Oscar Tshiebwe, Drew Timme and the rest of the top 20 bigs in men's college basketball (2024)

Every year here atThe Athletic,we start the season by ranking the best players at each position in the country. It’s a fun entry as much as anything, giving fans a great idea of who to look out for this season as play begins and everyone is inundated with too much hoops to watch all at once. Who do you need to know when you’re flicking on that random game on ESPN at 7 p.m. on a Thursday this November? Who will be the key pieces of each roster?

We’ve already released our top 20 guards along with breakout players and key freshmen for the year. Then, we released the top 20 wings in college hoops this year. Here is a list of the top 20 bigs to look at as the season starts, this time with five breakout candidates as well as six freshmen that could either morph into stars by the end of the season or settle in more as role players that end up in college for multiple seasons.

As you’ll see, this is absolutely, unequivocally the strongest position in college hoops, likely a byproduct of the NBA’s lack of emphasis on the big position now. Additionally, the advent of NIL rights has absolutely allowed bigs to return to school and thrive, given their intense value in the more condensed, slowed-down collegiate game.

So without further ado, here are the top 20 bigs in college hoops going into this season.

1. Oscar Tshiebwe | 6-9 energy big | Kentucky

The returning national player of the year, Tshiebwe is the best rebounder in the country and arguably the best collegiate rebounder of the last two decades. His 34.6 defensive rebounding rate was better than any high-major player over the last two decades, and his offensive rebounding rate is among the best (and the best for any non-minutes-limited player). He generates his offense that way. You don’t have to run plays for Tshiebwe. He’s just going to get his 15 to 20 points regardless while also getting his 15 rebounds per night. I’m a bit lower on his defense than seemingly the voting bodies of awards were last year when he was a finalist for National Defensive Player of the Year honors because of his prodigious counting stats, but he undeniably is extremely active and makes things happen. He’ll carry Kentucky toward the top of the country again this season.

2. Drew Timme | 6-10 post | Gonzaga

The most skilled offensive player in the country. His footwork is absolutely superb out of the post, and he creates his own shot on the block with ease. But more than that, Timme is also an elite player out of ball-screens, an essential part of Gonzaga’s offense. His ability to have roll diversity — short-rolls into two-dribble drives or passes, mid-rolls into one-dribble buckets or floaters, or rolls all the way to the rim for easy finishes — gives Gonzaga’s guards so much more time and space to operate. Teams have to account for him constantly. He’s also clearly been working on his jumper, as he displayed at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine, hitting four NBA-distance 3s in a single game. If Timme gets to the point where he is passable on defense, he’ll be the most impactful player in college hoops this year. But teams still attack him just a bit too much for me to rank him ahead of Tshiebwe.

3. Hunter Dickinson | 7-1 post | Michigan

One of the players I most enjoy watching right now. Dickinson went from being a pure post as a freshman who dominated opponents to a skilled big who can both post and play out on the perimeter as a center playmaker. He can run dribble-hand-offs and reject them now. He can really pass out of the high post and hit cutters with ease. And he’s even worked on his jumper to where he’s effective as a pick-and-pop weapon. He averaged 19 points, nine rebounds and 2.3 assists last season, and I think there is a strong case that all of those numbers spike even higher this year. He’ll be options Nos. 1, 2 and 3 for Michigan this season after losing a lot of experienced talent off the roster as well as two one-and-dones. He’s my pick for Big Ten Player of the Year, and I bet he ends up as a consensus All-American again.

4. Armando Bacot | 6-10 post | North Carolina

Bacot is just an absolute warrior. He’s tough as hell on the interior, using his physicality and willingness to be the bully better than maybe any player in college hoops. He’s the second-best rebounder in the country behind Tshiebwe and was the critical cog behind North Carolina’s run toward a national title because of his ability to create extra possessions and score on the block. He’ll occasionally miss bunnies around the rim, but he’s great at rebounding his own miss and putting it back. He also gets to the foul line a ton and isn’t a sieve on the defensive end. This top-five group is basically razor-thin in terms of margin, and Bacot has a real case for being ranked anywhere from one through five. In North Carolina’s system, he’s probably the top option, and that’s what matters. At Gonzaga’s, he’d probably be behind all of the other four. We’re just very lucky to have five bigs who all should end up on the All-America teams at the end of the season.

