NBA Draft 2016: Top 5 Center Prospects Heading into CBB Season
The 2016 NBA draft may not offer the same level of star power at center as last year, but there are still a handful of lottery and first-round-caliber bigs to scout.
Three of our top five happen to be projected one-and-done freshmen. The other two have high bars to meet following breakout seasons onto the radar.
Though a few of the following prospects should be capable of playing power forward, they'll eventually hold the most NBA value at the 5.
5. Damian Jones, Vanderbilt, Junior
As impressive as Damian Jones was last year, it's his room for growth that is so intriguing. He managed to average 14.5 points on 56.2 percent shooting without too much polish. This year, he'll look to sharpen his offensive skills and expand his versatility, which could launch him up draft boards as a 20-year-old junior.
| Birthday | Height | Weight (lbs) | Wingspan |
| June 30, 1995 | 7'0" | 245 | 7'2" |
Having measured two inches taller this summer at the LeBron James Nike Skills Academy, Jones can now sell himself as a center, which is significant, given his limitations on the perimeter.
An electric athlete, he blends bounce with power and quickness. He's explosive around the basket—Jones shot an excellent 67 percent at the rim, per Hoop-Math.com, thanks to his ability to leap high above it for finishes.
Offensive Upside
While Jones picks up his fair share of easy buckets, we saw flashes of skill that highlight upside as a scorer.
Jones can be slippery on the block, where he prefers to shake free into one-handers and over-the-shoulder hooks. Occasionally, he's shown he can make difficult fallaways from the elbows and short corners. And though he only shot 59.9 percent from the line and 1-of-5 from three, he's flashed enough shot-making ability to suggest improvement is possible in time (9-of-22 on jumpers, per DraftExpress' Mike Schmitz, 67-of-150 on shots away from the rim, per Hoop-Math.com).
Defense
Jones made defensive strides in 2014-15, having reduced his fouls from 5.2 to 3.5 per 40 minutes while increasing his block percentage to 7.5 from 5.7, per Sports-Reference.com.
His physical tools alone translate to rejections while his strength shows up defending the post.
Unfortunately, he only grabbed 4.3 defensive rebounds per game and 8.9 total boards per 40 minutes. Given his physical tools, these numbers should be better.
NBA Draft Outlook
Scouts will look for Jones to turn the corner as a shooter and one-on-one player. He's still fairly raw and turnover-prone. Showing more of a mean streak under the boards would help as well.
Minimal progress likely makes him more of a late-first-round option. However, turning the offensive glimpses into every-game occurrences should lead to a more believable sales pitch to the pros.
Jones could eventually draw lottery interest if he continues to improve his outside touch, post footwork and toughness.
Jones' NBA Comparison: Amir Johnson
4. Diamond Stone, Maryland, Freshman
Known as an elite prospect dating back to his early days in high school, Stone gives Maryland an immediate interior presence. And at this stage, it's his physical tools that glow the most from an NBA standpoint.
Whether he develops into a reliable go-to option could determine how high his stock soars over the next year.
| Birthday | Height | Weight (lbs) | Wingspan |
| February 10, 1997 | 6'11" | 255 | 7'3.5" |
Stone is a monster in the middle. He takes up a ton of space below the hoop with too much size, length and strength for the opposition to handle.
And he's agile for a 255-pounder. Stone can finish on the move or adjust for tough layups or flips in traffic.
However, though he gets up above the rim, he isn't particularly explosive.
Offensive Attack
Stone is an old-school, back-to-the-basket post scorer. He uses his body to gain position and soft hands to make shots over his shoulder. Chances are Maryland coach Mark Turgeon will look to isolate him on the block.
But Stone can also threaten a defense around the elbows, where he's flashed promising touch.
At the 2014 FIBA World Championships, he averaged 13.4 points on 51.9 percent in 23.3 minutes.
He doesn't have much of a face-up game, which limits his versatility and upside. But he's a big whom guards can throw the ball to down low for a high-percentage look.
Interior Presence
Naturally, Stone rebounds and blocks shots at a high rate, having put up per-40 minute averages of 16.7 boards and 5.7 blocks during last summer's under-17 world championships. He's tough on the interior and plays through contact, whether it's delivered while boxing out or finishing.
On the downside, his defensive instincts and motor could be better. At times, he can do more to challenge penetrating guards.
NBA Draft Outlook
He's an obvious NBA talent—the only question is whether he'll need a couple of years to develop. Stone is fundamentally sound but not overly advanced.
He should frequently find himself in the spotlight playing for one of the premier teams in the country. Consistently taking advantage of single coverage and exploiting double-teams could lead to lottery buzz as the season unwinds.
Stone's NBA Comparison: Jusuf Nurkic
3. Stephen Zimmerman, UNLV, Freshman
Having played in the McDonald's All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit, Zimmerman's talent is well-documented. Scouts have seen a lot of him even before his college debut.
With a game that fits today's NBA, Zimmerman is bound to generate buzz stemming from his skill level and versatility for a 7-footer.
| Birthday | Height | Weight (lbs) | Wingspan |
| September 9, 1996 | 7'0" | 235 | 7'3" |
He brings mobility and face-up quickness to the position, along with impressive run-and-jump athleticism.
Zimmerman has also put on some weight over the past year—a good sign, after he came in at 224 pounds last summer at the LeBron James Nike Skills Academy.
Still, he isn't a physical player, which may keep his ceiling in check. He's not a force around the rim at either end of the floor. But his ability to play inside and out, as well as above the rim, has the potential to create mismatches and additional spacing.
Inside-Out Offense
He's a threat to score out of multiple situations from different spots in the half court.
