Updated Rankings for College Basketball's Best Centers in 2014-15
The center position in college basketball has less depth than any other position in the country, but it's hard to find a better top six at any position in the country.
The two leading candidates for National Player of the Year are both centers, the leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year is a center and the other three guys should collect some postseason hardware as well.
This is the final of the updated position rankings. You can find the others in my archive. As is always the case, these rankings are determined by team value, team success and the eye test.
Just missed the cut: Matt Stainbrook, Xavier; Egidijus Mockevicius, Evansville; Cady Lalanne, UMass; Ryan Spangler, Oklahoma; Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona
20-16: Jones-McKay
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Damian Jones, Vanderbilt
Preseason rank: Unranked
If Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings can convince his sophomore big man to stick around and not leave early for the NBA, he has a nice piece to build around. The Commodores are improving, winning four of six after a seven-game losing streak. Jones is averaging 14.9 points and 6.6 rebounds this season.
Myles Turner, Texas
Preseason rank: 16
Turner has been an immediate asset on the defensive end as a rim protector—2.7 blocks per game—and he shows flashes offensively, although he floats out to the perimeter too often. He shoots only 30.8 percent from deep, but he's a solid 52.1 percent inside the arc, and it's obvious that he has some outside-the-paint touch based off his 83.5 percent accuracy at the line.
Josh Scott, Colorado
Preseason rank: 8
Scott missed almost all of January with a back injury, and that's just one of the reasons Colorado has had a disappointing season after three straight NCAA tourney appearances. When Scott plays, he usually produces—he was averaging 14.8 points per game before the injury—and he's still one of the best back-to-the-basket scorers in the country.
Joshua Smith, Georgetown
Preseason rank: 19
We're finally seeing how good Smith can be when he stays on the floor. Smith has played in every game this season, and he's averaging 11.5 points on 63.6 percent shooting. When he gets the ball inside five feet, there's no stopping him.
Jameel McKay, Iowa State
Preseason rank: Unranked
McKay has given the Cyclones a true rim protector for the first time under Fred Hoiberg, and they'll find themselves tied for first place in the Big 12 with a win on Wednesday. McKay has been better than expected on the offensive end, averaging 10.4 points on 57.7 percent shooting.
15-11: Moreira-Poeltl
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Yanick Moreira, SMU
Preseason rank: Unranked
Moreira is one of the most improved players in the country. He benefitted from an early-season suspension to Markus Kennedy, becoming SMU's main threat in the low post. He's averaging 11.5 points and 6.8 rebounds.
Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga
Preseason rank: Unranked
Karnowski is a load on the blocks. He does an excellent job sealing his man in the post and is efficient when he gets touches, averaging 10.4 points on 61.5 percent shooting.
Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga
Preseason rank: Unranked
The freshman big man is going to be a star when it's his turn to be the go-to man for the Zags. He has excellent hands and is a great finisher. He'd rank second nationally in field-goal percentage (67.5 percent) if he took enough shots to qualify. He averages 9.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in only 21.6 minutes per game.
A.J. Hammons, Purdue
Preseason rank: 13
Hammons has been the centerpiece for the red-hot Boilermakers, who have won seven of their last eight games to climb up the Big Ten standings. Potential has always been the word tied to the big man, but Purdue is finally starting to benefit from his ability.
Jakob Poeltl, Utah
Preseason rank: Unranked
Poeltl has helped turn Utah into one of the best defensive teams in the country. The Utes rank fifth in adjusted defensive efficiency this year compared to 36th last season, per kenpom.com, and the difference is the length and rim protection that the freshman has provided. He's not aggressive offensively, but his mobility and great hands have made him an excellent roll man in the pick-and-roll with star Delon Wright.
10. Alan Williams, UC Santa Barbara
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Preseason rank: 4
The senior's numbers have taken a dip this season, but he's still one of the best productive big men in the country. It's not like he's really fallen off either, as he still puts up 16.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.
Considering Williams has spent the last three years battling constant double-teams, it's impressive he's been so consistent.