5. Trayce Jackson-Davis | 6-9 post | Indiana

The last of our five elite bigs nationally. If someone is going to top Dickinson for Big Ten Player of the Year, the most likely candidate is Jackson-Davis. I have the Hoosiers as the Big Ten favorite this year because of their roster depth and their potential at the top with Jackson-Davis, Xavier Johnson and Jalen Hood-Schifino. Jackson-Davis is one of the best post players in the country, a strong big who can establish position on the block and loves to get to his left-handed hook shot. He’s extremely left-hand dominant, but it’s effective. He uses the same terrific elevation to get that hook shot on the defensive end, to be an impactful rim protector and rebounder, and he was rightfully named All-Defense in the Big Ten last season. He’ll average right around 18 points and 10 rebounds with a couple of blocks per game again, and he’ll carry Indiana toward the top of the league.

6. Ryan Kalkbrenner | 7-1 defensive post | Creighton

Kalkbrenner is my favorite among the rest of the nation’s bigs. He has a case to be the top defensive player in college basketball, as a shot-blocker who also moves really well and is constantly crowding both ball-handlers and finishers at the rim with his length. Beyond that, he’s also a developing shooter from distance, runs hard to the rim both in transition and out of ball-screens, and has reasonable touch on the block if Creighton needs to throw it down to him. If any other player is going to enter that top tier of bigs, he’s my bet. Creighton is loaded with talent and a roster that fits together, but he’s the linchpin of the whole thing. He’s the reason they have a real chance to go to the Final Four if things break right.

7. Colin Castleton | 6-11 all-around big | Florida

Castleton has a case to be the most underrated player in college basketball, because elite defenders tend to go underrated throughout the sport. Castleton is utterly elite for a big both on the interior as a rim protector and as a perimeter defender when he gets caught on an island with guards. He has great flexibility and lateral quickness, and he uses his length extremely well to stay in front of defenders. On top of that, he’s a good post option offensively who can get his own bucket. And under Todd Golden, I would expect Castleton to get the green light to shoot 3s, as he has a pretty good stroke and nice touch at the line. He’ll be the reason Florida has a chance to surprise in Golden’s first year, as the Gators have a legitimate building block in the middle that they’ll be able to construct an elite defense around.

8. Zach Edey | 7-4 post | Purdue

There is no player more productive on a per-minute basis than Edey, the imposing post-up threat who is in the perfect offense for his skillset at Purdue. Simply put, he’s so big and large that it’s impossible to stop him from gaining position when he wants it. He also plays with underrated bend and flexibility, and he has better craft and polish as a post-up big than he gets credit for typically. But more than that, he actually plays aggressively and likes to play with physicality. He embraces playing through contact. It’s a huge edge for him. He needs to improve a bit defensively on the interior and in his ability to play pick-and-roll angles in order for Purdue to get the most out of him. But this will now be his role in the middle this year with Trevion Williams gone. If he can play 25 to 30 minutes per night, Edey could get into the 16 to 18 point-per-game range.

9. Dereck Lively II | 7-1 stretch/rim-runner | Duke

A consensus top-two recruit in the 2022 class, Lively has all of the tools to become a starting NBA center for a while. He’s a terrific rim protector with a 7-foot-7 wingspan. He has good timing and plays with an exceptional motor that allows him to consistently impact the defense. He moves well enough to make an impact away from the basket if he’s caught on an island — even if you’re always going to try to drop him in ball-screen coverages to keep him in the paint. Offensively, he’s a terrific rim-runner and dunker spot threat who will find lobs for days from Tyrese Proctor and Jeremy Roach in the backcourt. Ultimately, the questions are about whether he can stay out of foul trouble consistently, and if he can make any sort of impact with the ball in his hands. For the most part, he’s limited to having plays created for him, in a similar way to Rudy Gobert. He can be incredibly effective doing that. But I don’t know that the counting numbers will necessarily be astronomical even if he wins ACC Defensive Player of the Year and is wildly impactful to Duke’s win-loss record.

