2021 NBA Draft: Positional Breakdown: BIG MEN

BIG MEN 

NOTE: Evan Mobley will be listed on my Franchise Cornerstone Positional Breakdown along with my other top 7 prospects. 

When it comes to the big men in the 2021 NBA Draft, there is a bit of a drop off after Evan Mobly. Alperen Sengun is arguably the best foreign player in the draft and is the best offensive big as well. This year’s big man class lacks star power but has a lot of solid players that can carve out roles and have long NBA careers. 


FIRST ROUND LOCKS: 




Alperen Sengun-C-Besiktas/Turkey    
6'10''/240                          
INT/19.0
19.0 PTS      8.7 REB        2.7 AST  (Turkish Basketball Super League)
Hometown: Giresun
NBA Comparison: Luis Scola/Nic Vucevic 
ROLE: Franchise Big Man/Potential 20 &10 guy
BEST TOOLS: Interior Scoring/Rebounding/Power

Sengun might be the most physical and dominant young prospect to ever come out of Europe. In an era where modern big men are seen as defenders and court spacers on offense, it is nice to see a young player with an advanced offensive skill set. The team that drafts him must commit to putting good defenders around him to utilize his strengths. 




Kai Jones-C-Texas
6'11.5''/221/7'1.75'' 
So./20.5
8.8 PTS        4.8 REB        1.1 BLK       
Hometown: Nassau, Bahamas
NBA Comparison: Nerlens Noel/Chris Wilcox      
ROLE: High Energy Defensive Big Man  
BEST TOOLS: Athletic Ability/Shot Blocking/On the ball Defense.

The term athletic freak applies to Jones in every way possible. He is a former track star from the Bahamas that can run the court as well as any big man currently in the NBA. He is very raw on offense, but he clearly has a place in the NBA right now. He could start at center but given his offensive limitations he is likely to be a role player like Wilcox or Noel. 



Usman Garuba-PF/C-Real Madrid/Spain       
6'8''/230/7'2''
INT/19.4
Hometown: Madrid
NBA Comparison: Tristan Thompson/Kevon Looney  
ROLE: High Energy Defensive Big Man  
BEST TOOLS: Hustle/Rebounding/Power
Garuba is the perfect size as a starting power forward, however like Thompson and Looney he would be best utilized as a small ball center on a contender. Garuba already has an NBA frame and will instantly contribute on the glass. His shooting must improve but he does have nice form on his shot. 


FIRST ROUND BORDERLINE: 

Isaiah Jackson-PF/C-Kentucky 
6'10.5''/206/7'3''
Fr./19.5
8.4 PTS        6.6 REB        2.6 BLK       
Hometown: Detroit
NBA Comparison: John Henson/Samuel Dalembert
ROLE: Rim Protecting and Rim Running Big Man
BEST TOOLS: Shot Blocking/Rebounding/Length
If Jackson is to have any impact in the NBA, it will be as a shot blocker. His weakness is his very slight frame. Like Henson, he will be more of a four than a five so the team that drafts him will need to pair him with a stronger big.


Day'Ron Sharpe-C-UNC  6'11''/265/7'0''
Fr./19.8
9.5 PTS        7.6 REB                 
Hometown: Greenville, NC
NBA Comparison: Dewayne Dedmon/Erick Dampier
ROLE: Low End Starter/High End Backup Center
BEST TOOLS: Power/Rebounding/Low Post Scoring
Speaking of strong big men there is no one in this class with the combination of power and length as Sharpe. If this were the 1990’s he would be a top 20 pick. He still could go that high but given the league’s shift to smaller more athletic big men, he may slip on draft night.

 

Filip Petrusev-C/F-Serbia
6'11''/235
INT/21.3
17.5 PTS, 7.9 REB at Gonzaga in 2019-2020   
Hometown: Belgrade
NBA Comparison: Brian Scalabrine
BEST TOOLS: Shooting/Basketball IQ
Petrusev has the skill set and size to stick around in the league for a long time. He will likely never be a star, but he you know exactly what you are getting with him as a player.


Charles Bassey-PF/C-W. Kentucky     
6'10.25''/230/7'3.0'' 
Jr./20.8
17.6 PTS      11.6 REB      3.1 BLK
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria  
NBA Comparison: Jordan Hill
BEST TOOLS: Rebounding/Length/On Ball Defense
Bassey has the size and quickness to be a solid backup center. Bassey would be a first round lock if not for a bad knee injury.


Neemias Queta-C-Utah St         
7'0.5''/248/7'4.0''     
Jr./22.0
14.9 PTS      10.1 REB      3.3 BLK
Hometown: Barreiro, Portugal
NBA Comparison: Kyle O’Quinn
BEST TOOLS: Length/Power/Defense
Queta has the chance to be the first player in NBA history from Portugal. Like O’Quinn, he can become a nice backup big man with his size and developing skill set.


