2011-2012 Season Preview: Top 25 Centers

All week, we'll be breaking down the top players at each position in the college games. A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Positional Rankings: PG, SG, SF, PF, C

To browse through the rest of our Season Previews, click here.


1. Jared Sullinger, So., Ohio State: What is there to say about Jared Sullinger that hasn't been said 1,000 times already this preseason? He's the single most dominating interior presence in the country. He's impossible to prevent from establishing position, he's got post moves when he doesn't catch the ball in front of the rim and he's the best positional rebounder in the country. Oh, and he lost 20 pounds of baby fat and got himself into better condition. He played over 30 mpg with that baby fat last season. This kid will be a monster this year.


2. Andre Drummond, Fr., UConn: Drummond and Sullinger are polar opposites on the center spectrum. Drummond is long, strong and absurdly athletic. He dunks everything he gets his hands on and is very good at facing up his man 15-17 feet from the basket. He can also knock down a three and has excellent vision and passing ability. But Drummond likely won't be the focal point of the UConn attack in the same way Sullinger will. Where everything that OSU does offensively centers around Sully, Drummond will likely be a (vital) cog in the UConn machine.

3. Tyler Zeller, Sr., UNC: There's an argument to be made that, behind Kendall Marshall, Zeller is the most important piece on this Tar Heel roster. Everyone knows that UNC's offense centers around their ability to push the ball in transition, but what made them so good in 2008-2009 was that, in the half court, they became a team that went inside-outside thanks to Tyler Hansbrough's ability to score on the block. I'm not saying that Zeller is as good as Hansbrough, but he does have an advanced post game.

4. Festus Ezeli, Sr., Vanderbilt: In terms of ability, Ezeli is a no-brainer being listed this high. He can rebound, he can block shots and he can score on the block. The problem? He'll be out for the first two months of the season thanks to a sprain of his mcl and pcl. Will he be in shape and have his timing when he returns, which will likely coincide with the start of SEC play?

5. JaMychal Green, Sr., Alabama: Green, who averaged 15.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg last season, is the horse on the block. He does the majority of his damage within 5-7 feet of the rim, scoring on post-ups, dump-downs and offensive rebounds. His go-to move on the block is a pretty jump hook that he can hit fairly consistently out to about 10 feet. At 6'8", Green is not an overwhelming athlete, but he does take up some space inside and is a capable rebounder. If there is any area where Green can stand to improve, its his face-up game. Its strange, really. For a guy that shoots 73% from the free throw line, Green is not a very good jump shooter.


6. Yancy Gates, Sr., Cincinnati: I'm expecting a big season out of Gates in 2011-2012. He's always had the physical tools to dominate at this level. He's a muscle-bound and physical 6'10" with quick feet and a soft touch around the rim. The issue with Gates has always been desire; he's never truly wanted to be good. That changed when he was suspended for a game last season, turning him into a guy that averaged 15.0 ppg and 7.9 rpg over the last ten games. He has reportedly lost a great deal of weight and gotten himself into terrific shape, which means that he should be continue that kind of production. If he does, there's a chance he could end up being the best big man in the Big East.

7. Trevor Mbakwe, Sr., Minnesota: Mbakwe is simply a workhorse. He's got good size and terrific athleticism for a power forward. He's strong and he's aggressive going after the ball. There's a reason that he averaged a double-double last season despite playing on a front line that also included Colton Iverson and Ralph Sampson III. We know what Mbakwe is, so to speak. The question is what he can be? Will he show up this year with some post moves? Can he be a guy that you can rely upon to dump the ball into on the block?

8. Andrew Nicholson, Sr., St. Bonaventure: Nicholson is easily one of the best players in the country that you've never heard of. He led the Bonnies to their first winning season since 2002 as a junior and has them in position to finish well into the top half of the A-10 this year. At 6'9" with a 7'4" wingspan, Nicholson has developed a very well-rounded post game, which is why he was able to average over 20 ppg despite facing double and triple teams on a nightly basis. Expect more of the same this season, and if he proves to be a better rebounder and defender -- and has shown an effort to get himself into the gym and bulk up his 220 lb frame -- he'll likely end up being a first-round pick as well.

