind the curve because of the NCAA investigation of his eligibility.
If Diallo is able to master the KU system and catch up to the college game, he has unique abilities that should serve him well. He is exceptionally quick for a big man and runs the floor really well, which should help create pace for the Jayhawks. He's also good on the boards and has the length to provide solid rim protection.
It could take Diallo some time to figure out how to score effectively in Bill Self's big man-friendly halfcourt offense, but the Jayhawks have enough scoring in other spots that if Diallo provides energy and is a defensive presence, he'll be an impact guy.
14. Diamond Stone, Maryland
7 of 20
Class: Freshman
2014-15 Stats (High School): 24.4 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.0 BPG
Maryland point guard Melo Trimble didn't put up great assist numbers last year (3.0 per game), but that should change this season with the chance to play with Diamond Stone.
Stone is good enough to simply lob the ball into him and let him go to work one-on-one in the post, something Maryland lacked on the interior last season. The freshman big man is able to knock down the mid-range jumper, so the pick-and-pop will be a weapon. He has extremely soft hands, so anytime Trimble penetrates and draws the defense, he should be looking out for Stone.
The Terps haven't had a big man this gifted on the offensive end since Lonny Baxter. Coincidentally, Baxter's senior year is the last time the Terps made a Final Four and won a national title. Stone's addition is one reason Maryland is considered one of the nation's top title contenders this year.
13. Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona
8 of 20
Class: Senior
2014-15 Stats: 9.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.6 BPG
If you're starting at Arizona for four years, you're doing something right.
Kaleb Tarczewski has been a dependable program player for head coach Sean Miller over the years. He has his limitations—he doesn't have great hands or post moves—but he's a capable finisher and has anchored a defense that ranked first and third in adjusted defensive efficiency the last two years, per kenpom.com.
The Wildcats lost four starters, but I'll bet they spend most of the year around the Top 10, and Tarczewski will quietly be a big reason why.
12. Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga
9 of 20
Class: Sophomore
2014-15 Stats: 9.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 0.3 BPG
Domantas Sabonis is not as skilled as his father, Arvydas, but the smarts rubbed off. Sabonis is patient in the post and uses his strength and footwork to get easy shots. He's also a lefty, which makes him even harder to guard.
He made 66.8 percent of his shots last season, which would have ranked second nationally if he had enough attempts. He also averaged 18.0 points and 13.0 rebounds per 40 minutes. Opportunity is the only thing holding him back, as he plays in a stacked frontcourt. If he sticks around for his junior season when both Kyle Wiltjer and Przemek Karnowski will have graduated, Sabonis could end up being an All-American.
11. A.J. Hammons, Purdue
10 of 20
Class: Senior
2014-15 Stats: 11.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.8 BPG
A.J. Hammons missed the first two games of the season and came off the bench for the third, and he's not injured, so that's not a great sign. When Hammons isn't in the dog house, he's one of the most gifted centers in college basketball. He's a strong 7-footer with offensive upside who offers rim protection on the defensive end. Yet, to this point in his career, Hammons hasn't always played to his potential.
That could be a blessing for Purdue because if Hammons had played at a higher and more consistent level, he may have left school already. Instead, Purdue will once again have one of the best interior defenses in the country and multiple low-post scorers. With him as a senior, the Boilermakers have a loaded front line that includes 7'2" backup center Isaac Haas and McDonald's All-American freshman power forward Caleb Swanigan. That's a lot of beef and length in the paint.
10. Josh Scott, Colorado
11 of 20
Class: Senior
2014-15 Stats: 14.5 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.8 BPG
Josh Scott has quietly been one of the best back-to-the-basket scorers in college basketball over the last few years. He didn't get a lot of attention last year because the Buffs fell off the map last season after three straight NCAA tournament appearances.
Scott put up solid numbers despite low usage rates, mostly because of his ability to maximize his touches. He has solid post moves and can score over either shoulder. Plus, he gets to the line frequently, as he attempted 5.9 free throws per game last season.
The Buffs should end up playing through Scott more this season, and his numbers should go up now that Askia Booker has graduated. Booker was one of the chuckingest chuckers in college basketball. More Scott more often will be a good thing for the Buffs.
9. Shawn Long, Louisiana Lafayette
12 of 20
Class: Senior
2014-15 Stats: 16.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.6 BPG
Shawn Long is one of the most talented centers in the country, regardless of level. Long can score both inside and out, and the ability at 6'11" to shoot with range will give him a shot to get drafted after he graduates. The Sun Belt has had two players get drafted the last two years: Long's former teammate Elfrid Payton and Georgia State's R.J. Hunter.
Long has averaged a double-double for three straight seasons, and he has more double-doubles (52) in his career than any current college player. If he puts up another 17 double-double this season, which is his career average, he'll finish tied for 16th on the NCAA all-time list.
8. Jameel McKay, Iowa State
13 of 20
Class: Senior
2014-15 Stats: 11.0 PPG, 7.6 PG, 2.4 BPG
Iowa State struck gold with another transfer when Jameel McKay landed in Ames by way of Marquette. In 2014-15, McKay gave the Cyclones the one piece they had been missing in the Fred Hoiberg era—a rim protector—and his contributions on the offensive end were more than expected.
McKay's speed alone is a weapon, as he regularly beats his man up the floor. The Cyclones are all about opportunistic baskets, and McKay is a killer in transition. But he's also been solid in the half court, using his quickness and jumping ability to get buckets or get to the foul line. He scored in double figures in 11 of his final 13 games last season.
