NBA Draft 2012: True Centers Who Will Make an Impact on Defense

The upcoming NBA draft features several prospects with great size who have the skills to protect the rim.

Many of them are raw offensively, but their length, athleticism and defensive prowess are the skills that make them valuable.

Here are four centers that will be defensive forces in the NBA.

All measurements courtesy of CBSSports.com.

Andre Drummond, Connecticut

Drummond is being touted as the top center in the draft due to his ability to contribute at both ends of the floor.

He undoubtedly has the skills to put up points, but his length and athleticism will make him a factor on defense. He has the longest wingspan of any prospect in the draft, measuring 7’6” from fingertip to fingertip.

Drummond posted 2.7 blocks per game during his freshman year at UConn, and will continue to put up solid statistics in this category in the NBA.

He has all the tools to be a force in the paint, and he will make an impact defensively right away for the team that drafts him.

Meyers Leonard, Illinois 

Leonard has been shooting up draft boards since the NBA combine.

This mostly has to do with the center’s size, as he was measured at 7’1” at the combine with a 7’3” wingspan.

He showed excellent quickness and athleticism in college for a player his size and he hustles to get up and down the floor.

His size and drive will make him a defensive stopper immediately in the NBA while the rest of his game develops.

Fab Melo, Syracuse

Melo has the athleticism and tenacity to be the best defensive center in this draft.

He blocked 2.9 shots per game last year and at 7’0” and 255 pounds, he will not get pushed around in in the lane.

He was the middle in Syracuse’s 2-3 defense, and the team sorely missed him after he was declared ineligible for the NCAA Tournament.

Melo could have improved his draft stock with a solid performance during March Madness, but now, a team late in the first round will land an exciting defensive prospect.

Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt

Ezeli is another raw offensive prospect with excellent size and athleticism.

He will be a late first-round pick, and may even drop into the second round. He is the type of player that will only make an NBA roster if he stands out on defense.

At 6’11.5” with a wingspan just under 7’6”, he has the physical tools to do just that. He put up 2.0 blocks per game at Vanderbilt this past season, and he can do that in the pros if he asserts himself. 

Any team that picks late and needs size would be wise to take a chance on Ezeli’s upside.