This NBA draft class has seen center prospects mostly return to a traditional form of basketball. It’s no secret that the modern NBA game has evolved to a more perimeter and skill focused league. While this has bled into every position including center, there’s still a role for big men who anchor the paint. Most all the center prospects in this NBA draft class don’t project to ever become perimeter-based players. While that may hurt their upside, prospects like Dereck Lively from last year’s draft show that specific roles can be good.
Let’s take a look at the best center prospects in the 2024 NBA draft class.
2024 NBA Draft Best Centers
1) Yves Missi: Baylor
Yves Missi has quickly ascended many draft boards in his freshman season at Baylor. He’s a seven-foot big man who’s a fluid mover and provides an instant defensive impact. He will hope to fill the coveted big man role in today’s game that’s a shot blocker and pick-and-roll play finisher. He will remind a lot of scouts and teams alike of Hawks center Clint Capela. There’s not a lot of flash to his game, but he gets it done playing efficiently on both ends.
2) Donovan Clingan: UConn
Donovan Clingan is a seven-foot-two big man in his sophomore season with the Huskies. Clingan has a clear projected role as a frontcourt anchor on the defensive and offensive side of the ball. He has great shot-blocking ability and is a good play finisher on the interior. Clingan will hope to have a dominant postseason and secure high positioning on draft boards. There are some questions however about his defensive mobility, specifically in the pick-and-roll. He isn’t a bad mover, and he’s shown enough success in drop coverage to help justify his first-round buzz.
3) Kel’el Ware: Indiana
Kel’el Ware is a sophomore transfer playing at Indiana this season. Standing at seven-foot-one, Ware contains elite athleticism for his size. He shines on the defensive end blocking shots as well as a lob-dunk finisher. He’s probably being asked for too much outside of that role at Indiana, but it’s given him the opportunity to show his upside. Ware’s shooting 43.3 percent from three this year although on only 1.3 attempts per game. His main concern will be to answer questions about his motor and aggressiveness during the pre-draft process. Regardless, Ware will hope to be a steal at the center position for this NBA draft class.
4) Oso Ighodaro: Marquette
Oso Ighodaro is yet another player who will hope to fill a clear role at the next level. He’s a six-foot-ten big who has good athleticism and can defend multiple positions. He’s not going to try and take jump shots but has flashed a really good floater around the rim. He’ll be a good pick-and-roll partner for any guard on a team that drafts him. Ighodaro has also acted as the main ‘connector’ or initiator from the perimeter on offense. This playmaking, IQ, and passing ability make Ighodaro an intriguing option for teams with high-feel play styles. In a draft that has so many question marks, players like Ighodaro have an advantage.
5) DaRon Holmes: Dayton
DaRon Holmes was projected as a second-round center in last year’s NBA draft but decided to return to Dayton. It’s served him well up to this point as he’s beginning to receive late first-round consideration. Holmes build and physique will remind many of Nic Claxton’s profile as a player. He’s a very long and slender center who moves well at his size. His length and mobility have allowed him to be successful in a variety of pick-and-roll coverages. While not a perimeter player, Holmes is the leading scorer for the Flyers operating out of the low post. He’s averaging 20.2 points per game while also leading his team in rebounds and 7.9.
6) Adem Bona: UCLA
Adem Bona is another vertical spacing big man out of UCLA. Standing at six-foot-ten and 245 pounds, Bona will be a shot blocker and lob dunk finisher at the next level. He’s probably the most athletically gifted center for this NBA draft class, but he’s still raw as a prospect. Scouts will value Bona’s high motor and effort level though as he’s relentless on both ends when playing. He needs to clean up his foul numbers and improve his overall skill to truly capitalize on his draft stock.
7) Zach Edey: Purdue
Zach Edey’s archetype as a big with no perimeter game and limited mobility usually doesn’t bode well for illustrious NBA careers. He’s a seven-foot-four giant though whose sheer production earns him a spot on this list. He’s averaging 23.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game as a senior. If he can prove his shot blocking and length are enough to make up for a lack of mobility, an NBA team may be intrigued enough for a selection.
