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The NBA game has moved away from big men, recently more than ever, and the label of someone as a center has taken on a loose meaning. But there is some talent at the position in this year’s class, and here are the top five center prospects ahead of the draft in a few weeks.
5. Cheick Diallo, Kansas
Getty ImagesDiallo hardly got off the bench during his lone season at Kansas, so NBA teams have almost nothing tangible to go on. Even though he's undersized (6-foot-9, 219 pounds), Diallo had a good showing at the draft combine and should be a first-round pick.
4. Damian Jones, Vanderbilt
Getty ImagesJones left school after his junior season, possibly due in part to Kevin Stallings' dismissal as Vanderbilt coach. His sheer size, at nearly seven feet tall and 244 pounds, will get the attention of NBA scouts, and Jones has nice upside.
3. Ante Zizic, Croatia
TwitterZizic has the size (6-foot-11, 240 pounds) to transition well to the NBA, and he gets high marks for running the floor and finishing strongly at the rim. Once the lottery picks are in the books, Zizic could easily be the next center drafted.
2. Skal Labissiere, Kentucky
Getty ImagesAfter a season at Kentucky where he barely played (15.8 minutes per game) or produced (6.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game), Labissiere's status as a late lottery pick is based strictly on a projection.
1. Jakob Poeltl
Getty ImagesPoeltl is listed as a power forward in some places, but as a 7-footer he's a center for me with back-to-the-basket offensive proficiency. The Austrian is a likely top-10 pick.
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