9. Drew Gordon, Sr., New Mexico: One of the best big men in the country as a high school senior, Gordon never found his rhythm at UCLA. But in Steve Alford's uptempo offensive system, Gordon flourished. After becoming eligible in December, Gordon finished the season as one of the best big men in a conference with a number of quality front court players. On the season, he averaged 13.0 ppg and 10.5 rpg. While his rebounding numbers may end up taking a hit if Alex Kirk and Cameron Bairstow see a jump in production as sophomores, Gordon should become a productive offensive force. He will have had a year to learn the system, Steve Alford will have had an offseason to figure out how to run an offense through Gordon and with Dairese Gary gone, someone on the Lobos is going to have to become the offensive focal point.



10. Robert Sacre, Sr., Gonzaga: Sacre has slowly developed into a very good center at this level. While his numbers are somewhat skewed due to playing in the West Coast conference, he has had his fair share of exposure in quality non-conference games. Sacre's biggest asset is, simply, his size. He's excellent at establish post position and has a variety on moves on the block. He's also a very good rebounder, especially on the offensive end of the floor, and knows how to use contact to draw fouls and get to the line.

11. Quincy Acy, Sr., Baylor: Acy may be the best pure athlete on this list. He's strong, extremely explosive and has one of the best second-jumps in the country. He blocks a lot of shots and he gets a lot of rebounds for Baylor. He's also probably the most prolific -- and ferocious -- dunker in the country.

12. Tarik Black, So., Memphis: While Joe Jackson and Will Barton are getting all the attention, Black may end up being the best sophomore on the Tiger roster this season. Coming in with virtually no hype as a freshman, Black managed to work his way into the starting lineup and averaged over nine points and five boards. And he did that despite being out of shape. After working out with Frank Matrisciano all summer, expect a monster year out of this sophomore.

13. Harper Kamp, Sr., Cal: A 6'8" senior, Kamp always seems to be a bit undersized and overmatched athletically, but he's skilled and fundamental on the block. He knows how to get position, he's got some crafty moves on the block and he finishes the chances he gets. He'll need to be more of a banger inside this year as the Bears lost their most physical interior presence to graduation.

14. Reggie Johnson, Sr., Miami: Johnson caught a bad break over the summer and tore his meniscus, which required surgery. He'll be out until December, so the question that every Miami fan will be asking is whether or not Johnson returns in shape. If he does, he's a double-double machine that will anchor the paint for a Miami team with one of the most underrated back courts in the country.

15. Josh Smith, So., UCLA: Is he in shape or not? That's the only question that you need to answer with Smith. When he's in shape, he's impossible to handle on the block due to his strength, his soft hands and his innate ability to establish position. If he can stay on the court for 32 mpg, he's a virtual certainty to average 15 points and 10 boards. The problem is that he only manages to play 15-20 mpg because, frankly, he's fat.

16. Greg Mangano, Sr., Yale
17. Patric Young, So., Florida
18. Keith Wright, Sr., Harvard
19. Brandon Davies, Sr., BYU
20. Mouphtaou Yarou, Jr., Villanova
21. Cody Zeller, Fr., Indiana
22. Arnett Moultrie, Jr., Mississippi State
23. Mike Muscala, Jr., Bucknell
24. Bernard James, Sr., Florida State
25. M. Plumlee, Fr/Jr/Sr, Duke
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2010-2011 Season Preview: Top Centers

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 8th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured its about time to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am putting the freshman in a separate list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment compared to the rest of college basketball until I see them play at this level. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

By Position: PG, SG, SF, PF, C

Hit the jump for the centers:


1. JaJuan Johnson, Purdue, Sr: Johnson has really come a long way. As a high school sophomore, he played JV basketball. As a college senior, he is the best center in the country. Johnson is a good shot blocker, he's got a soft touch from the perimeter, and a nice finesse game in the post. The biggest knock on Johnson throughout his career is that he has always been slender and weaker than would be ideal. Well, if Seth Davis is to be believed, Johnson is now benching 315 lb. That's some serious weight. With Robbie Hummel gone, Johnson will be relied upon even more on the offensive end by the Boilermakers. Now think about this -- in the eight games Purdue played without Hummel at the end of last season, Johnson averaged 17.8 ppg and 7.3 rpg, up from 15.5 ppg and 7.1 rpg with Hummel.


2. Trey Thompkins, Georgia, Jr: Ranking Thompkins this high is completely dependent on a quick recovery from the high ankle sprain that he suffered last week. If that injury bugs him all season, this ranking -- and the idea that Georgia could end up being a bubble team -- could end up looking foolish. The biggest reason that the Bulldogs are expected by many to make a jump this season is their biggest player. Thompkins is a force on the block and has developed an above-average face-up game. When healthy, he is a legitimate 20 point, 9 board kind of player.

3. Kenneth Faried, Morehead State, Sr: By now, Faried should be a name that everybody knows despite playing for a team in the Ohio Valley Conference. At 6'9", he is a rangy, athletic player that is as active as they come. Its not a stretch to say that he is the best rebounder in the country, at any level. He's become more of an offensive threat as he has developed, and if he can improve on his free throw shooting (he hit under 60% of his 237 attempts last season), I think there is a real possibility this kid could average 20 and 15 this season. Yes, that is a lot, but Faried is that good.


4. Tyler Zeller, North Carolina, Jr: Zeller is a kid that I am expecting a big season out of. A junior, his first two years at North Carolina did not exactly go as planned. He battled injuries -- a broken wrist as a freshman, a stress fracture in his foot as a sophomore -- and dealt with playing behind a talented front court. Now is his time to shine, as the Heels will be very thin up front. Zeller has skills as well. He's got a nice touch around the rim and has developed a nice array of post moves. He's not the most important piece, but he will play a huge role in UNC's return to glory.

5. Jordan Williams, Maryland, So: Williams is a player with a promising future. Perhaps the best sign for Williams this season is that he has dropped about 20 pounds, which should help him both in his quickness and explosiveness, two skills he really struggled with last season. Even with that extra weight, Williams proved to be good at running the floor as a freshman, a skill that should continue to improve and will be important in the uptempo system the Terps want to play. The key for Williams this season will be to develop his skills -- footwork, post moves, jumper. He's great at establishing position thanks to his size and strength, and will become that much more effective as his offensive repertoire expands. That expansion will be important this season as the Terps will be dealing with the loss of Greivis Vasquez, Eric Hayes, and Landon Milbourne.

6. Keith Benson, Oakland, Sr: Benson was gone. He had declared for the draft and all but made the decision to stay in, but an injury to his thumb that required surgery forced him to return. That is great news for the Grizzlies, who get back one of the most productive big men in the country. Benson averaged 17.3 ppg, 10.5 rpg, and 3.3 bpg as a junior, and with games against teams like West Virginia, Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, Tennessee, Michigan, and Ohio State, Benson will have plenty of chances to prove himself. Already a borderline first round pick, he can probably improve himself the most by getting stronger and becoming a better defender.


7. Adnan Hodzic, Lipscomb, Sr: Hodzic, like Benson, is a mid-major star that decided to return to school for his senior season after initially entering the NBA Draft. The reigning Atlantic Sun player of the year should put up some startling numbers this season as he averaged 22.7 ppg as a junior, good for second best in the nation. There isn't a lot of flair to Hodzic's game, as the native of Sarajevo tends to use his 6'9", 250 lb frame bully his way through the paint. His 12 blocks on the season and 29 assists (compared to 80 turnovers) should let you know all you need to about his all around game. But that doesn't change the fact that, offensively, Hodzic is beast.