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9. Shawn Long, Louisiana Lafayette
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Preseason rank: 7
Shawn Long has put to rest whether he was a product of playing alongside Elfrid Payton his first two seasons.
The junior big man is an NBA prospect because of his ability to shoot from the perimeter. He's put up great numbers this season, averaging a double-double with 17.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
8. Daniel Ochefu, Villanova
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Preseason rank: Unranked
The difference between Villanova last season and this season is this version has a low-post threat to go along with all its shooters.
Daniel Ochefu made big leaps offensively from his sophomore season to junior year. He averages only 9.0 points, but the Wildcats are extremely balanced and seem to take turns from game to game as to who is the star. For instance, two weeks ago he had 19 points against Providence, and he scored a combined two points in the games that bookended that one.
7. Kennedy Meeks, North Carolina
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Preseason rank: 9
The slimmed-down Kennedy Meeks has become a much more consistent player as a sophomore. With Marcus Paige's injury-riddled up-and-down season, you could argue that Meeks has been UNC's MVP.
He's averaging 12.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists. That assist number doesn't quite capture his value as a passer. No one in college basketball can start a break like Meeks with his outlet passes.
6. Brad Waldow, Saint Mary's
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Preseason rank: 10
Most big guys can shoot their jump hooks out to about eight feet. Waldow is extremely hard to guard because his range on his hook goes out to about 15 feet.
The big fella is a great scorer with plenty of tricks up his sleeve and a big body that is extremely difficult to move off his spot. He's averaging a career-best 19.6 points and 9.2 rebounds.
5. Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse
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Preseason rank: 18
Rakeem Christmas showed flashes as a scorer last season, but the Orange relied much more on their perimeter scorers such as C.J. Fair, Trevor Cooney and Tyler Ennis.
With Fair and Ennis no longer around this season, Jim Boeheim transformed his offense to go through Christmas, and he's been better than anyone could have expected, averaging 18.2 points and 9.2 rebounds. If the Orange had not banned themselves from the NCAA tourney, they'd be headed there because of Christmas.
4. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky
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Preseason rank: 3
Karl-Anthony Towns is the most talented player on one of the most stacked rosters in the history of college basketball. You pretty much have to throw out numbers when you talk about any Kentucky guys, but Towns' stats (9.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.4 BPG) are pretty good when you consider he only plays 20.1 minutes per game.
He is extremely hard to guard because of his ability to score over either shoulder and shoot from the perimeter. He's also an excellent passer for a big man.
3. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
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Preseason rank: 6
Willie Cauley-Stein should be the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. He's the rare player who can defend all five positions and defend them well.
Cauley-Stein deserves more credit than any other Wildcat for the historic defensive numbers the team has put up. In the past, defense is all that needed to be discussed when it comes to Cauley-Stein, but he's become a threat on the offensive end this year as well. He's averaging 9.3 points per game, and he's good for a highlight-reel dunk just about every night out.
2. Jahlil Okafor, Duke
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Preseason rank: 1
Within 10 feet, you have to go back a while to find a more unstoppable force in college basketball than Jahlil Okafor. He has a rare combination of strength, footwork, creativity and touch that makes him almost unguardable when he gets the ball close to the basket.
Okafor is constantly dealing with double-teams, yet he puts up numbers night in and night out and is efficient doing so. He averages 17.9 points per game on 66.1 percent shooting. The only reason he's not No. 1 is Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky has put up comparable numbers, and he's a better defender than Okafor.
1. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
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Preseason rank: 2
Frank Kaminsky is not Okafor's equal as a back-to-the-basket scorer, but he's not far off, and he can do so much more than just score from the blocks. He's a great outside shooter (39.7 percent from deep), he can put the ball on the floor and he's an excellent passer (2.5 assists per game).
His 17.7 points per game is even more impressive when you consider that the Wisconsin Badgers rank 347th in adjusted tempo, according to kenpom.com. It's hard to believe that two years ago Kaminsky was barely a part of Wisconsin's rotation. Now he could end up as National Player of the Year.
C.J. Moore covers college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter: @CJMooreBR.
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