As for his defense, the Cyclones' two-point field-goal percentage D was the best it had ever been in the Hoiberg era last year. McKay, who wasn't eligible in the first semester, had six games with four or more blocks.
7. Damian Jones, Vanderbilt
14 of 20
Class: Junior
2014-15 Stats: 14.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.0 BPG
Damian Jones is still figuring out how to get the most of out his ability, but he has the best combination of size and athleticism of any big man returning in college basketball.
Jones is oozing with potential and probably could have gotten drafted last June because of it, but he made a good decision to return to school and continue to refine his game. Vandy has a chance to be one of the surprise up-and-comers this season if Jones takes the next step. And even as someone most scouts would consider raw, the 7-footer put up good numbers as a sophomore.
6. Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga
15 of 20
Class: Senior
2014-15 Stats: 10.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 BPG
Przemek Karnowski is borderline unguardable at the college level. Karnowski is a mountain of a man—7'1" and 287 pounds—and if he gets the ball deep, he's too big to have his shot bothered and too strong to be moved off his spot. Double-team him, and he's an excellent passer. He even has a nifty behind-the-back pass he'll bust out every once in a while.
On top of all that, Karnowski is a lefty with a soft touch. He shot 62.2 percent from the field last season. Defensively, he does a good job positioning himself to make opponents have to score over him, which is a chore. The only real knock on Karnowski's game is his free-throw shooting. He shot just 50.4 percent from the line last year, but the stroke looks good, and he's capable of shooting better.
Karnowski isn't going to put up huge numbers, because he has to share minutes with Domantas Sabonis. The luxury of that is he rarely has to play tired, and that's one reason why both big men are so efficient.
5. Kennedy Meeks, North Carolina
16 of 20
Class: Junior
2014-15 Stats: 11.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG
The slimmed-down version of Kennedy Meeks that will suit up for the Tar Heels this season is barely noticeable from the one who showed up on campus.
Meeks' body is now better suited for UNC's uptempo style of play, and his uptick in minutes should continue this coming season—he went from playing 16.3 minutes per game as a freshman to 23.3 minutes per game as a sophomore. What has always made Meeks special are his soft hands and touch around the basket and an ability to throw some mean outlet passes to start the break. Now the Heels should get that package for closer to 28-30 minutes per game.
4. Daniel Ochefu, Villanova
17 of 20
Class: Senior
2014-15 Stats: 9.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.4 BPG
Daniel Ochefu was one of the most improved players in the country last season. He's always moved well for a guy his size, but he became a more complete player by improving his back-to-the-basket game.
Ochefu definitely benefits from playing with a bunch of guards who can spread the floor and pass the ball, but it's mutual. His presence opens things up for the Nova guards, and he's an elite finisher on the pick-and-roll. Ochefu is also one of the best rebounders in the country, and he offers rim protection as well. He's one of the rare big men who blocks shots and recovers quickly enough to gobble up defensive boards too.
3. Zach Auguste, Notre Dame
18 of 20
Class: Senior
2014-15 Stats: 12.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG
Notre Dame had the best pick-and-roll attack in the country last season with Jerian Grant setting the table and Zach Auguste as the roll man. Grant is gone, which would be worrisome for Auguste if the Irish didn't have another talented guard who should be able to slide into his role in Demetrius Jackson.
What makes Auguste so good as a roll man is his quickness and ability to catch and finish around the rim. His hands and how quick he is off the floor also make him a strong offensive rebounder.
Auguste had a memorable finish to his junior season, finishing with 20 points and nine boards against Kentucky. He averaged 16.8 points per game in the NCAA tournament, and without Grant and Pat Connaughton, he should see his numbers continue to rise this season.
2. Jakob Poeltl, Utah
19 of 20
Class: Sophomore
2014-15 Stats: 9.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.9 BPG
The value of Jakob Poeltl is not always obvious, but watch closely and you'll see the many ways he impacts the game.
Poeltl is a slightly less athletic version of Willie Cauley-Stein on the defensive end. He not only serves as a elite rim protector, but he can also get out on the perimeter and defend guards, like Cauley-Stein, in ball-screen situations. Jahlil Okafor can attest to how good his post defense is, as he held the former Duke star to six points in the Sweet 16 last year.
Poeltl's game is not as far along on the offensive end, but he still managed to shoot 68.1 percent from the field last year. That's because he's well aware of his strengths and doesn't try to force the issue. In fact, sometimes he's too unselfish. His back-to-the-basket game is awkward at times but still effective; he just needs to gain the confidence to attack more often. His bread and butter as a freshman was as a roll man in the pick-and-roll. He has good hands and benefited from playing with Delon Wright.
Wright will be missed by the Utes, but they still have a chance to contend for the Pac-12 title. They return enough to build around their budding Austrian star.
1. Skal Labissiere, Kentucky
20 of 20
Class: Freshman
2014-15 Stats (High School): Not available
Head coach John Calipari is known for recruiting great point guards, but he's had a higher success rate on big men at Kentucky.
Skal Labissiere fits the ideal Calipari big man. He moves well on both ends and can catch and finish near the rim. With the number of penetrators the Wildcats will have this season, led by Tyler Ulis, a big man who can finish lobs should thrive.
Labissiere is more than that, though. He can step away from the bucket and shoot the ball, he can score with his back to the basket, and he can even put it on the floor. Those are the types of things that made Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns so valuable and dominant. By the end of the year, Labissiere should be part of the pipeline.
C.J. Moore covers college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @CJMooreBR.
All stats from the 2015 Pan-American Games and U-19 World Championship via USA Basketball. Unless otherwise noted, all high school statistics via each player's official university website.