8. Herb Pope, Seton Hall, Jr: We are lucky that we can even throw Pope into this list, as the Pirate's junior center nearly died in April from a heart defect. But now that he is back on the court and healthy, we can all get back to remembering just how dominant of a player Pope truly is. At 6'8", 236 lb, Pope isn't overly explosive and doesn't have the best post moves in the country, but he is very strong, is tremendous as establishing and holding position, has long arms and a tremendous nose for the ball. Last season, he led the Big East with 10.7 rpg. It will be interesting to see how he develops this season, as he will play a large role in the year that Seton Hall is expected to have. That said, Pope is probably just happy to still be breathing, let alone playing.

9. Yancy Gates, Cincinnati, Jr: Gates will be an interesting player to watch develop this season. A top 25 recruit coming out of high school, a lot was expected of him. At 6'9", 260 lb, Gates has a solid skill set for someone that size. His issue has been embracing his strength on the block. With Deonta Vaughn and Lance Stephenson both gone, it will be up to Gates to carry the load for the Bearcats offensively.


10. Mike Tisdale, Illinois, Sr: Tisdale is a bit of a different player that most of the other players on this list. Standing 7'1", Tisdale is far from what you would call a bruiser. In fact, the best aspect of his game is the touch he has on his jump shot. He's a capable shot blocker and rebounder, but where he is the most is effective is on the offensive end of the floor. His ability to hit a jumper keeps the floor spread for Demetri McCamey's penetration, and in the post he has a nice finesse game -- quick baseline turnarounds and jump hooks.

11. Ryan Rossiter, Siena, Sr.
12. Denzel Bowles, James Madison, Sr.
13. Drew Gordon, New Mexico, Jr.
14. Nikola Vucevic, USC, Jr.
15. Greg Smith, Fresno State, So.
16. Mason Plumlee, Duke, So.
17. Jarrid Famous, South Florida, Sr.
18. Robert Sacre, Gonzaga, Jr.
19. Alex Oriakhi, UConn, So.
20. DeAngelo Casto, Washington State, Jr.

Top Freshman

1. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State: Sullinger could very well end up being the best low post player in the country this season. That's how much hype this kid as received coming in. Many have put him on their all-american teams. At 6'8", 250 lb, Sullinger has terrific moves on the block and really understands positioning.

2. Enes Kanter, Kentucky: The question for Kanter is simply eligibility. Will he be able to get on the floor this season? If he does, he is a strong 6'11" center that is excellent around the rim and a terrific rebounder. He, along with Thompkins, will be neck-and-neck as the best big man in the SEC.

3. Fab Melo, Syracuse: Melo isn't quite at the level of development that Kanter and Sullinger are, but he is still going to be an immediate impact player at Syracuse. More than anything, his size in the middle of that 2-3 zone will be quite important.

4. Patric Young, Florida: Part of the reason that Florida is expected to be a Final Four contender this season is because they essentially bring back their entire roster. The other reason? What they were missing last season -- a big, athletic, and physical kid to rebound, block shots, and intimidate around the rim -- was added when Patric Young came to Gainesville.

5. Josh Smith, UCLA: I'm expecting big things out of Josh Smith this season. In part because he is a talented, highly regarded recruit that should see immediate minutes at UCLA. The other part is because he has reportedly addressed his biggest knock and gotten himself into excellent shape heading into the season.
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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Centers

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 9th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Here are the point guards.
Here are the shooting guards.
Here are the small forwards.
Here are the power forwards.
These are the centers.

