Fantasy Centers: Combo Players are the Best
by Rick Young
Center is the position you have to have to win it all. Well not anymore! The player you want in today’s game can do more than dunk and shoot from the limited two – foot range of past centers. Today’s game requires multi-dimensional skills like shooting, rebounding and shot blocking skills. Most of the best centers in college basketball, really aren’t centers, although there teams are listed them as such. In the NBA they would be power forwards, in fantasy play they are the beloved Forward/Center combo player, a great plus for any team in that it gives the coach more options in it’s weekly lineups. You can go with your “big” lineup or your “small” lineup, depending on your centers and their capabilities. Preseason top four centers was just that, centers. Current top ten is entrenched with combo centers types.
Top 10 Pre-Conference Centers:
1. Emeka Okafor, Sophomore Forward/Center – No. 6 Ranked Connecticut
2. Chris Kaman, Junior Center – Central Michigan
3. Robert Battle, Senior Center – Drexel
4. James Singleton, Senior Forward/Center – Murray State
5. Nate Williams, Junior Forward/Center – Georgia State
6. Travis Watson, Senior Forward/Center – Virginia
7. Ike Diogu, Freshman Forward/Center – Arizona State
8. Adam Sonn, Senior Center – Belmont
9. Michael Southall, Sophomore Forward/Center – Louisiana-Lafayette
10. David Harrison, Sophomore Center – Colorado
Okafor is an awesome shot blocker, but with added scoring he’d been an unstoppable fantasy player. As you could see, six of the top ten centers are forward/center types. If you don’t have one, better find you one quick. Make a trade, do anything to improve your team for this year and the next.
If you have any input or would like some assistance, please contact me and let me know what would be helpful in future columns.
Keep working for that fantasy championship ring!
