/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69540957/1233654682.0.jpg)
The 2021 draft is considered one of the most talented pools in recent years. The NBA draft has filled with guards, wings but very few centers. So, many teams will be eyeing to get those centers. In this article, we will look at the top five centers entering the 2021 NBA Draft. The draft is scheduled to take place on July 29th, 2021.
5) Ariel Hukporti (Germany)
Role: Rim Protector, Play Finisher
Big | Height: 7′ 0” | Weight: 251 lbs | Age: 19
Hukporti is widely known for his rim running and protecting the baskets and also has great skills. He moves his feet well to guard opponents on the perimeter. He has the potential to become a good player but still has a lot to polish up to do on his game. Hukporti has played for Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany for two years and then with Nevezis Kedainiai in Lithuania the past season.
In 2019, Hukporti was honored as Rookie of the Year and All-Star Game MVP in the Nachwuchs Basketball Bundesliga (NBBL), the German U19 league. He averaged 16.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg and was named NBBL MVP for the 2019-20 season.
4) Isaiah Jackson (Kentucky)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68990158/usa_today_15681976.0.jpg)
Big | Height: 6′ 10″ | Weight: 206 lbs | Age: 19
Role: Rim Protector, Play Finisher
Arguably one of the best shot blockers and one of the important players in this draft. Johnson is limited on offense but a constant threat for lobs and rim runs. He is someone who can face up and attack against a defender. He can be a very valuable player. The 19-year-old was ranked No. 1 in the SEC in 2020-21 in blocks per game (2.6).
Johnson is a great rim protector who averaged five blocks per 40 minutes in his lone season at Kentucky. He was ranked 21st or below in mock drafts and also in rankings, but ESPN has selected him 11th in the draft. He is also a great rebounder and top-notch defensive skills. Many former players and pundits have compared him with Nicolas Claxton and Brandan Wright in the NBA.
3) Kai Jones (Texas)
Big | Height: 6′ 10″ | Weight: 221 lbs | Age: 20
Role: Versatile, Mobile Big
Widely known for his rim-running, rolling to the hoop, and rebounding. Kai Jones is expected to be around the 15-20 bracket of the 2021 NBA draft. Jones is a complete package. He has great footwork and not many 6’10” players can move as fast as he can.
He has a shot percentage of 64.2 on two-point attempts during his sophomore college season, the second-best mark in the Big 12 in this category in 2020-21. Jones is also a versatile defender capable of switching across positions. And many pundits have compared him with Christian Wood in the NBA. With all these stats, Jones is expected to go big in the NBA drafts.
2) Alperen Sengun (Turkey)
Big | Height: 6′ 10″ | Weight: 240 lbs | Age: 18
Role: Versatile Offensive Big
Sengun is expected to be around the top 15-20 bracket of the 2021 NBA draft and could rise in the rankings till the draft day comes. He was in a flying form in the Turkish super league. He won the Turkish League’s MVP award in 2021 at the age of just 18.
For someone of his size, Sengun has decent footwork and outstanding handles and has an old-school offensive game. He is shooting free throws at an 81.2% clip and has an excellent 68% mark on two-point field goals. He averaged 19.2 points with the Beşiktas Icrypex in the Turkish league, along with 8.9 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 2.7 assists per game. So, Sengun can to go big in the NBA drafts.
1) Evan Mobley (USC)
Big | Height: 7′ 0″ | Weight: 215 lbs | Age: 19
Role: Franchise Big
Mobley is an all-around player and a game-changer on both sides of the floor. He is expected to be around the top 5 brackets of the 2021 NBA draft. Mobley is a supremely gifted player with a top-class offensive game. and advanced defensive qualities. He has incredible potential to be a go-to scorer in the NBA and has the potential of becoming a star player in the upcoming years.
Mobley was named the 2020-21 Pac-12 Player of the Year and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year after ranking No. 1 in the conference in points, rebounds, and blocks. He is not just an elite rim protector but also someone who can shoot from the perimeter. Mobley averaged 8.6 rebounds and three blocks per game in the USC.