Best Freshman:

• Keith "Tiny" Gallon, Oklahoma
• Alex Oriakhi, UConn
• Daniel Orton, Kentucky
• Aaric Murray, La Salle
  

Best of the Rest:

• Dwayne Collins, Miami
• Mac Kowshal, DePaul
• Chas McFarland, Wake Forest
• Keith Benson, Oakland
• Omar Samhan, St. Mary's
• Magnum Rolle, Louisiana Tech
  

Top 10:

• 10. Terrence Jennings, Louisville: Jennings is an imposing athlete. Standing 6'10", he is strong, fast, and can really jump. Where Jennings could really stand to improve is in his polish. Just a sophomore, Jennings was terrific last season at establishing position, many times because he simply beat his man down the floor. An excellent finisher when his teammates set him up, Jennings did not have much in the way of post moves. His strength allowed him to be effective with a strong drop step over his left shoulder, but beyond that he is still quite raw. But, as I said, Jennings is just a sophomore. A summer under the tutelage of Rick Pitino should have him much improved this season.
  

Terrence Jennings will be counted on for quite a bit of production
as Louisville looks to replace Earl Clark and Terrence Williams.
(photo credit: Hell in the Hall)

• 9. Dexter Pittman, Texas: For Pittman, the issue has never been talent. As a 6'10", big-bodied junior, Pittman averaged double figures while playing just 17 mpg last season. A huge reason for that is his ability to establish post position. Checking in at close to 300 lb, Pittman is able to get deep on the block and hold off defenders. He also has shown a decent array of post moves, as he has a solid touch inside of about seven feet. Blessed with nimble feet and solid mobility, Pittman needs to improve his explosiveness as he is not going to jump over many people. That explosiveness should go hand-in-hand with Pittman getting into shape. He came into Texas at close to 400 lb, and even though he has lost near 100 lb, Pittman still has very limited endurance, hence the limited playing time last season. If he gets into shape, Pittman will be a dominant force inside.
  


• 8. Solomon Alabi, Florida State: Alabi is a guy that oozes potential. Tall, long, and mobile, Alabi was the most effective last season as a defender. But he definitely has shown some potential as an offensive player. He has a nice touch out to about 15 feet, and seems to have a decent feel for the game. As is true with most players of his build (tall and skinny), Alabi will be much more effective as he adds strength, especially in his lower body.
  


• 7. Larry Sanders, VCU: Sanders is as raw of a player as you will find. While he did show some improvement in his post game last season, Sanders still is not much more than a catch-and-finish guy offensively. But as the junior has now been in college for two years, that aspect of his game should continue to improve. Where Sanders impresses is with his length. 6'10" with a 7'7" wingspan, Sanders routinely grabs impressive rebounds from outside of his area and blocks quite a few shots. As he continues to add strength and polish, keep an eye on Sanders throughout the season as he is a major reason new head coach Shaka Smart has a chance to keep VCU on the national radar after the graduation of Eric Maynor.
  

Larry Sanders may have the longest wingspan in college basketball.
(photo credit: VCU Athletics)

• 6. Jerome Jordan, Tulsa: Jordan has been on the NBA draft radar for a few years, but during conference play last season, he really came on strong averaging 17 ppg. The biggest strides Jordan has made is offensively. While his overall polish is fairly lackluster, Jordan developed a decent array of post moves and has a much better recognition of when to use them; essentially, he is starting to develop a feel for the game offensively. Defensively, Jordan's shot blocking numbers were down last season, but some of that can be attributed to players avoiding him inside. Overall, the senior is still quite raw as a prospect, but with his above average athleticism, his 7 foot frame, and his 7'6" wingspan, Jordan should produce big time numbers playing in C-USA.
  


• 5. Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State: Even with Hasheem Thabeet in Storrs last season, Varnado may have been the most dominating interior defender in college basketball. And defensively is where he will make his presence felt again this season. What makes Varnado so effective at blocking shots is that he is disciplined when it comes to biting on pump fakes and he is so quick off the floor, on both his first and second jump. His offensive game still leaves quite a bit to be desired as he is essentially a non-factor outside of dunking the ball. What impressed me the most about Varnado was what happened this off-season. Varnado declared for the draft, knowing that Mississippi State's signing of Renardo Sidney would mean that Varnado would be the Bulldog's 14th scholarship player. So he decided that he would walk-on this year, paying his own way through school.
  


