At draft, being a Collins bodes well
USA TODAY Sports’ Adi Joseph ranks the top centers in the NBA draft.
1. Zach Collins, Gonzaga
Collins is a legitimate 7-footer with great athleticism, jaw-dropping per-minute stats, a penchant for big moments, great shotblocking instincts and the ability to step out to three-point range. He’s basically an ideal “stretchfive” for a league clearly headed in that direction.
2. John Collins, Wake Forest
Many projections list Collins as a power forward, but his future clearly should be at center. He has shown great offensive skills in workouts, including range out to the three-point line. They come along with his solid athleticism and relentless work ethic. Ten years ago, he’d have been a top-10 lock.
3. Jarrett Allen, Texas
In a crowded field of centers, Allen stands out as the easiest for whom to project a role. He is an excellent athlete with a huge wingspan and the potential to be a great rim protector on defense and rim runner on offense. The questions are whether he can do much beyond that and whether he has the motor to be a great defender.
4. Harry Giles, Duke
If Giles is 100% cleared medically, he could be a lottery pick. If not, he might fall out of the first round. Because of injuries, the former No. 1 recruit didn’t get a chance to do much at Duke, but his perminute numbers were solid, and the skill that once made him a sure-shot top pick remains, even if the athleticism is diminished because of the knee injuries.
5. Bam Adebayo, Kentucky
Here’s a secret: Kentucky’s best player for the final two months of the season wasn’t Malik Monk or De’Aaron Fox. From mid-January on, Adebayo was unleashed as a consistent force. His offensive rebounding and ability to switch on screens has teams intrigued.
6. Justin Patton, Creighton 7. Isaiah Hartenstein, Germany 8. Ike Anigbogu, UCLA 9. Anzejs Pasecniks, Latvia 10. Ivan Rabb, California