10. DaRon Holmes II | 6-10 rim-runner | Dayton

Holmes is the breakout big who’s coming to college basketball this season. Holmes was terrific last season as a freshman, averaging 12.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while shooting 65 percent from the field and playing high-level defense for the Flyers. Holmes is defensively terrific on the perimeter, and also does a great job of protecting the rim from the weak side. Offensively, he finished sixth nationally in dunks last season excelling as a rim-runner and dunker spot outlet valve, but he also is an underrated passer and has some shooting potential. If Holmes goes for something like 18 points, eight rebounds and a couple of assists per game while winning Defensive Player of the Year in the Atlantic 10, that shouldn’t surprise anyone. He’s that good, and his well-rounded game has him well on the radar of NBA scouts.

11. Azuolas Tubelis | 6-11 playmaking big | Arizona

Tubelis is another terrific big playmaker with the ball in his hands. He averaged 13 points and six rebounds last year, but it’s more about the ways he can get them within Tommy Lloyd’s offense this season that should excite people. He can post up, he can short roll and drive or roll all the way to the rim and finish. His dexterity with the ball is superb, and he’s awesome in a variety of dribble-hand-off actions. With NBA Draft picks Benn Mathurin and Christian Koloko gone, don’t be surprised to see Tubelis take on the more traditional role that Gonzaga bigs in the past have when Lloyd coached them in his near-two-decades in Spokane. He’ll average over 15 points and eight rebounds while also dishing out a couple of assists, and he’ll be in play for Pac-12 Player of the Year.

12. Adama Sanogo | 6-9 post | Connecticut

One of the best pure posts in the country, Connecticut might even have a better roster that makes more sense around him this year. With dynamic defender Isaiah Whaley and reluctant shooter Tyrese Martin gone, the Huskies will surround Sanogo with even more shooting and floor-spacing than he had last season with smooth-shooting four Alex Karaban and movement floor-spacer Jordan Hawkins. Throw in Andre Jackson (a reluctant but decent shooter), Naheim Alleyne, Joey Calcaterra, and dynamic transition threat Tristan Newton, and teams are going to have a tougher time doubling Sanogo, which should allow him to add to his 15 points per game.

13. Graham Ike | 6-9 post | Wyoming

The second Wyoming player to appear on these positional ranking lists, Ike is the man in the middle of the most post-oriented offense in college basketball. And his numbers show it. Ike averaged 19.5 points and 9.6 rebounds for Wyoming, combining with Hunter Maldonado to form one of the best duos in the country. Ike is all sorts of strong, allowing him to establish position inside. On top of it, the lefty has a bevy of post moves he can go to in order to finish. He’ll face up and knock down a 12-footer. Or he’ll drop-step you and finish at the rim with a lay-in. Or he’ll shoot a nice little hook shot. And sometimes, he’ll just power through you and go up to the rim for a dunk. Unsurprisingly, he also lives at the foul line. With coach Jeff Linder sticking around for another year — eventually, Linder, one of the most underrated coaches in the country, will be at a high-major — expect a ton of post touches for Ike again, and dominant numbers that propel Wyoming back to the Big Dance.

14. Jarace Walker | 6-9 motor big | Houston

Walker just fits everything Houston is about. Every time he steps on the court, you’re going to feel his presence. He plays with an exceptional motor, always ready to fight on the glass and play tough defensively. He also makes an impact in a variety of different ways when he’s on the court. He passes well, he can face up and attack with his athleticism off the bounce. And most importantly, he’s strong. He’s ready to go physically from the jump as a freshman, and he should be able to help on the glass and be a switchable defender within Houston’s scheme pretty quickly. If the jumper comes along quicker than expected, he’ll be a surefire one-and-done and will make a significant impact on what is expected to be a top-five team.

