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The top 15 players at each position in the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - By Bobby Gerould - March 19, 2008
Each year we look at the top 15 players at each position from our own NBA scouting perspective. Keep in mind that the positions listed for each player are based on what we feel will be their most likely NBA position. Obviously - some of that is subjective as several prospects are true 'tweeners'.
Let's check out the list of the best 15 Centers in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
1. A.J. Ogilvy - Vanderbilt - 6'11" 250. Frosh. ...Ogilvy is the rare BIG that has a touch. He scores 17 points per game while grabbing seven boards, and blocking one and a half shots. ...78% free throw shooter. Takes slower BIGS off the dribble. From Australia. Only two times this season did he fail to score in double figures. ...Best game was in a win over U-Mass where Ogilvy had 25 points (9-15 FG), and eleven rebounds.
2. Brook Lopez - Stanford - 7'0" 240. Soph. ...Great size. Has ability to score in the low post. Getting better but can be so much more. He averages 19.5 points, and 8.5 boards. He has the posture of Tim Duncan but Lopez has holes in his game. ...Has more than two turnovers for every assist. And he shoots only 48% FG - which really is not great for a seven footer. He is a good free throw shooter at 75% to date. …Blocked 12 shots in a triple double performance in win over USC. Also had 18 points, and eleven boards in that game (01/25/07). Named to Pac-10 All Freshman Team.
3. Roy Hibbert - Georgetown - 7'2" 272. SR. ...Really big man does not run that well - but he does have a soft touch. …He gets good position and will dunk many shots. …He blocks shots - but has more turnovers than assists. Right handed but does use his left around the basket. ...Has a good understanding of the role of a BIG. ...Named First Team All Big East in 2006-07. He shot an incredible 68.8% FG as a junior. ...Body type suggests to me that he will always struggle with weight. Transition defense will always be an issue. He also does not rebound that well.
4. Hasheem Thabeet - Connecticut - 7'3" 265. Soph. ...Big time shot blocker that struggles with his shooting. Runs exceptionally well for a man his size. Very much a work in progress. 60% free throw shooter. …Showing improvement. Averages 10 points, 8 rebounds, and four and half blocks per game. ...Best game was in a win over Georgia Tech (02/09/08) where he scored 24 points, snatched 15 boards, and blocked six shots.
5. D.J. White - Indiana - 6'9" 251. SR. ...White is a legitimate NBA BIG MAN prospect. He has what I call "suction cups" for hands - making him a great rebounder. His footwork offensively in the post is very nice. He can score in a variety of ways with his back to the basket. A guy that can not only make the move but also finish the play. 2007-08 Big Ten Player of the Year. ...Somewhat foul prone. Played hurt (with strained knee) as a Senior leader. ...was named Second Team All Big Ten as a Junior. ...Former Big Ten Freshman of the Year as voted by the coaches. SOPHOMORE YEAR (2005-06) - Played in only five games and received medical red shirt during the season due to breaking left foot. ...In high school: Alabama Gatorade State Player of the Year.
6. Josh Heytvelt - Gonzaga - 6'11" 235. Jr. ...Third year Sophomore. Missed the first half of the 2007-08 season with an injured foot. ...Active BIG that can run and jump. Not a good passer. Right handed. Uses the ball fake well. ...Read more about Heytvelt.
7. DeAndre Jordan - Texas A&M - 6'11" 250. Frosh. ...Jordan was the top BIG-man prospect in the state of Texas last year in high school. …Knows his own game - doesn't take bad shots - and as a result - shoots 62% from the field. …Horrid free throw shooter at 43%. More turnovers than assists. ...He really needs to stay in school.
8. Taj Gibson - USC - 6'9" 210. Soph. ...Extremely quick jumper. …Long and athletic presence in the paint at both ends of the court. He has the ability to score inside. Aggressive rebounder. Gibson set the USC freshman record for blocks (56) and rebounds (258) in a season and ranks in the top five all-time by Trojan freshmen in free throws attempted (131), free throws made (79), points (365) and field goal percentage (.579). Gibson's Dad played basketball for the U.S. Army national team during the Vietnam War.
9. Sasha Kaun - Kansas - 6'11" 246. SR. ...Kaun has a defensive presence with shot blocking abilities. Shots a solid 56% FG but only connects on 52% of his free throws for his Jayhawks career. ...Led his high school team to a 29-0 record and a Florida state championship in 2003. Born May 8, 1985, in Tomsk, Russia... Moved to Florida to attend high school... Computer science major. ... Did not begin playing basketball until 10th grade. ...This kid has a very interesting background. Read his story here.
10. Richard "Joey" Dorsey - Memphis - 6'9" 265. SR. ...Huge kid. Quick leaper with a powerful frame. 2007 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. ...Horrid free throw shooter lacks touch. He is best as an offensive rebounder and shot blocker. He grabs many boards outside his area. ...Had 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots in a home win over Purdue on 12/30/05. ...Named to 2006-07 C-USA First Team All-Conference, 2005 Conference USA All-Freshman Team, and 2006 Conference USA All-Tournament Team.
11. Robin Lopez - Stanford - 7'0" 245. Soph. ...The second half of the Lopez twins has averaged a dozen points per game in the last dozen Stanford contests. Robin is an excellent defender that played a great game earlier this season vs. Cal when he helped hold Ryan Anderson to just eleven points. Robin had nine points, and 14 rebounds in that game. ...2006 McDonald's All-American ... Underclassmen MVP at the Adidas Super Star Camp ... Two-time all-tournament selection of the Adidas Super 64 tournament and was a member of the USA Youth Development Festival "Blue" team that competed in San Diego, Calif., in 2005 that won a silver medal in the International Sports Invitational.
12. David Padgett - Louisville - 6'11" 250. SR. ...After recovering from knee surgery well ahead of schedule, Padgett led the Cardinals to the tourney. ...He can rebound at the NBA level - and he has turned out to be a rare collegiate BIG that has more assists than turnovers. Padgett's FG% is super this season at 67%. ...Sat out the 2004-05 season after transferring from the University of Kansas, where he played as a freshman in 2003-04. ...A McDonald's High School and Parade Magazine All-American as a high school senior, Padgett averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds at Reno (Nev.) High School where he was coached by his father Pete.
13. Omar Samhan - St.Mary's - 6'11" 265. Soph. ...Averages ten points and seven boards. A Space eater that has trailed off a bit in the late season after starting strong. He has six point-rebound double-doubles but none since January. ...Scored 19 points with 16 boards in a win over Seton Hall (12/01/07).
14. Brian Butch - Wisconsin - 6'11" 240. SR. ...Former McDonald's All-American has battled injuries in his career but is playing well now for the Badgers. He gets 12 points and seven boards per game. ...Best game may have been in Wisconsin's win over Texas (12/29/07). Butch had 21 points and eleven boards to lead the way. …Suffered a dislocated elbow that kept him out of games in 2006-07.
15. Longar Longar - Oklahoma - 6'11" 225. SR. ...From Sudan. Long, lanky, shot blocker can finish around the hoop. Struggles to shot from beyond a few feet. Only 58% at the line for his Sooner career. …Had 20 points and 15 rebounds in a blowout win over SMU (12/28/06).