Top 10 College Basketball Centers 2024 Rankings

Ranking the best NCAA College Basketball Centers of 2024 with names such as Zach Edey, Hunter Dickinson, Armando Bacot and more

By Sunday Umoh | April 21, 2024

The 2023-2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball season continues to March along as the schedule slowly inches towards the madness of March. As the regular season is in front of every team in the country, many of the game’s top college basketball players including at the center position are continuing to help their teams build strong resumes to end the season. One of those talented centers who lands at the top of the Top 10 College Basketball Centers Rankings list is Zach Edey of the Purdue Boilermakers.

Edey, who had the potential to be an NBA Lottery Draft Pick returned for his senior season with hopes of leading the Boilermakers to a National Championship.

Currently, Edey and Boilermakers have continued to hang around a top 10 ranking among the AP Men’s Basketball Rankings this season while also ranking among the favorites to win the Big Ten conference.

Joining Edey among the best centers in college basketball include Hunter Dickinson of the Kansas Jayhawks, Armando Bacot of the North Carolina Tar Heels, Joel Soriano of the St. John’s Red Storm, and PJ Hall of the Clemson Tigers.

Here is a look at the Top 10 College Basketball Centers Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Touko Tainamo

School: Denver Pioneers

Just missing the Top 10 Best College Basketball Centers Rankings list is the Denver Pioneers big man Touko Tainamo. Tainamo who is from Finland is in his third season with the Pioneers while emerging as one of the top big men in Men’s college basketball.

The six-foot inch big man has settled in strong during the 2023-2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball season over the first 28 games.

Tainamo is currently averaging 16.9 points per game while posting 30 minutes played per game to start the season. In addition, Tainamo has been strong on both ends of the floor while attacking the rim while averaging a career high 8.5 rebounds per game.

Branden Carlson

School: Utah Utes

Another talented big man who has gone under the radar during his senior season is the Utah Utes seven-foot center Branden Carlson. Carlson, who is in his fifth season with the Utes has been a five-year starter while averaging at least 20 minutes per game in each of the five seasons.

Currently the Utes star has averaged 30 minutes per game over his first 25 games of the season during the current college basketball season.

Over that stretch, Carlson has averaged 16.9 points per game while scoring at least 20 points in six different games to start the season. To go along with the scoring, Carlson has also added four double doubles, and eight different games with at least three assists.

Top 10 College Basketball Centers

10. Dawson Garcia

School: Minnesota Golden Gophers

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 College Basketball Centers Rankings list is the Minnesota Golden Gophers center Dawson Garcia.

Garcia who is in his second season with the Golden Gophers after spending time with both the North Carolina Tar Heels and Marquette Golden Eagles has blossomed into one of the best centers in college basketball including on the defensive end of the floor.

Garcia enters the final few days of February averaging a career high 17.5 points per game this season while shooting 46.4 percent from the field. To go along with the scoring Garcia has posted two assists per game as well as 6.5 rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal per game.

9. Donovan Clingan

School: UConn Huskies

When you win a National Championship just a year ago and you currently rank among the best five teams on the Men’s AP Top 25 Rankings, it is easy to understand the team’s roster is loaded with stars.

That is the case for the UConn Huskies who currently sit ranked number one in the country as well as the top spot within the Big East conference with a 24-3 record. One of those stars leading to that success is Donovan Clingan who is currently averaging 12.3 points per game and 6.5 rebounds.

Meanwhile the Huskies big man is as strong down low on the defensive side of the floor as any big man while averaging 2.1 blocked shots per game.

8. Kyle Filipowski

School: Duke Blue Devils

The sophomore big man is as talented as any within the country with some considering him eligible for both the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Award as the best center in college basketball and others slotting him in as the best power forward.

Filipowski who is expected to be a lottery pick during the 2024 NBA Draft is currently posting a career high 17 points per game over his first 25 games of the season. In addition, the big man has slowly improved his shooting game while posting a 34.5 percent three-point shooting percentage.

The Duke Blue Devils center is also adding 8.3 rebounds per game to go along with 2.7 assists, 1.7 blocked shots, and 1.1 steals per game. Over the next few weeks Filipowski will be front and center as he looks to lead his Blue Devils on a deep postseason run during March Madness.

