The guards and wings in college basketball have deservedly garnered a lot of ink this season. Let’s take a moment to evaluate five of the top big men that I have seen this season, beginning with Kansas’ Flory Bidunga, who is on a meteoritic rise up the charts.
Flory Bidunga (Kansas)
Power Forward, 6-10, 235 pounds, Sophomore (Kokomo, Ind.)
Statistics per game – 31.4 minutes, 9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.8 blocks
One could argue that Flory Bidunga is the most important player for the top ranked Jayhawks. He is a formidable athletic and energetic presence all over the court. He is capable defending all positions while also out rebounding larger opponents. An elite finisher at the rim, Bidunga is also adept at attacking the basket off the dribble. And In the pick and roll, he is a complete terror. Full of upside, Bidunga will become even more of a lethal threat as his shooting range improves.
Alex Condon (Florida)
Power Forward, 6-11, 230 pounds, Junior (NBA Global Academy Perth)
Statistics per game – 30.4 minutes, 13.4 points, 8 rebounds, 3.7 assists; 1.5 blocks
The Gators start three NBA level big men, and they all have distinguished themselves on the court including Alex Condon. At 6-11, Condon can play the four and the five with both skill and power. A highly reliable scorer inside the arc, he is also a surprisingly adept passer, logging 3.7 assists per game. A versatile defender, Condon is difficult to score over especially in the paint. He serves as a multifaceted anchor for the top 20 ranked Gators, who are finding their stride down the stretch.
Motiejus Krivas (Arizona)
Center, 7-2, 260 pounds, Junior (Siaulia, Lithuania)
Statistics per game – 24 minutes; 11.1 points; 8.6 rebounds; 1.1 assists; 2 blocks
Possessing formidable size, Motiejus Krivas can play both the power game and the finesse game for the Wildcats, who have a legit chance to win their second NCAA title. He is an efficient scorer at 60 percent from the field and has the potential to be a stretch shooter at the next level. There is an impressive fluidity to his game for a player of his size. His rebounding numbers are especially impressive when accounting for only 24 minutes per game. Defensively, he is tough to score over and also has scorers looking over their shoulder for him.
Aday Mara (Michigan)
Center, 7-3, 255 pounds, Junior (Zaragoza, Spain)
Statistics per game – 22.6 minutes; 6.9 rebounds; 2.2 assists; 2.7 blocks
Michigan only has one loss and is sitting at No. 2 in the national rankings, and a big, big reason is the play of big man Aday Mara. His largest contribution is his mobile defense and rim protection. Comfortable in perimeter screening action defensively, Mara is also an elite rim protector with the third highest blocks per game percentage in the country. Offensively, he supplements the Wolverines with efficient scoring at 66.7 percent from the field, while also being comfortable with the basketball as a distributor. An area for improvement is his 49 percent free throw shooting.
Henri Veesaar (North Carolina)
Center, 7-0, 225 pounds, Junior (Tallin, Estonia)
Statistics per game – 31 minutes; 16.4 points; 9 rebounds; 2 assists; 1.2 blocks
The play of Henri Veesaar has been critical for the top 15 ranked Tar Heels this season. Providing both inside and outside scoring, he is the second leading scorer for the squad and has the top field goal percentage. His 45 percent 3-point shooting has provided ample of space for his talented teammates. Having come through in big moments for North Carolina, Veesaar has a ton of upside with his length and versatile scoring. A finesse player, Veesaar is still a top rebounder. His defense should improve as he gains strength.
Editor’s Pick
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