2024 Aggregate Mock Draft: Ranking the centers (2024)

(Perth Wildcats: International, 7-1)

Current overall rank: 1
Previous rank: 1
Best rank: 1
Worst rank: 3

Alex Sarr remains the projected No. 1 pick for the second consecutive edition of the HoopsHype aggregate mock draft, narrowly beating French forward Zaccharie Risacher.

Sarr climbed up draft boards following strong performances against the G League Ignite towards the end of 2023 and hasn’t looked back. Since then, teams have seen an increased motor – his biggest knock coming into this season – along with intriguing shot-blocking skills and long-term potential as a floor spacer beyond the arc. However, multiple NBA talent evaluators believe he could be up to two years away from making a significant impact.

“Sarr disappears on the floor at times,” an NBA scout told HoopsHype. “I don’t know if he’s going to be this crazy rim protector like everyone thinks he is. Maybe that has to do with his body size and not being able to absorb contact. He needs to get stronger. Obviously, everybody is thinking of the pick-and-pop potential with him.”

Currently, Sarr has the physique to guard fours and would struggle against more physical centers in the NBA. If Sarr can hit the weight room diligently, he could become a center years down the line and cause potential mismatch problems on the perimeter offensively while patrolling the paint as a shot blocker and having the foot speed to switch on ball screens defensively.

“There are a lot of bigs that come out, and if you’re not a Top 5 guy at that position, teams like to get bigs on the scrap heap that fill specific rolls they can trust and know what they’ll get from them,” an NBA executive told HoopsHype. “Taking a big at No. 1 in the draft is always a question in this day and age and tough to do.”

More: Alex Sarr: NBA draft scouting report and intel

(UConn: Sophom*ore, 7-2)

Current overall rank: 6
Previous rank: 11 (+5)
Best rank: 3
Worst rank: 11

After winning back-to-back championships at UConn, Donovan Clingan’s stock has never been higher.

“Clingan is one of those big guys that can move their feet, run the court, give extra effort or multiple efforts,” a longtime NBA scout told HoopsHype. “Guys like that, when they jump, they can get right back up off the floor. He’s got to work on his shot. That’ll come with time. They want him to be able to stretch the floor a bit because it opens up driving lanes for guys. He covers up the rim, and he’s more athletic than you’d think.”

Clingan is one of the top shot blockers and rebounders in the draft who could thrive in drop coverage defensively. The 20-year-old center can score inside, but the big question among NBA executives is if Clingan can expand his range to the elbow and sink the occasional 15-footer to keep the defense honest and open up more spacing on the court.

“Could Clingan become a young Zydrunas Ilgauskas?” another NBA scout pondered. “He makes jumpers in practice, and I think he can shoot more than he’s shown.”

The questions surrounding Clingan’s range will be answered in private workouts for NBA teams high in the lottery.

In a draft with a lot of uncertainty, Clingan offers executives a solid floor as a strong defensive center who can score adequately around the rim with potentially untapped upside as a shooter.

More: Donovan Clingan: NBA Draft scouting report and intel

(Duke: Sophom*ore, 7-0)

Current overall rank: 15
Previous rank: 9 (-6)
Best rank: 12
Worst rank: 27

Kyle Filipowski has essentially been entrenched in the lottery in the 9-15 range through four HoopsHype aggregate mock drafts.

Filipowski can stretch the defense beyond the arc (35 percent), put the ball on the floor, create off the dribble against opposing big men, and is one of the top passing big men in this year’s draft class.

Despite blocking 1.5 shots per game in college, several NBA executives question if Filipowski can be a rim protector in the pros due to his negative wingspan and lack of vertical pop.

Filipowski has drawn comparisons to Kelly Olynyk from NBA executives, which appears to be his floor. His basem*nt would be more along the lines of Frank Kaminsky.

More: Kyle Filipowski: NBA draft scouting report and intel

(Baylor: Freshman, 6-10)

Current overall rank: 18
Previous rank: 12 (-6)
Best rank: 11
Worst rank: 26

Yves Missi is a freak athlete who’s played organized basketball for less than three years, giving him significant long-term upside.

Missi thrives as a pick-and-roll finisher and lob threat with a wide catch radius, but he’s also been able to create his own shot while attacking off the dribble from the perimeter occasionally. He’s also considered one of the top shot blockers in this year’s draft class.