7. Johni Broome

School: Auburn Tigers

One of the biggest surprises around Men’s college basketball this season has been the play of the Auburn Tigers who currently sit ranked 14^th in the country after starting the season with a 20-6 record over their first 26 games.

Leading that charge is the talented six-foot ten-inch center and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award candidate Johni Broome. Through 26 games to start the season the Tigers big man has posted 10 double double performances while helping the team to a 3-2 record against AP Top 25 Ranked programs.

Overall Broome is currently averaging 16.1 points per game to go along with 8.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Meanwhile Broome has been as dynamic as any player in the country defensively including posting six games with at least four blocked shots.

6. Ryan Kalkbrenner

School: Creighton Bluejays

The evolution of basketball including Men’s college basketball continues to evolve each season as players continue to get bigger and stronger while being able to run the floor and the offense.

One of those players who has showcased that all season is the Creighton Bluejays center Ryan Kalkbrenner. Kalkbrenner entered late February 2024 averaging 17.1 points per game while also adding 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots per game.

In addition, the Bluejays center has also added 1.3 assists while shooting 64.3 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from behind the three-point line.

5. PJ Hall

School: Clemson Tigers

Rounding out the Top 5 centers landing on the Top 10 Best College Basketball Centers Rankings list is the Clemson Tigers big man PJ Hall.

The Tigers senior big man is off to the best season of his career while elevating his overall draft stock for the 2024 NBA Draft. Hall, who has averaged at least 24 minutes per game in each of the last three seasons is averaging a career high 19.5 points per game to go along with 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.7 blocked shots.

In addition to his ability to play on both ends of the floor, Hall has posted a 31.4 percent three-point field goal percentage while also shooting 80.2 percent from the free throw line this season.

4. Armando Bacot

School: North Carolina Tar Heels

In search of a NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, Armando Bacot opted to return for his senior season in hopes of helping the North Carolina Tar Heels bring another one back this season.

Bacot who is from Richmond, Virginia is as sound of a big man as any in the country while posting a season average double double over his first 26 games of the season while posting 14.6 points per game to go along with 10.3 rebounds per game.

Over those 26 games, Bacot has posted 14 double double games as well as seven games with at least 20 points scored while helping the Tar Heels to an impressive 20-6 overall record and the top spot within the ACC conference.

3. Joel Soriano

School: St. John’s Red Storm

One talented big man not getting enough recognition despite being nominated as a candidate for the 2024 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award is Joel Soriano of the St. John’s Red Storm.

Soriano who is finishing off his fifth year has turned in another strong season while averaging 15 points per game to go along with 9.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

The Red Strom big man has also added 1.3 assists and 1.7 blocked shots per game over his first 26 games this season while shooting 60 percent from the field.

2. Hunter Dickinson

School: Kansas Jayhawks

When it comes to the best players in college basketball not only at the center position, two names that stand out are Hunter Dickinson of the Kansas Jayhawks as well as Zach Edey of the Purdue Boilermakers.

Unfortunately, only one of those stars can take home the top spot among the best centers in college basketball with Dickinson sliding in at number two. Dickinson, who had the luxury of going head-to-head against Edey the past three seasons with the Michigan Wolverines, is now dominating the Big 12 conference while leading the Jayhawks.

Dickinson, who is expected to be a lottery pick during the 2024 NBA Draft is averaging 18.2 points per game to go along with 11 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 blocked shots, and 1.1 steals per game. Overall, on the year Dickinson has posted 15 double doubles and 12 games with at least 20 points scored.

1. Zach Edey

School: Purdue Boilermakers

In at number one on the Top 10 College Basketball Centers Rankings list is the Purdue Boilermakers big man Zach Edey. Edey, who elected to return for his senior season has helped guide the Boilermakers to an 23-3 overall record on the season and the 3^rd spot among the AP Top 25 Rankings list.

Through 26 games this season Edey is currently averaging a career high 23.2 points per game while posting his second straight season averaging a double double while adding 11.9 rebounds per game.

In addition to his dominance on the offensive side of the floor Edey is strong down low while averaging 2.3 blocked shots per game.