It took just a few months before I was ready to surrender to my potentially foolhardy system of relying on official school sites to find centers. This week I had to really scratch and claw to find seven legitimate centers. Sure, I could could cheat and tell you that Trevor Booker and Hassan Whiteside are centers, but that would not be according to the Clemson and Marshall official sites. They are forwards (along with DeMarcus Cousins, Mike Davis, Larry Sanders, and multiple other big players I checked). I know what you are thinking: you made your own bed, dude, so you are going to have to lie in it. Fair enough, but you can expect a number of second rung centers in 2010. For now, we can consider this group, the best of the rest.
Hamady N'Diaye, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Every injury leads to an opportunity. That could be the motto of fantasy owners. So, when Gregory Echenique went down for the season because of a detached retina, there was suddenly plenty of room in the post for N'Diaye to operate. By the way, the 6-foot-9 Echenique outweighs the 6-foot-11 N'Diaye by 30 pounds, but the sophomore is still considered a forward. Ho hum. The native of Senegal joined the starting lineup on Dec. 9 and paid dividends right away. In his first four games as a starter, N'Diaye blocked 33 shots and had a pair of double-doubles. Even when he was coming off the bench earlier in the season, he was an impact shot blocker and has averaged 5.3 swats this season. The production spigot was stopped up in the Scarlet Knights' most recent game against North Carolina. The Tar Heels got N'Diaye into early foul trouble and the Rutgers center fouled out with just seven points and two blocks. Big East competition will be rough, but you can expect N'Diaye to still have some outstanding games.
Solomon Alabi, Florida State Seminoles
Alabi, a 7-foot-1, 251 lb Nigerian, has a pro body. The NBA loves athletic bigs even if their basketball skills lag behind. Because Alabi is producing decent numbers as a sophomore, he may not last all four years at Florida State. Based on his production in December, he may have good reason to head to the pros. Alabi had a span of three games out of four in which he scored 21 points, and he has shown steady improvement from a solid if unspectacular freshman season. Free throw shooting has been one area in which the Seminole center looks to be on steadier ground. He only missed one freebie in the month of November and is still converting 79.6% of his free throws. Alabi has also started to become more of a defensive presence. Over his last four games, he has blocked 16 shots, including a six-swat effort against Georgia State on Dec. 15. Other than Wake Forest, no other team in the ACC has a player quite as big as Alabi, so he may be able to take advantage of his size in conference play.
Aaric Murray, La Salle Explorers
As a highly touted center prospect, Murray could have punched his ticket to almost anywhere in the country. When it came down to it, however, he decided to explore his own backyard with the Explorers. The team made for an interesting choice because they already have a solid veteran backcourt of Rodney Green and Kimmani Barrett as well as some frontcourt help in Yves Mekongo Mbala. Therefore, Murray could ease into his freshman year. The 6-foot-10 first year player has produced solid numbers. He is averaging 10.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks. His production has been sullied somewhat by foul trouble, including fouling out of two of his last four games. As Murray gains experience, you can bet that his foul count will go down and his double-doubles (of which he has three already) to increase. If you drafted Murray in a dynasty league, keep him on the bench for now because the best is yet to come.
Kenneth Faried, Morehead State Eagles
If Faried played at a Tier 1 school, he too would likely not be a center. Playing in the Ohio Valley, however, has its advantages and if a 6-foot-8, 225 lb player wants to be called a center (or a forward/center in Faried's case), then he can be. Faried has been a known entity in fantasy circles since his freshman season in 2007-08 when he averaged 10.0 points and 8.5 rebounds. Those were modest numbers, but fantasy players will take centers (who double as freshmen) anywhere they can find them. Faried has matured into a scoring and rebounding force. The junior is averaging 16.5 points and 12.2 rebounds. What puts him up another notch for fantasy leagues is that he offers both 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. Faried has had seven double-doubles this season, including a 19-point, 18-rebound game on Dec. 3 in a win over Tennessee-Martin. Faried got some national exposure in the NCAA tournament last year against Louisville, but the Eagles will need to win the OVC tournament to get back to the Big Dance in 2010.
Thomas Coleman, North Carolina A&T Aggies
Coleman is a work in progress. He came into the season as a shot blocker who was able to do a few other things on the court. This season, the 6-foot-9 junior is scoring and rebounding a bit more with his swats keeping at pace. Coleman is averaging 9.4 points on 57.3% from the field with 8.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. Hardly eye-popping numbers, but he could be useful in leagues that are block-heavy (and one of the five leagues I am in is exactly that). Coleman opened the season with strength. He had three double-doubles in his first four games. Coleman has only had one double-double since, but in his last four games has scored 16 points twice (and in the other two games scored four points). It may be that as MEAC conference play comes around, Coleman will be able to use his size to greater advantage.
Patrick Sullivan, Southeastern Louisiana Lions
When his four years of eligibility are up after this year, Sullivan will be a player that will be missed in Southland circles. The 6-foot-9, 215 lb Lion has improved in each of his four years in Hammond, LA and is now providing a solid 15.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks. Sullivan has provided double-doubles in two of his last four games and has shown surprisingly sticky fingers this season with 1.3 blocks. Sullivan's increased offensive responsibility has led to a inevitable downturn in field goal percentage (47.1% from the floor this season), but that is mainly due to two terrible games in which Sullivan made just 2 of 20 shots (against Florida Atlantic and Texas Southern). The Lions center has improved his free throw percentage to 74.4% ,and he has made his last 10 freebies over the last three games. You can expect Sullivan to continue to produce fine numbers in 2010 as Southland Conference play starts.
Liam Potter, Sacred Heart Pioneers
Not much was expected from Potter, a fifth year senior who was born in England. Despite his 7-foot, 255 lb frame, Potter had played sparingly in his first three years with the Pioneers and had not made much of a dent in the playing rotation. Yet, Potter - who is of no relation to the famous Brit, Harry - has started all 12 games for the Pioneers this season and provided 8.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks. In the past week, Potter has become a veritable low post force with three straight double-doubles. He has also blocked 18 shots over his last four games. If Potter can continue the brilliance as Northeast Conference play begins, the Pioneers might be able to make some noise. They already have one of the best scorers in Corey Hassan (22.8 points) and team Potter with 6-foot-9 Mehmet Sahan.