NBA Draft rankings 2016: Top 5 centers

The mark of a basketball team’s great defense is a strong and dominant center in the middle, and this year’s NBA Draft class has plenty of them. The sad part is that the 5 is becoming a forgotten position in an era where scoring seems to take priority over traditional blue-collar defense, but there is hope this year because the centers in the draft are just that good.

However, it is also important to note that it is center prospects that often need the most work and adjustment coming into the NBA. A majority of college teams do not emphasize the importance of playing a strong low post game, as their offenses tend to run face up through the middle, and the number of college big men that can make the leap to the NBA seems to be getting smaller and smaller each year.

Hopefully, these five young centers can reverse that trend.

Duke freshman Derryck Thornton to transfer
Duke freshman Derryck Thornton to transfer