• 4. JaJuan Johnson, Purdue: Johnson has certainly come a long way in the last four years. As a high school junior, Johnson was a 170 lb, 6'10" center that played JV basketball. Today, the 215 lb center (that can reportedly bench press 285 lb) is a potential Big Ten player of the year. Johnson's biggest attribute on the offensive end is his shooting touch. Johnson has excellent range and does not hesitate to shoot when he is left open from 18 feet. While his post game still leaves a bit to be desired, he has developed a fairly reliable turn around and jump hook, which is most effective when he makes quick moves. His under developed frame makes it difficult for him to hold position inside, on both ends of the floor, but you can definitely see why the agile, athletic center is drawing the attention of some NBA scouts.
  


• 3. AJ Ogilvy, Vanderbilt: Ogilvy is very different from the rest of the players on this list as he is not an athlete and doesn't have a ton of potential due to his length and athleticism. Operating one-on-one in the post, Ogilvy is so difficult to stop. He has a variety of effective post moves, and knows how to use pump-fakes and counter-moves to set them up. Where Ogivly struggles offensively is when he is forced to step away from the basket. He doesn't have a great jump shot, and his ability to put the ball on the floor is limited, but improving. While Ogilvy is probably not going to top NBA Draft boards as his athleticism and length is less than ideal, Ogilvy is hands down the best back-to-the-basket center in college basketball.
  


• 2. Ed Davis, UNC: Like Aldrich last season, Davis had limited opportunities as a freshman, playing behind Tyler Hansbrough. But that doesn't mean Davis wasn't productive. In just under 19 mpg, Davis averaged 6.7 ppg and 6.6 rpg. Davis is an excellent athlete with a ton of energy, crashing the offensive glass and defending the rim, especially when coming from the weak side. Davis should see a natural increase in his scoring simply from playing more minutes and being so effective gathering garbage points, but if he can develop a real back to the basket game, Davis could end up being a 15, 10, and 3 block center this year.
  

Cole Aldrich looks to win a second NCAA title.
(photo credit: NY Daily News)

• 1. Cole Aldrich, Kansas: Aldrich improved drastically from his freshman to sophomore season, although much of that was a result of the increased playing he got as a sophomore. Defensively, Aldrich has the ability to be a game changer. At 6'11", he has a ridiculous wingspan and a frame that will be able to hold a lot of strength. As evidenced by his triple-double against a tough Dayton team in the second round of the NCAA Tournament (13 points, 20 boards, 10 blocks), Aldrich is an excellent rebounder with the ability to dominate in the paint. Offensively is where Aldrich could still stand to improve. While he did average 14.9 ppg, much of that was off of lobs, drop-offs, and offensive rebounds. Aldrich is mechanical in the post, and he doesn't have a great touch, but he has shown some signs of developing a solid post game, especially his jump hook. All told, Aldrich is a throwback center, and should once again dominate the Big XII.
  

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Top 10 Centers

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 10th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. We've given you the break out players. We've given you the teams to watch. We've given you more team previews than you could ever care about. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Top 10 Point Guards
Top 10 Two-Guards
Top 10 Small Forwards
Top 10 Power Forwards
Here are the Centers. I completely forgot to put Jon Brockman of Washington into the power forwards list (I probably would have slid him in right behind Patrick Patterson), so I am throwing him into this list because, frankly, there really are not that many true centers in college basketball. Part of the reason is that there only are so many 7-footers out there. Part of the reason is if you are that tall, and you have some semblance of skill, NBA teams salivate over your "potential", meaning a lot of these guys leave school early (see Patrick O'Bryant, Spencer Hawes, DeAndre Jordan).

