The 2015-16 college basketball season is just looming around the corner and the entire nation is definitely looking forward for another memorable finish. But before we delve any deeper into that, let’s get a close look first at some of the players to take note of and we shall start with the biggest and most imposing presence on the hardwood. Just read on below and check out our top 10 centers this upcoming season.
More Top 10s: Point Guards | Shooting Guards
[sc:MultiSportArticles ]Best College Basketball Centers of the 2015-16 NCAA Season
10. Amida Brimah (Connecticut)
Kevin Ollie’s Connecticut Huskies have all the pieces to rejoin the national title picture this upcoming season. One of those main pieces includes their main man in the middle and co-captain, Amida Brimah. The 7-foot center had a pretty solid sophomore year, averaging 9.1 PPG and 4.4 RPG while setting a UConn single-season record for field goal percentage (67.4%).
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]Furthermore, his presence has been mainly felt at the defensive end. He blocked a total of 121 shots last year and averaged 3.5 per game, which was the second-best in Division I. But Brimah still needs to polish his offensive game to make himself and his team better. He could also pump up his rebound averages as well.
Nevertheless, Brimah’s defensive prowess will be a game-changer in helphing the Huskies return to prominence.
9. Kaleb Tarczewski (Arizona)
With four key starters gone for the Arizona Wildcats, this could be the perfect opportunity for Kaleb Tarczewski to have a breakout season. He’s in his senior year and is looking to end his college career on a strong note.
In his first three years, the 7-footer helped Arizona to consecutive Pac-12 titles and Elite Eight NCAA finishes. Tarczewski also averaged 9.3 PPG and 5.2 RPG while also being considered as one of the top defensive big men in the nation last season. He’s bound to continue growing in each game of his final year and could hopefully lead to at least a Final Four ticket.
8. Jameel McKay (Iowa State)
Jameel McKay may be undersized for center, standing only at 6-foot-9, but Iowa State wouldn’t be as good without him. His athleticism, speed and energy make up for his lack of height and blends perfectly for a team that loves the up-tempo style. He proved just that by averaging 11.0 points and led with 7.6 rebounds per game last year.
Plus, McKay wasn’t just a factor on offense as he made sure to be the intimidating shot-blocker that his team needed him to be. He posted 2.4 BPG, the second-best in their conference and also won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
7. Diamond Stone (Maryland)
Maryland’s place in the national championship conversation was bolstered when they signed five-star freshman center, Diamond Stone, in April. Stone could be the missing piece to the puzzle that the Terps, who finished 17-15 last season and 9-9 in ACC play, need to finally get them over the hump in their 2015-16 campaign.
The 6-foot-11, 250-pounder has a solid low-post game that will surely demand touches and his aggressiveness will lead to a lot of second-chance points for the team. He averaged 13.4 PPG and 9.7 RPG during the 2014 FIBA U-17 Championship. That stat-line is just a glimpse of the enormous potential that this kid has. A trip to Houston is (almost) looking like a reality for Maryland already.
6. A.J. Hammons (Purdue)
Entering this season, the biggest question for Purdue is center A.J. Hammons’ consistency and effort once again. But Hammons seemingly took a few steps forward in 2014 despite opening that year with four-straight single-figure scoring games. He posted a career-best 11.9 PPG and added 6.6 RPG and 2.8 BPG for his junior campaign. His offensive game is his best asset especially when he’s motivated. Purdue’s destiny this season will heavily depend on how consistent can Hammons play with a sense of passion. If he does, expect another solid year for the Boilermakers.
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5. Cheick Diallo (Kansas)
Cheick Diallo, the 6-foot-9 center from Mali, is yet to be deemed eligible to play in games by the NCAA. But assuming that he’ll be cleared to play this season, his presence alone can transform Kansas from a mere contender into a national champion. Diallo, a five-star recruit, averaged a double-double of 17.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game as a senior at Our Savoir American. He also earned the MVP award in the 2015 McDonald’s All-American Game by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Diallo’s offensive game is still raw but there’s no question his defensive presence is a game-changer for any team. He has received comparisons to former Duke center, Jahlil Okafor, who is now playing in the NBA after one season with head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Under Bill Self’s guidance, Diallo should see similar improvements in his freshman season.
4. Zach Auguste (Notre Dame)
It’s going to be tougher hill to climb for the Fighting Irish this season. They lost two key players on offense as Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton have taken their talents to the NBA. Without these two perimeter threats, it could lead or force them to rely a little bit more on their inside game moving forward. This is where Zach Auguste enters and must capitalize on becoming a reliable option on offense.
Auguste proved that he has the potential to do so with solid averages last year: 12.9 PPG and 6.5 PPG. He also shot the ball with extreme precision at 61.9 percent. Auguste, though, has had consistent bouts with fouls which limited his minutes to just 24 minutes per game in his junior season. But this is certainly something fixable by being more disciplined.
3. Jakob Poeltl (Utah)
Poeltl’s 9.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in his rookie season with Utah didn’t completely live up to the hype. He looked more of like a work-in-progress during that year. But the potential is definitely there for the Poeltl, who notably contributed 10 points and eight rebounds in a game opposite Jahlil Okafor last March 27. It’s now all up to Poeltl himself to have the determination to be great and devote enough time on improving his skills. If he finds that hunger and work ethic this year, he’s going to be really good. And that’s still an understatement.
2. Damian Jones (Vanderbilt)
If Damian Jones continues to develop his game to the same extent he did last year, the Vanderbilt Commodores are going to be this season’s biggest surprise. Jones posted 14.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game in 214. He has the size, speed, athleticism and offensive repertoire to become one of the elite bigs in nation. But for some reason he hasn’t lived up to his potential yet. Maybe his junior season could finally be the breakout year that everyone has been waiting for.
1. Skal Labissieri (Kentucky)
The 2015-16 season hasn’t even begun yet and Kentucky’s Skal Labissieri, who has been cleared to play this season, is already garnering more than enough attention. Labissieri’s 6-foot-11 frame and defensive prowess aren’t the only things that fans should be optimistic about. He also has a proven inside game and perimeter game that can leave opposing teams bewildered.
For a big man, he has a really soft touch and smoothness in his game which makes his potential to be great even higher. During the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit, Labissieri gave us a glimpse of just how good he can really be by garnering 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting with six rebounds and a game-high of six blocks under his name.
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