Jericho Sims-C/F-Texas 
6'10.0''/250/7'3.25'' 
Sr./22.7
9.2 PTS        7.2 REB
Hometown: Minneapolis
NBA Comparison: Chris “Birdman” Anderson
BEST TOOLS: Elite Jumping Ability/Rebounding/Hustle
Sims’ 44.5 max vertical at the combine gives him a good chance at being drafted. If he is to carve out a career in the league it will be like Anderson as a low minute but high energy role player hitting the glass and finishing nasty dunks.

 

GETTING DRAFTED BORDERLINE: 


Luka Garza-C-Iowa         
6'11.25''/243/7'1.5'' 
Sr./22.6
24.1 PTS      8.7 REB        1.6 BLK
Hometown: Washington, DC
NBA Comparison: Adam Keefe
BEST TOOLS: Scoring/Basketball IQ/Rebounding
Garza has been the best big man in college basketball the past two season. His fundamentals are great, and he has all the intangibles a coach would want. I went all the way back to 1992 to find the perfect player comparison. Keefe put up similar college numbers but like Garza was an extremely limited athlete. Keefe was still able to carve out a nine-year NBA career averaging 17 minutes per game.


Ibou Dianko Badji-C-Barcelona/Senegal       
7′ 1”/240/7′8”
INT/18.8
Hometown: Dakar
NBA Comparison: Hassan Whiteside
BEST TOOLS: Elite Wing/Hustle/Shot Blocking Potential
He looks pretty strong for such a long player. His 7’8” wingspan and legit 7-foot height give him a chance at getting drafted. However, given his very young age and the fact that he has yet to play on the top team for Barcelona, he may be better served to declare for the 2022 or 2023 draft.


Ariel Hukporti-C-Nevezis/Germany     
7'0.0''/246/7'2.5''     
INT/19.3
10.4 PTS      7.4 REB
Hometown: Stralsund
NBA Comparison: Ian Mahinmi
BEST TOOLS: Rebounding/Power
Hukporti is only 19 yet has a body that can come in right now and bang with NBA bigs. Like Mahinmi, he could become a valuable backup center.

 

Sandro Mamukelashvili-PF/C-Seton Hall      
6'10.5''/240/7'1.25'' 
Sr./22.2
17.5 PTS      7.6 REB        3.2 AST
Hometown: New York City/Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia
NBA Comparison: Rasho Nesterović
BEST TOOLS: Basketball IQ/Passing Big/Shooting
Great passer for a big and has a nice all-around skill set. It would not be surprising if a team fell in love with him and took him in the late first round. It also would not be a shock if he went undrafted.


Yves Pons-PF-Tennessee         
6'6.75''/206/7'0.75'' 
Sr./22.2
8.7 PTS        5.3 REB
Hometown: Fuveau, France
NBA Comparison: Carl Landry
BEST TOOLS: Hustle/Athletic Ability/Length
Great athlete that uses his long wingspan to play much bigger than his 6-7 height. We have seen similar guys (Landry, Kenneth Faried, Montrezl Harrell) get minutes as a center, but he will need to find the perfect fit to play in the league.


Makur Maker-C-Howard  
6'11.25''/232/7'1.75''
Fr./20.7
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya/ Perth, Australia
NBA Comparison: Perry Jones/Harry Giles
BEST TOOLS: Scoring/Mobility/Length
Makur has some perimeter skills but thinks he’s a guard and doesn’t seem to like to play too physical. Like Jones and Giles he just seems likely to be another highly touted high school player that can’t seem to put everything together.


EJ Onu-C/PF-Shawnee State    
6'10.75''/232/7'8.5'' 
Sr./22.0
Hometown: Cleveland
NBA Comparison: Alexis Ajinça
BEST TOOLS: Elite Length/Shooting/Shot Blocking
Onu could be the first NAIA player drafted since 2005. He has an unbelievable wingspan and he can hit an open jumper.

                                                                                                                 

Jay Huff-C-Virginia         
7'2''/234/7'2.75''      
Sr./22.9
13.0 PTS      7.1 REB        2.6 BLK
Hometown: Durham, NC
NBA Comparison: Travis Knight
BEST TOOLS: Shooting/Shot Blocking/Length
Huff is a skilled big that makes up for a lack of athleticism with a great shooting stroke and good instincts.


Amar Sylla-PF-Oostende/Senegal      
6'9''/200/7'3''
INT/19.8
8.7 PTS        5.7 REB       
Hometown: Dakar
NBA Comparison: Khem Birch
BEST TOOLS: Athletic Ability/Defense/Length
Sylla will be on radars due to his length and potential defensive versatility. Some have compared him to Pascal Siakim, but that is very unrealistic. He could become a valuable backup like Birch if he continues to develop. 


Moses Wright-PF/C-GA Tech       
6'9''/225.8/7'0.75''   
Sr./22.7
17.4 PTS      8.0 REB        2.3 AST
NBA Comparison: Lawrence Roberts 
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
BEST TOOLS: Hustle/Rebounding/Leadership
ACC Player of the Year that gives everything on the court. He has enough length to be a small ball center. 









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