The Best Centers in College Basketball Ahead of March Madness

Joel Piton
12 hours ago
6 min read

by Joel Piton

Sportz Nation - 2/17/2026

The center position has flown under the radar throughout this college basketball season. Unlike recent years—there's no Zach Edey or Khaman Maluach dominating and commanding national attention, there hasn’t been a singular, NIL-driven superstar big man defining the conversation. That doesn’t mean the paint has been soft.

Across the country, a new wave of centers have been anchoring winning programs, producing at a high level, and quietly building legitimate NBA resumes. While draft buzz continues to lean towards perimeter guards and headline prospects, several big men have made a strong case that they’re being overlooked. Here are our picks for the best paint beasts in college basketball.

Chris Cenac Jr. — Houston

Height: 6'11"

Age: 22

Pro Comparison: Jabari Smith Jr.

Draft Projection: 1st Round

2025-26 Stats:

9.5 PPG · 7.6 RPG · 0.5 BPG

Chis Cenac Jr. is one of the more exciting players in this year's draft in large part due to his scoring ability. Don't let the numbers fool you, Cenac can pull up from mid-range beyond he arc, or from three and it's translated to 50% from the field. Houston's boasting an 23-3 record to boot. I think if he were playing anywhere else, his production would skyrocket but on a layered, dense Cougars squad full of NBA caliber-guys it's hard to stand out—but somehow, Cenac has done that. He could be a long-term prospect with serious upside.

Patrick Ngongba II — Duke

Height: 6'11"

Age: 20

Pro Comparison: Day'Ron Sharpe

Draft Projection: 2nd Round

2025-26 Stats:

10.6 PPG · 6.2 RPG · 1.2 BPG

Patrick Ngongba II had big shoes to full stepping up as Duke's premier big with Maluach gone, and I'd say he's mostly filled them. Ngongba isn't the defensive presence Maluach was but he's a better scorer, and he also seems to be a bit quicker on his feet. Ngongba's an old school center as well who won't wow you with his range but he has a high, athletic motor that keeps him well above the rim and he's also an unusually good passer for a player with his build, although the company he plays with does help. I'd like to see him get his rebounding numbers up, but team's will be drawn to his instincts and IQ more than anything else

Aday Mara — Michigan

Height: 7'3"

Age: 20

Pro Comparison: Zach Edey

Draft Projection: 2nd Round

2025-26 Stats:

11.2 PPG · 7.1 RPG · 2.7 BPG

Aday Mara is projected to go in the 2nd round, but I think he has all the talent to go higher. A 7'3" defensive monster, Mara is a threat to block shots from anywhere within the key, and he's also leading the Big-Ten Conference in stocks. Michigan is the number one program in the country right now at 25-1 and it's in large part due to him. Mara plays winning basketball and I can't imagine why a team in the first round wouldn't want him. The three point shot is coming into view as well but it still has some development left.

Henri Veesaar — North Carolina

Height: 7'0"

Age: 21

Pro Comparison: Isaiah Hartenstein

Draft Projection: 1st Round

2025-26 Stats:

16.4 PPG · 9.0 RPG · 1.2 BPG

North Carolina standout Henri Veesaar has paired with Caleb Wilson to form one of the deadliest front-courts in the Atlantic Coast Conference. A seven-foot double-double machine, Veesar is an incredibly versatile scorer at the five-spot, and over he course of his career (Arizona included) he's done the work to become a truly impactful player in the paint. I'd like to see him block more shots, but he does defend the paint at a high level even if it doesn't immediately translate to the state sheets. I see him being a late first rounder this summer for sure.

Hannes Steinbach — Washington

Height: 6'11"

Age: 19

Draft Comparison: Moritz Wagner

Draft Projection: 1st Round

2025-26 Stats:

18.0 PPG · 11.3 RPG · 1.1 BPG

Forward-center Hannes Steinbach could have. along, fruitful NBA career ahead of him. 6'11, and super mobile, Steinbach can catch and shoot from anywhere, as well as finish at the rim. He's one of. thedeadliest rebounders in the draft and has insane hustle and work ethic when it comes to crashing the glass, ranking fourth nationwide. He's also creeping on three-level scorer territory: post moves, midrange jumpers, you name it—he can deliver. His defense, however? Huge question mark. For how great his offense is, he hasn't necessarily needed to be a two-way prospect, but if he does elevate that part of his game in the upcoming months, I can see him being a borderline lottery-pick.

