Duke’s Dereck Lively, UCLA’s Adem Bona highlight Sports Illustrated’s top centers for 2022
Now that we’ve formally launched the SI99 Hoops rankings for 2022, we’ve begun to take a deeper dive into the prospects at every place.
In the present day we analyze the lads within the center and highlight what makes them particular.
1. Dereck Energetic, Westtown Faculty (West Chester, Penn.)
Faculty: Duke
What Makes Him Particular: At 7-feet tall, Energetic is a human shot eraser/changer on the defensive finish. This summer season he led the celebrated Nike EYBL in blocks, swatting away 5 a sport, and might single-handedly management the paint and alter a workforce’s offensive assault by his presence alone. Offensively, he’s wildly versatile with the flexibility to step out and effectively pulling down perimeter photographs whereas managing his customary paint dominance. Energetic dominance on each ends of the ground helped Staff Remaining (Penn.) seize the coveted Nike Peach Jam title in July.
2. Kyle Filipowski, Wilbraham (Mass.) and Monson Academy
Faculty: Duke
What Makes Him Particular: Filipowski is a matchup nightmare due to his versatility. At 6’10”, he’s tremendous agile with the flexibility to deal with the ball like a guard, effectively knock down perimeter leap photographs, defend the rim and rebound. Filipowski’s imaginative and prescient and precision as a passer is outstanding and he performs with a aggressive edge that turns into infectious and is the right complement within the paint as a result of he’s able to dominating in a number of methods. This previous summer season in Nike EYBL play, Filipowski averaged 13 factors, 8.2 rebounds and three.8 assists, whereas capturing 58.3 % from the sphere.
3. Vincent Iwuchukwu, Montverde (Fla.) Academy
Faculty: USC
What Makes Him Particular:
Iwuchukwu is a workhorse within the paint with uncooked athletic capacity and a constantly rising talent set. He’s all the time lively on each ends of the ground, ending with each arms effectively on the offensive finish and has the flexibility to step out and knock down perimeter leap photographs. This summer season, Iwuchukwu averaged 15.8 factors, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks a sport within the Nike EYBL whereas operating with Drive Nation (Texas).
4. Adem Bona, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.)
Faculty: UCLA
What Makes Him Particular: Bona is a brute, powerful large with nice arms and footwork from his background in soccer in his native nation of Nigeria. Bona is extraordinarily cell, finishes performs with authority on the rim and has a nostril for the ball on the offensive and defensive glass. This summer season, Bona averaged 11.4 factors, 11.2 rebounds and three.4 blocks whereas operating with Staff WhyNot within the Nike EYBL.
5. Tarris Reed, Hyperlink Prep (Branson, Mo.)
Faculty: Michigan
What Makes Him Particular: Reed is a flexible large with the flexibility to affect the sport on the offensive in any respect three ranges. Reed does most of his harm within the paint however retains the protection off stability along with his capacity to beat his defender off the dribble. Reed averaged 14 factors and 7 rebounds a sport for Mokan Elite (Mo.) this summer season within the Nike EYBL.