15. Pete Nance | 6-10 stretch-big | North Carolina

I’m a huge fan of Nance and think he was an incredibly underrated addition for North Carolina in the portal. In any other league outside of the Big Ten with itsseven future or current NBA players last season, he would have made the all-conference team after averaging 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He’s a versatile offensive weapon who shot nearly 50 percent from the field, 45 percent from 3 and over 76 percent from the line, and he’ll easily replace what Brady Manek brought to the Tar Heels last season as a grad transfer from Oklahoma. I actually think he’s also a better defender than Manek, which means I think North Carolina actually upgraded on this spot over the offseason. Nance is a terrific weak-side rim protector, and he does a good enough job of moving his feet (although he’s not quite his brother in terms of mobility). He’ll pair well with Armando Bacot as an inside-out frontcourt duo.

16. Johni Broome | 6-10 post | Auburn

The guy ranked one spot below this actually won the OVC Player of the Year award last year as opposed to Broome, but I actually like Broome a bit better as it pertains to transferring to the SEC. He’s a terrific defender who can move his feet a bit on the perimeter, but also is one of the truly elite shot-blockers in college basketball. He averaged 3.9 blocks per game last season, ranking third nationally. Broome also has an enormous track record at this point of playing great in big games. He won the OVC tournament MVP in 2021, and then in the OVC title game in 2022 he dropped 32 points and had eight rebounds. It is worth noting that he hasn’t played particularly great against high-major teams, and he will need to prove that a bit early. But Broome has a shot to be an enormous impact defender who can score on the block and rim run if things go right.

17. K.J. Williams | 6-10 post | LSU

Williams won the OVC Player of the Year award last season for Murray State, a dynamic inside-out offensive player for the Racers who averaged 18 points and 8.4 rebounds. He followed his coach, Matt McMahon, to LSU this offseason after flirting with turning pro, and he likely will be the centerpiece of a team that more than a few scouts think has a chance to surprise in the SEC. McMahon tends to run a very well-spaced offense that can act five-out if he has the pieces to do so, and Williams will allow him to do that. He’ll post and knock down face-up jumpers or hit mid-range 15-footers with ease. Obviously, he can step away and hit the 3 ball. It tends to be a jumper-heavy diet, but he’s good enough to make them. With many of his Murray State teammates around, he should be in a similarly advantageous position to average 15 points per night in the SEC.

18. Coleman Hawkins | 6-10 athlete | Illinois

I’m a believer in Hawkins breaking out in a substantial way. In the first three games of last season, when Kofi co*ckburn missed games because of a suspension, Hawkins was absolutely terrific, averaging 14 points and nine rebounds while being willing to put up 3-pointers and flying high for big dunks. With co*ckburn back, he didn’t quite have the same impact without free rein or space to make plays. Now that co*ckburn is gone, the interior will be Hawkins’ and he should be able to fly around and make plays. I’m expecting something like 15 points and 10 rebounds per game in this offense that absolutely will use the big man and hit him when he gets open. He’s also going to be a highlight machine with his athleticism.

19. Moussa Cisse | 6-11 rim protector | Oklahoma State

I know I said Castleton had a case to be the most underrated player in college basketball, but this would actually be my choice if you made me pick a player. There is a genuine argument that Cisse is the best defensive player returning to college hoops. He’s a monstrous interior defender, shutting off the cylinder with his height and his 7-foot-5 wingspan. He split the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award last year after blocking two shots per game in 20 minutes. But it’s not just blocks. Per Pivot Analysis, when Cisse was on the court, teams shot just 43.8 percent at the rim. When he was off the court, they shot more than 50 percent. It’s remarkable how valuable he is to what the Cowboys do. He comes in lower here because he is a bit of a liability on offense. His hands could stand to improve, and he needs to be able to make better passing reads to improve his one-to-four assist-to-turnover ratio. But his defense alone earns him a spot.

20. Jake Stephens | 7-1 skilled floor-spacer | Chattanooga

Just one of my favorites in college basketball. Stephens is fairly unique. He’s a 7-foot big with a 7-10 wingspan who actually plays more of a perimeter-oriented offensive game under Dan Earl, who he followed from VMI to Chattanooga via the transfer portal this offseason. Stephens hit 49 percent of his 3s last season while taking five per game, and he averaged 3.3 assists while initiating the offense as a high-post big. He can post, and he can rebound, but what makes him special is the skill level he brings. He’ll be the centerpiece for Earl in Year 1 at Chattanooga, and he will look to match his numbers again and be the kind of 20-point, 10-rebound per game big with all of those skills that carries his team to the NCAA Tournament.