Motiejus Krivas — Arizona

Height: 7'2"

Age: 21

Pro Comparison: Luke Kornet

Draft Projection: 2nd Round

2025-26 Stats:

10.8 PPG · 8.7 RPG · 1.1 BPG

One of the tallest players in the draft, Motiejus Krivas is a powerhouse at the five spot, and one of the hardest to guard. Drawing comparisons to the likes of Zach Collins and Luke Kornet, Motiejus is a multi-positional defender despite being 7'2", and a mobile player at that. He's also one of the most physical players in the draft and uses his shoulders and size to force shots at the rim even if it leads to foul trouble. The guy fits in perfectly with the Wildcats, so much so that I think he'll stay for another season. Either way, the NBA has a spot reserved for him.

Tarris Reed Jr. — UConn

Height: 6'11"

Age: 22

Pro Comparison: Nic Claxton

Draft Projection: 2nd Round

2025-26 Stats:

13.7 PPG · 7.7 RPG · 2.0 BPG

Tarris Reed Jr. does a lot of things better than most centers, and has a wider skillset than the average five. He can pass better than your traditional five, and is quite possibly the best pick and roll rim runner in NCAA basketball right now. His basketball IQ is pretty unique for a guy his size and his defensive motor has made UConn a powerhouse. Shooting 63% from the field, he sits in the top 15 nation-wide and while I'd like to see him stretch the floor just a little bit, he hasn't needed to. UConn is 14-2: Reed knows his role and he plays it well.

Nate Bittle — Oregon

Height: 7'0"

Age: 22

Pro Comparison: Raef LaFrentz

Draft Projection: 2nd Round

2025-26 Stats:

16.8 PPG · 6.7 RPG · 2.1 BPG

Nate Bittle has taken great strides in improving his perimeter game. Going from a traditional five who uses his size to force shots at will, he's now a legitimate perimeter threat who bigs can't afford to leave open, and that just makes him more deadly. Oregon Ducks basketball is in a pretty shaky place right now, but Bittle has made this squad a pretty fun one to watch. While the team may not be winning many games, Bittle goes out and gives full effort on both offense and defense every single night. This is a guy who never takes a break on the defensive end of the floor, and it shows in the stat sheets. I see a rebuilding team picking him up in the second round for sure.

Rueben Chinyelu — Florida

Height: 6'10"

Age: 22

Pro Comparison: Moussa Cissé

Draft Projection: 2nd Round

2025-26 Stats:

11.8 PPG · 12.0 RPG · 1.0 BPG

A flagship product of the NBA Academy Africa, the NCAA champ has taken a massive leap in his junior campaign, doubling his points and rebounds and proving to be an adept defender as well. Chinyelu leads NCAA Division 1 basketball in rebounding with 12 a night, and he's a double double monster who has no reasoning behind being this dominant on the boards at just 6'9" to 6'10" tall. Chinyelu is also one of the most exciting lob-threats in basketball.

Matas Vokietaitis — Texas

Height: 7'0"

Age: 21

Pro Comparison: Ryan Kalkbrenner

Draft Projection: N/A

2025-26 Stats:

15.5 PPG · 7.5 RPG · 1.0 BPG

Matas will likely stay for at least another year at Texas U, but he's put together a pretty phenomenal first and second year. An interior finisher, the Lithuanian native finishes with force at the rim and is doing so at a superb rate, shooting 63% from the field. I'd like to see him doing more on the glass and protect the rim a bit more, but when you need points, this guy always seems to be ready.

As the NCAA basketball season pushes toward March, the pressure for these players to be great will only grow stronger—and for these big men, the opportunity to prove they belong at the next level is about to begin. Some of these guys look like clear fits for the modern NBA, while others still have questions to answer as to whether or not they can adapt or evolve their games. One thing is certain: this year's draft pool has talented centers even if they aren't being broadcasted across the boards.

Which of these bigs do you believe has a real future at the pro level? Who’s ready to dominate, and which center are you most excited to watch when March Madness approaches? Let us know!

Get ready for it, NCAA March Madness tips off Sunday, March 15th at 1 PM (ET) 🚨 Can't keep up with the games? Be sure to stay tuned into Sportz Nation for your sports updates on all things basketball.

Thanks for reading!

-Joel Piton

(@jpiton7)