Best Freshman

• BJ Mullens, Ohio State
• J'Mison Morgan, UCLA
• Tony Woods, Wake Forest
• Ty Walker, Wake Forest
• Tyler Zeller, UNC

Best of the Rest

• Aron Baynes, Washington State
• Omar Samhan, St. Mary's
• Dexter Pittman, Texas
• Ibrahima Thomas, Oklahoma State
• Goran Suton, Michigan State

Top 10

• 10. JARVIS VARNADO, Mississippi State - Varnado is the best shot blocker in the country. He is only 6'9", but he is very long, very athletic, and has exceptional timing, especially when coming over from help side. Varnado is also a good offensive rebounder, as he loves to go flying in for boards looking to get tip dunks. He is way too thin (reports have him up to 210 lb from 195 lb) to be much of a threat offensively, but MSU will need him to be - they lost Jamont Gordon, Charles Rhodes, and Ben Hansbrough.
• 9. LUKE NEVILL, Utah - Nevill is a 7-foot Australian import playing for Utah. Sound familiar? Nevill is not quite up to Andrew Bogut's level yet, but he is still a good scorer in the post with a soft touch at the rim. 
• 8. TAJ GIBSON, USC - Gibson is unique to these top 10 lists in that he actually was less effective as a sophomore than he was as a freshman. But that doesn't change the fact that he is a talented individual. He is 6'9" and athletic with a solid finesse game in the post. Gibson is also a presence at the rim defensively, blocking 2.6 shots per game.
• 7. JORDAN HILL, Arizona - Hill is one of the best big men in the Pac 10, but is still largely an unknown to most. He averaged 13.2 ppg and 7.9 rpg as a sophomore despite being the only real threat the Wildcats had inside the three-point line. He will once again be the only inside presence for Arizona, but if he can improve anywhere near as much as he did between his freshman and sophomore campaigns, Hill could end up being a lottery pick.
• 6. JEROME JORDAN, Tulsa - Jordan, a junior, has a ton of potential. He is 7'0", long, and athletic, but at just 235 lb, he really needs to put on some strength. He is a great defender (3.7 bpg), and he really came on at the end of the season, averaging 16.2 ppg, 12.0 rpg, and 4.8 bpg in his last six contests, which included a 17, 9 and 4 effort against Memphis.
• 5. KEVIN ROGERS, Baylor - Rogers might be the best athlete on this list. He can really get out and run the floor, which is what makes him such a good fit for this Baylor squad. Offensively, he is most effective when he is a finisher, especially at the rim, and he is great in the Bears pick and roll.
• 4. ARINZE ONUAKU, Syracuse - Onuaku was a pleasant surprise for Jim Boeheim. He averaged just 8.4 mpg as a freshman before sitting out the '06-'07 season as a medical red shirt, but was one of the best big men in the Big East last year, averaging 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg. Onuaku is a huge kid (6'9", 260 lb) and strong as an ox, which allows him to establish position in the post and on rebounds. He catches everything he gets his mitts on, and has a nice touch around the rim (62% from the floor).
• 3. AJ OGILVY, Vanderbilt - Ogilvy is a real throwback center. He isn't much of an athlete, but he knows how to establish position in the paint. He has great hands and a great touch around the rim (59% from the floor), using a variety of spins, drop-steps, up-and-unders, and jump hooks. He averaged 17.0 ppg as a freshman, a number which could go up with the Commodores losing Shan Foster to graduation.
• 2. JON BROCKMAN, Washington - Brockman is one of the hardest workers in college basketball. He attacks the glass on both ends of the floor, averaging 14.2 boards per 40 minutes, tops in college basketball. He isn't graceful or elegant, and when he gets the ball on the block, Brockman is going to try and muscle his way through a defender. He gets the many of his points by beating defenders down the floor and finding creases in the defense.
• 1. HASHEEM THABEET, UConn - If Varnado is the best shot blocker in the country, Thabeet is the most intimidating defensive presence in the country. Standing 7'3", Thabeet averaged 4.5 bpg, and it was that presence protecting the rim that allowed the Huskies to play their style of over-playing, pressure defense in the half court. While his back to the basket game is still developing, if he improves as much between his sophomore and junior years and his did during the last off-season, a 15-10-5 season is a real possibility.

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