Five breakout bigs to watch

Mouhamed Gueye | 6-11 rim-runner | Washington State

Gueye has a chance to be one of the most impactful defenders in the country this year after a strong freshman season at Washington State that actually got him invited to the G League Elite Camp during the NBA Draft process. He’s enormous with a 7-5 wingspan, which allows him to be an impactful shot blocker. But it’s more than that, as he can really, really move and slide his feet on defense and stay in front of the opposition. He also has potential to shoot the ball. I think he goes for 13 points and nine rebounds per game and develops into one of the best shot blockers in the Pac-12 with the middle in Pullman open to him now following the departure of Efe Abogidi.

Trevon Brazile | 6-9 rim-runner | Arkansas

Brazile was straight up just No. 21 on this list for me, as I think he’s in for an absolutely enormous season with the Razorbacks. Scouts who have been to Arkansas have made the case he might be the Razorbacks’ second-best player this year behind Nick Smith — something he showcased during the team’s overseas trip this year where he averaged a team-best 15 points and shot better than 85 percent. He won’t do that in the SEC, but his play at Missouri late in the season gave SEC coaches a taste of what he might be with better guard play around him. He’s a terrific athlete at his size who has elevation out of the gym and will be a terrific lob threat for Smith and Anthony Black to find. I would expect something like 13 points and seven rebounds from Brazile this year.

Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu | 6-9 shot swatter | Memphis

One of the most underrated gets in the transfer portal this year. He goes by Kao, and he’s unequivocally one of the best athletes in college basketball, a 6-9 center who can jump out of the gym and also has a 7-foot-4 wingspan. Prior to last season, he had his athletic testing done, and reportedly he had a 47-inch vertical leap and touched over 13 feet in the air. His impact on UT Arlington’s defense last season was laughable, as UTA gave up 101.8 points per 100 when he was on the court, versus 111.9 points per 100 when he was off of it. He swatted 2.6 shots per game in 21 minutes, and he is one of the best rim protectors in the country. He’s definitely still learning the game a bit after coming over from Nigeria as a teenager, but his upside is absolutely through the roof and it’s a good bet he will become one of the best defenders in the country this season at Memphis.

Jacob Toppin | 6-9 forward | Kentucky

I’m buying the Toppin breakout for Kentucky this year. He looked terrific during the team’s trip to the Bahamas, averaging more than 16 points and six rebounds while shooting 56 percent from the field and showcasing an improved jumper. His athleticism is obviously a differentiator, but he’s figured out how to harness it and improve his skill level for a tremendous effect. He has a good chance to end up as a top-three player for the Wildcats if he keeps up what is reportedly an incredible work ethic. If the jumper continues to get better, as we’ve seen flashes of, and develop along with what we’ve seen out in transition, there’s every reason to buy into Toppin averaging 13 points and six rebounds and playing a huge role next to Tshiebwe. The jumper is the big swing skill here, though, given how much Kentucky needs shooting next to Oscar and Sahvir Wheeler.

Tyson Degenhart | 6-8 forward | Boise State

OK, look, I might be cheating jusstttttt a little bit by throwing Degenhart in with the bigs as opposed to the wings. But I’m guessing he ends up playing some minutes at the five in small lineups because of what could be some lacking depth behind expected starting center Lukas Milner if incoming freshman Sadraque Nganga isn’t ready for action. Degenhart is poised for a huge year after averaging 9.9 points last season, just getting him under my arbitrary cut-off for this section of single-digit scoring. Degenhart can absolutely snipe from 3, hitting 42 percent last season. But he’s also a capable scorer in the midrange and mid-post, as well as an effective transition player that makes good decisions. I’m predicting we see him go for 15-plus points per game in order to combine with Marcus Shaver and be one of the best duos in the Mountain West.