Zimmerman is comfortable separating with his back to the basket with simple drop steps into hook shots.
Facing up, he has the handle and body control to put the ball on the deck, which is made easier by the threat his jump shot poses. Zimmerman has mid-range touch and legitimate shooting range out to the arc.
It's easy to envision him eventually filling a role to pick and pop and spread the floor, given his promising jumper and ability to beat 4s and 5s in space.
Zimmerman projects more as a stretch big at the NBA level. You could even argue he is a power forward. Either way, his athleticism, shot-making and passing are NBA-friendly strengths from both positions.
NBA Draft Outlook
It's possible Zimmerman will need two years at UNLV before declaring. But it's also a possibility NBA teams would be willing to reach and wait on his body to mature. He's a lottery talent, though it seems reasonable to think a lack of interior toughness could trigger hesitation from general managers who are picking in the lottery. A draft range of No. 10 to No. 25 should be a safe early bet.
Zimmerman's NBA comparison: Josh McRoberts
2. Jakob Poeltl, Utah, Sophomore
Though mostly unknown to start his freshman year, it only took Poeltl around two weeks to stand out under the NBA lens. And now he'll enter his sophomore season as a top center prospect.
| Birthday | Height | Weight (lbs) | Wingspan |
| October 15, 1995 | 7'1" | 242 | 7'1" |
At 7'1", 242 pounds, his physical tools and fluid athleticism play to a high basement floor. He already looks the part of a pro big man, regardless of how much he progresses.
Poeltl moves exceptionally well, both running the floor north and south and laterally side to side. Terrific mobility helps put him in position to make plays at both ends.
Interior Presence/Defense
Poeltl's biggest NBA selling point revolves around the interior presence and rim protection he potentially offers.
Per Sports-Reference.com, his 18.2 percent rebounding percentage and 8.6 percent block percentage were both top-notch numbers. He covers a ton of ground, having blocked 24 two-point jumpers and three threes, per Hoop-Math.com.
Light and quick on his feet, Poeltl remains tough for guards to shake off on switches. Meanwhile, he shows good timing and instincts around the basket as an anchor and weak-side rim protector. With Poeltl in the middle, Utah ranked No. 6 nationally in defensive efficiency, per Kenpom.com.
During the 2015 NCAA tournament, he held No. 3 pick Jahlil Okafor to six points and eight rebounds. He needs to add strength, but Poeltl shows a willingness get physical and knock his man off track.
Limited but Efficient Offense
Poeltl isn't the type of player coaches will feature in the offense. His ball skills and ability to create shots are limited, while his 44.4 percent free-throw clip reflects shaky outside touch.
Still, Poeltl shot an astounding 68.1 percent from the floor by playing to his strengths as a finisher and rim runner. With excellent hands and coordination, he's practically automatic when he has room to go up off drive and dumps in the paint. And he's established himself as a legitimate target and weapon in the pick-and-roll game (1.23 points per play, per DraftExpress' Mike Schmitz).
NBA Draft Outlook
Poeltl appears locked into the first-round conversation, and though his ceiling isn't super high, he doesn't present much risk. Teams that are looking to beef up their interior defense could view him as a long-term starter worth going after in the late lottery to mid-first round—even if his offensive game looks the same.
Poeltl's NBA Comparison: Omer Asik
1. Cheick Diallo, Kansas, Freshman
We're still waiting on the NCAA to clear Diallo (investigating high school course work); however, an entire season of ineligibility still wouldn't make him less attractive. The MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game and co-MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic, Diallo is coming off an eye-opening summer.
His 6'9" size may naturally lead many to believe he's a power forward prospect, but with his incredible length and in a league that's embracing a small-ball mentality, the center position helps mask his weaknesses while allowing a lineup to run.
| Birthday | Height | Weight (lbs) | Wingspan |
| September 13, 1996 | 6'9" | 220 | 7'4" |
Diallo compensates for an inch or two in height with a giant 7'4" wingspan and big-time athleticism. He flies up and down the floor and plays with a nonstop motor on both sides of the court.
Long arms, high energy and explosiveness ultimately represent the driving forces behind the majority of his production.
Off-Ball Activity/Avenues for Offense
Diallo doesn't need plays drawn up for him to make an impact. He works off the ball as a finisher, rim runner and offensive rebounder, getting easy buckets in transition and off guard penetration and second-chance opportunities.
For a big, he's particularly impressive in the open floor, where he combines body control and agility. He's flashed spin moves and side steps to elude defenders on the break.
Though not overly skilled, Diallo is at least capable of separating with his back to the basket with basic drop steps. And he does have a decent mid-range stroke. It's not consistent yet, but you get the impression it's something he can eventually incorporate into his offensive arsenal.
Defense/Rebounding
With terrific shot-blocking tools, as well as the versatility to guard both 4s and 5s, Diallo projects as a special defensive asset.
He's capable of forcing turnovers and making plays with pressure and activity, whether it's on the perimeter or at the rim.
Diallo also has the ability to control the boards and pound the offensive glass. During this summer's three major showcase events (McDonald's All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, Nike Hoop Summit), he averaged a ridiculous 20.3 rebounds per 40 minutes.
NBA Draft Outlook
Diallo seemingly offers little risk with plenty of potential reward. In the worst-case scenario, a team lands a big who can inject a lineup with life and make plays without needing his number called. The potential reward is if Diallo refines his post moves and continues developing his shooting range.
He'll obviously have a better chance at cracking the top 10 by playing this year at Kansas, but even if the NCAA keeps him out, Diallo should still receive lottery consideration. There is Serge Ibaka-type upside here to strive for.
NBA Comparison: Serge Ibaka
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