“Yves is somebody that’s capable of being on SportsCenter each and every night,” Baylor coach Scott Drew has said.

Missi was born in Belgium and grew up in Cameroon playing soccer, which has aided his high motor and fluidity as a big man on both ends of the court. Missi, who will turn 20 during the combine, has drawn comparisons to Clint Capela by various NBA executives.

“I’d be a little worried about his stature at the center position,” an NBA executive told HoopsHype. “He’s going to have to make up for it with his motor and outrun and outwork opposing centers.”

More: Yves Missi: NBA draft scouting report and intel

(Purdue: Senior, 7-4)

Current overall rank: 21
Previous rank: 27 (+6)
Best rank: 15
Worst rank: ΝR

Previous rank: 27 (+6) / Best rank: 15 / Worst rank: NR

Zach Edey became the first player in NCAA history with 800 points, 400 rebounds, 50 blocks, and 50 assists in a single season.

“If Zach Edey is not a lottery pick and a tremendous NBA player, then there’s something wrong with the NBA,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said on The Herd. “Then they’re maybe not playing the right game at that level. This guy has been dominant and brings you back to Ralph Sampson, Patrick Ewing, and David Robinson types of performances. The kid’s a special player. Special players, when they go to the next level, add new skills quickly. I think he’s going to get to the NBA and increase his range in his shooting, his passing, and dribbling, and he’ll adapt. That’s what special players do.”

Edey thrives in the low post, scoring with a hook shot from either hand, and can sink free throws when he’s fouled by smaller defenders. Edey’s foul shooting also gives some executives hope that he can eventually extend his shooting range.

You won’t find many shot blockers better than Edey down low, but his size and strength are also a liability in pick-and-roll coverage on the perimeter, where smaller and quicker guards can expose his lack of foot speed.

Edey’s No. 21 overall projection is his highest ranking in the HoopsHype aggregate mock draft to date, and – despite his old-school style of play that’s made him somewhat of a polarizing prospect – there are enough NBA talent evaluators who believe he can be an NBA role player at worst, which could make him a first-round pick in this weak overall draft class.

“You look at Clingan and Edey among the traditional bigs in this draft,” an NBA executive told HoopsHype. “At the same age as Clingan, Edey was averaging the same production and looked the same way in terms of how he moved. Over the next two years, Edey developed and got stronger while playing more physically. He made more shots in the paint and knew where his outlets were.”

More: Zach Edey: NBA draft scouting report and intel

(Indiana: Sophom*ore, 7-0)

Current overall rank: 24
Previous rank: 24 (-)
Best rank: 11
Worst rank: NR

Coming off an underwhelming freshman season at Oregon after being one of the top recruits of his class, Kel’el Ware’s intangibles were heavily questioned by NBA executives.

“Ware has all the tools, but the questions were always if he’s tough enough and if he has a good enough motor?” an NBA scout told HoopsHype.

In his sophom*ore season at Indiana, Ware changed those narratives by averaging 16 points (nearly 10 more than last season), 10 rebounds (over double last season’s production), and two blocks (half a block more per game).

Ware was lethal in the post, ranking in the 87th percentile as a scorer thanks, predominantly, to his right-handed hook shot and a turnaround fadeaway jumper over his right shoulder on the block.

“He’s talented, but I don’t know how long it’ll take,” one NBA scout told HoopsHype. “He shies away from contact at times.”

Throughout his sophom*ore season, Ware has drawn comparisons to Christian Wood and Willie Cauley-Stein from NBA scouts and executives.

Through four HoopsHype aggregate mock drafts, Ware has been projected steadily in the 23-27 range.

More: Kel’el Ware: NBA draft scouting report and intel

(Clemson: Senior, 6-10)

Current overall rank: 53
Previous rank: 42 (-11)
Best rank: 45
Worst rank: NR

PJ Hall was a two-time All-ACC honoree at Clemson and one of just four players in college basketball to average 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game this season.

Hall has been a consistent shot blocker since becoming a starter in his sophom*ore season. During his junior season, Hall displayed the potential to stretch the floor in pick-and-pop situations. After a stellar junior season from beyond the arc (.398), Hall’s three-point efficiency declined this season (.316). Hall’s consistent foul shooting (.780) during his collegiate career offers hope that he can become a more consistent stretch-big as he showed as a junior.