Is the NBA not enough for you? If so, there’s more hoops action heading your way as the 2016-17 college basketball season is upon us. And to get you more hyped up for the upcoming action, check out below our very own list of the 10 best centers this season.
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Best College Basketball Centers of the 2015-16 NCAA Season
10. Omer Yurtseven (NC State)
Yurtseven, who’s unquestionable one of the top freshmen this season, will have to miss the first nine games before being eligible to play for North Carolina State. Despite that, the Wolfpack have to be very excited to have him bulk up their already-explosive frontcourt.
Sure, the 7-foot kid from Turkey needs time to adjust to the pace of college basketball. But once he does, Yurtseven’s 7-foot frame, low-post game and shot-blocking prowess should make NC State a dark horse in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
9. Kennedy Meeks (UNC)
Meeks saw his numbers decline in the previous season, averaging just 7.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest. He had to deal with an ailing knee that hindered him from playing to his potential. But right now the senior center is healthier than ever and ready to fill in the void left by Brice Johnson, who now plays in the NBA. Meeks’ performance this season will play a key role in the Tar Heels’ overall success this season.
8. Caleb Swanigan (Purdue)
Purdue is expecting a breakout year from Swanigan. He’s bound to get more touches and opportunities now that A.J. Hammons is gone. The sophomore posted 10.2 points and 8.3 rebounds in his freshman season, including eight double-double performances. Let’s see if he can take his game to another level.
7. Josh Hawkinson (Washington State)
Hawkinson carried most of the load for Washington State last season. He racked up team-highs of 15.4 points and 11.1 rebounds, while becoming third on the school’s all-time list for double-doubles. He had 20 during that particular year, by the way.
Expect Hawkinson to continue being the go-to-guy for the Cougars, who are hoping to at least avoid finishing last in Pac-12 for the second-straight season.
6. Marques Bolden (Duke)
Some people consider Bolden to be the best big man in the nation right now, but yes, that’s still quite an exaggeration. Well, with fellow Blue Devil Harry Giles still recovering from knee surgery, the five-star recruit will have a chance to make an immediate impact and earn head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s trust.
Bolden, who stands at 6’10”, will pose several matchup problems for opposing frontcourts. He can finish strong in the paint, has a soft touch for a center and is a great passer. He’s dealing with a lower leg injury right now, though, making his status for the start of the season questionable.
5. Luke Kornet (Vanderbilt)
Kornet is one of not so many centers in the country who can shoot the three with efficiency. He shot below 30 percent a year ago, but if the senior can push that back up to the 40-percent range—like during his sophomore campaign—it should boost the Commodores’ chances of making the Big Dance this season. Kornet averaged 8.9 points and 7.3 rebounds in his third year in Vanderbilt.
4. Tyler Davis (Texas A&M)
Davis is one of the reasons why the Aggies are heavy favorites to win the SEC this year. He owned the interior last season, piling up solid figures of 11.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per contest. With a year of college basketball experience in his resume, Davis is going to be more dominant under the basket.
3. Jarrett Allen (Texas)
Allen will put a very, very big smile on Shaka Smart’s face. Texas’ most valuable recruit is so ready to help the team move to greater heights this season. The 6-foot-10 McDonald’s All-American can cause mayhem on both sides of the floor. He is surprisingly mobile for his size, has an outside touch and can easily control the glass with his lengthy arms. He’s going to be an even bigger headache for opponents once he polishes his low-post moves.
2. Ethan Happ (Wisconsin)
Happ was phenomenal in his freshman season with Wisconsin, averaging 12.4 points and a team-leading 7.9 rebounds. He, together with Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes, form a fearsome trio that makes the Badgers a Big Ten favorite. And with Happ bound to be even better this year, there’s no telling how far Wisconsin will make it this year.
1. Thomas Bryant (Indiana)
Bryant is the main reason why Indiana’s is considered among the elites in the Big Ten. The 6-foot-10 sophomore collected 11.9 points on 70.6 percent shooting, 5.8 rebounds and nearly two dimes per contest last year. He could have been easily a first round NBA draft pick, but he decided to return for another season of college basketball to improve his game.
Speaking of which, Bryant is still pretty raw and isn’t exactly that quick or athletic. He, however, knows how to utilize his long arms and has an insane amount of stamina that allows him to be very effective. He should be potential contender to win the conference’s Player of the Year award.
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