The 2025 NCAA Tournament will have a collection of top prospects participating in the event. Not only are there top guards and talented forwards in the tourney, but there are also incredible center prospects. Let’s dive into the best center prospects playing in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
2025 NBA Draft: Top Center Prospects in the NCAA Tournament
Khaman Maluach
The first on this list is Duke center Khaman Maluach, who is impressive as a rim protector and overall defender. Standing at 7-foot-2, Maluach possesses excellent size, length, and athleticism that he uses to be a great defensive player. He knows how to utilize his length to bother or block shots at the rim. Not only that, but he also uses that length to be a good rebounder as well. An interesting wrinkle to his defensive game is that Maluach has flashed the ability to switch onto the perimeter and defend guards on occasion. Specifically, Malauch has shown good lateral quickness, which allows him to keep up with perimeter players.
While he is raw offensively, Malauch can serve as a lob threat and as a cutter. Furthermore, Maluach can operate in the pick-and-roll as the roller. Malauch is one of the best center prospects in the class for his defensive potential alone and if he can improve offensively, he can be an amazing starting center in the league. It will be interesting to see how his defense will be tested in the tourney.
Derik Queen
The next player on this list is Maryland big Derik Queen, who is one of the better offensive players in the class. Standing at 6-foot-10, Queen has excelled as an offensively-minded big who can score in bunches and serve as the offensive hub for his team. Specifically, as a scorer, Queen can put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways. He can post up, drive from the perimeter, act as a roller, and serve as a cutter. Furthermore, Queen has a great touch around the rim and can knock down shots from the mid-range.
Queen has the playmaking abilities to serve as an offensive hub in the middle. He has excellent court vision and passing skills despite the low assist numbers. However, Queen isn’t a good defender nor is he not a shooter. Nevertheless, Queen’s offensive upside makes him one of the top center prospects.
Johni Broome
Auburn big man Johni Broome has been one of the best players this college season and one of the better center prospects. Broome possesses a versatile skill set that allows him to be an impactful player on both ends. Offensively, Broome can score in various ways including posting up, in the pick-and-roll, cutting, and driving from the perimeter. Broome has a good touch around the rim and can shoot from mid-range. Furthermore, Broome has shown the willingness to shoot threes despite him not being a good shooter.
Broome has good passing vision and can serve as an offensive hub for his team as well. Defensively, Broome has the size and length to serve as a good rim protector. He is excellent at using his length to block shots and grab rebounds. Given his skills and experience, Broome is easily one of the most NBA-ready prospects in the class.
Danny Wolf
Similar to Queen, Michigan big man Danny Wolf is one of the best offensive bigs in the class. He can score on all three levels and do so with or without the ball. Not only can Wolf operate like a traditional big, but he can also handle the ball like a guard as a 7-footer. Furthermore, Wolf has excellent playmaking abilities as a center. Wolf is great at reading defenses and moving the ball to the right person.
Defensively, Wolf can serve as a rim protector and uses his length well. He is also good at using that length to be a great rebounder on both ends. There are questions regarding his ability to guard at the NBA level, but his offensive skill set outweighs those concerns. Overall, Wolf is one of the best center prospects in the class and the tournament.
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