Five freshmen with tremendous upside, but some questions

G.G. Jackson | 6-10 athlete | South Carolina

There is every chance that Jackson turns into a lottery pick this year, an absolute monster who impacts the game on both ends of the court and is ready to go from the jump. But I just couldn’t get him into the top 20 because of how deep the big position is this season. At the end of the day, I’m hesitant to expect too much from a player who will compete in his first collegiate game at 17 years old. The adjustment to the speed of the game is going to be a major thing to watch early on for him. It’s not going to be all smooth sailing, especially early. But by the end of the year, it’s possible we look up and see that Jackson has adjusted and his intersection of terrific skill level and athleticism becomes overwhelming for SEC opponents to handle. His upside is enormous long-term.

Adem Bona | 6-10 post | UCLA

Scouts who have been through UCLA have noted Bona looks like a potential breakout player. The center, originally from Nigeria by way of Turkey, grew up playing soccer and developed the speed and footwork that stayed with him as he grew and began to pick up basketball. He runs the floor with the ease of a wing, gets up to swat shots with impunity, and consistently plays hard with a high-level motor. The offensive skill set isn’t particularly well-developed, but he can catch and finish, and when you attack the glass like he does, my bet is UCLA coach Mick Cronin is going to be a fan of his. He has a case as the most athletic big man in the country this year, and it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see this be his only season in Westwood. Much like Jackson, he has a solid chance to be a top-20 big by the end of the year.

Kel’el Ware | 7-0 athlete | Oregon

Ware is one of those 7-footers who makes you wonder how someone can be this big and this graceful. He runs the floor extremely well, has the balance and dexterity to dribble and shoot at times, and he has great hand-eye coordination. In terms of upside, he’s the big in the 2022 recruiting class who scouts seem to think has the most upside if he is able to put everything together. But we haven’t seen Ware consistently be as productive as some of the other great bigs in his class, which means he’ll have to earn his spot this year at Oregon. The Ducks have an upperclassman at center in N’Faly Dante, although it’s possible Dana Altman decides to just let it roll with the two 7-footers and see what happens. My bet is that more often it’s one of them on the court with Quincy Guerrier at the four, the position he’s best at in college. I’d predict that with Ware, he figures it all out in a hurry at some point and goes from being a bit more of a “potential” prospect to more of a finished product. The question is just whether it happens this year or down the road.

Baba Miller | 6-11 playmaker | Florida State

Another player who could slot into the wings or bigs category. Given his height, I chose this one. He’s incredibly smooth for his size, and he showed at times in Spain that he can put the ball on the deck and make plays as a driver and transition player. But he can also make real passing reads and knock down shots in flashes. He’s extremely skilled and coordinated, the product of growing up as a guard and being 6-2 just four years ago. He’s retained a lot of that skill, but he is still clearly figuring out how his body works with all of this newfound height and elongated frame. Florida State does tend to bring freshmen along more slowly under Leonard Hamilton, especially early. I wouldn’t be surprised if Miller ends up taking some time to make an impact. But if he earns his time, it wouldn’t be stunning to see scouts just completely fall in love with him. He has all of the tools to be a pro prospect.

Kyle Filipowski | 6-11 playmaking big | Duke

Filipowski was one of the more polarizing prospects in the 2022 recruiting class. Some evaluators absolutely loved his shooting and skill level and thought he would be an immediate impact college player, whereas others saw more of a four-star prospect with high-end skill and feel for the game, but serious question marks defensively. Filipowski can put the ball on the deck for a teenage center, can shoot the ball from out to the college 3-point line, and is a good passer and playmaker who can actually facilitate the offense from out in the high post. But playing at the four, something he’ll likely be asked to do at Duke next to Lively, has a chance to exacerbate some of the defensive questions unless Duke sits back in a zone. He could end up being an enormous offensive piece for a team that needs passing and playmaking along with Tyrese Proctor, or he could end up coming off the bench because the team decides to go defensive in the starting lineup with fellow freshman Mark Mitchell. We’ll see.

(Illustration: Sean Reilly / The Athletic; Photos: Andy Lyons, Ezra Shaw and Lance King / Getty Images)