NBA Draft: Ranking the top 5 centers
USC center Evan Mobley. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
July 28th, 2021
This week’s NBA Draft will welcome a brand new group of highly paid rookies to the league.
While the current game often revolves around up-tempo offenses and the three-point shot, there is still a place for impact players at center.
Let's take a look at the top five centers available in the NBA Draft.
5. Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky
Bassey has shined for the Hilltoppers and developed into a well-rounded player on both ends of the floor.
Charles Bassey makes the quick read to step up on Grimes, then quickly turns his body and rotates back to his man, leading to an emphatic rejection. Awesome stuff. pic.twitter.com/RrWlRDmYtP
— Nick Kalinowski (@kalidrafts) July 27, 2021
He averaged better than 17 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks per game last season, and he even improved his outside shooting. He’ll likely go late in the first round or early in the second.
4. Neemias Queta, Utah State
The seven-footer dominated in three seasons for the Aggies and routinely found himself in mismatches with overwhelmed opponents. He averaged a double-double last season and was also good for better than three blocks per game.
First time really diving into Neemias Queta
— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) July 20, 2021
His body control/balance and mobility pop for me. Moves quite well through traffic, especially for his size, doesn't have to bring the ball down to get it up pic.twitter.com/KwArvpKDxh
He showed promise at the NBA Draft Combine and in workouts held by teams around the league, and he’ll likely become the first Portuguese player to hear his name called on draft night.
3. Day’Ron Sharpe, North Carolina
Sharpe played one season for the Tar Heels and started just four games, but he did enough to be a borderline first-round pick.
Leaky ➡️ Day'Ron ☝️
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) March 7, 2021
💻 @espn - https://t.co/SoKalgIMMX #CarolinaFamily | @dayron_sharpe pic.twitter.com/4bQAXvsmIV
He is a very good rebounder and shot blocker, who may get dinged for not being nearly as effective away from the basket, on both offense and defense.
2. Alperen Sengun, Turkey
Sengun is one of the top international prospects in the player pool, and he was the MVP of the Turkish league last season. He scored better than 19 points per game, played solid defense, and moved the ball well for a player his size.
Alperen Sengun, one of the most prolific + efficient teenagers in #European basketball history, had strong workouts in front of Sacramento, Charlotte, Golden State + OKC. He looks likely to come off the board by the mid-to-late lottery, via @DraftExpress > https://t.co/JMoWECIKN3 pic.twitter.com/7YEquB6uHK
— DraftExpressContent (@DXContent) July 25, 2021
At age 19, he still has plenty of room to grow, and he’ll likely be off the board in the middle of the first round.
1. Evan Mobley, USC
Mobley has been seen as a top-five pick for months, and for good reason. He was one of the best players in the Pac-12 and helped lead USC to the Elite Eight, where the Trojans fell to eventual national runner-up Gonzaga.
Cleveland has so many reasons to be excited about Evan Mobley
— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) July 24, 2021
A seven-footer with the real potential do to everything on both ends of the floor
Prospects like this don't enter the NBA Draft every year ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ pic.twitter.com/Nti2DXfaNP
It would be shocking to see him fall past the first few teams in the draft, and he will likely be an impact player wherever he winds up.
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