Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | June 27, 2005
The center position remains the one in the NBA Draft most dominated by non-collegians. Last year, of the seven centers taken, only three played NCAA basketball. This year, there are a few more NCAA prospects, but again many of the centers taken will be international prospects and New Jersey high schooler Andrew Bynum could be one of the top players selected.
Sonics Outlook: The Sonics went for a center last year, selecting 
Robert Swift from Bakersfield High School with the 12th pick. Swift progressed as expected and will challenge for a spot in the rotation next season, but he's the only pure center under contract to the Sonics (
Nick Collison and 
Danny Fortson can also play the position). As a result, center is still a position the Sonics could look at. Even with Swift, don't rule out the Sonics bringing in another youngster. "If there's a big guy there, we'll look at it, absolutely," said GM Rick Sund last week.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 7-0, 250
College: Utah
The skinny: Bogut's decision to return for a second year at Utah instead of entering the draft last year or playing overseas has to go down as one of the best ever. Considered a mid-first round prospect a year ago after averaging 12.5 points and 9.9 rebounds as a freshman, Bogut built momentum with a strong performance for the Australian National Team in the Olympics and continued it with a monster sophomore season. Bogut averaged 20.4 points per game, 12.2 rebounds per game (second-best in the NCAA) and shot 62.0% from the field while leading Utah to the Sweet Sixteen. Bogut boasts European-style skills (he's of Croatian heritage), including great passing ability (2.3 assists per game) and the best hands of any 7-footer to enter the NBA since one-time UW center Todd MacCulloch. He's also plenty willing to bang in the paint, as the rebound average evidences. Widely expected to be the top pick tomorrow by Milwaukee, Bogut certainly won't last past the second pick.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 7-0, 285
High School: St. Joseph's
The skinny: A year ago, the fastest-rising player on draft boards around the NBA was a relatively little-known high school center - Swift - who ended up going in the lottery. This year, a similar story could be told about Bynum. A surprise entry in the draft in the first place after committing to UConn, the 7-footer has impressed teams in workouts with his skill level for his size. He did enough to stay in the draft and is now considered a probable lottery pick. Rumors are flying about teams like the Blazers and Lakers looking at Bynum depending on whether various deals go through.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-11, 245
College: Arizona
The skinny: A mid- to late-first-rounder at the start of the draft process, Frye now looks like a likely lottery pick. It's tough to say exactly what's changed; teams got plenty of chances to check out Frye during his four-year career at Arizona. A four-year starter, Frye averaged 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds as a senior and was First Team All-Pac-10 as both a junior and senior. But Frye's toughness was always questionable in college and he didn't dominate the Pac-10 the way a player of his size and skill perhaps could have, instead floating for long stretches of games. Frye is a fine shot-blocker (2.3 bpg as a senior) with good touch down low, but he'll have to improve his rebounding to avoid being a liability.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-10, 235
College: UConn
The skinny: Another apparent recent climber is Villanueva, who now has the potential to go in the lottery. A highly-touted high school teammate of Luol Deng, Villanueva came off the bench after getting eligible for UConn as a freshman. His sophomore numbers as a starter (13.6 points, 8.3 rebounds per game) don't leap off the page, but Villanueva really seemed to put it together over the last 10 games of the season, averaging 18.2 points and 9.7 rebounds as the Huskies surged in Big East conference play. Villanueva has all the athletic talent, but the mental part of his game has been questioned at times.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 7-3, 230
From: Lithuania
The skinny: Andriuskevicius pulled out of last year's draft without a firm commitment and was the early favorite (along with Chris Taft) to be the first pick in this year's draft. That hype has died down considerably (as it has for Taft), but Andriuskevicius should still be a first-round pick. In terms of potential, Andriuskevicius is right there with anyone. At 7-3, he has the budding skills of a power forward to shoot and put the ball on the floor. In three or four years, Andriuskevicius could easily be a stud. But teams have been scared off by past European big men who failed to live up to the hype, and that will hurt Andriuskevicius. Teams will almost certainly have to be patient with the Lithuanian and can't expect instant results or anything approaching them.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 7-1, 230
.From: Bosnia-Herzegovina
The skinny: Ilic's decision to stay in this year's draft as a 20-year-old came as something of a surprise and may indicate he's gotten some positive feedback from NBA teams. At a mobile 7-1, Ilic has the potential to become a quality player. His ceiling is not as high as Andriuskevicius', but he's also closer to helping an NBA team. Playing in the Adriatic League for BC Reflex, Ilic averaged 7.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season, shooting an impressive 67.8% from the field. He could eventually become a fine shot blocker thanks to his height and ability to get off the ground.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 7-0, 245
From: France
The skinny: The third foreigner likely to go in the first round, Petro is a 7-footer from France. He's spent the last two seasons playing for Pau Orthez, one of the most prestigious teams in France. Last year, Petro averaged 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds in French League action. At 260 pounds, Petro has much better size than many international center prospects, but is still reportedly a solid athlete. That combination will be intriguing for teams picking in the second half of the first round, but Petro too is some ways away from contributing.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-10, 265
College: Kentucky
The skinny: It was not fun to be an opponent of the Atlanta Celtics a couple of summers ago. The AAU team combined eventual 2004 number one overall pick Dwight Howard with fellow first-rounder Josh Smith. Rounding out the NBA prospects for the national AAU Champions was Morris, a possible first-round pick this year. Morris spent one season at Kentucky, where he averaged 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Morris is probably physically ready to play in the NBA, but he's another player who didn't dominate as expected at the NCAA level. Foul trouble was an issue and Morris was a weak rebounder for a center. But he did do a good job of getting to the free-throw line and played well in the NCAA Tournament.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-10, 240
College: Slovenia
The skinny: When Lorbek declared for the draft after his one season at Michigan State, where he averaged 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, it was something of a joke. After returning to Europe and spending two years with Skipper Bologna, Lorbek is legit. He averaged 9.2 points and 4.9 rebounds on 58% shooting in Euroleague play, winning the "Rising Star" trophy as the best player under 22. Still only 21, Lorbek has solid potential and isn't that far away from contributing. Capable of playing four or five, Lorbek will probably go in the second round but could sneak into the first.
NBA.com profile
The measurements: 6-10, 270
From: Brazil
The skinny: "The biggest sleeper on draft night could be Brazilian Lucas Tischer, a 6-foot-10, 270-pound big man who has tested off the charts athletically in workouts," ESPN Insider's Chad Ford wrote this morning. Tischer has the size to be a force in the paint and is still a good athlete, but his skills are not up to par, particularly on the offensive end of the court. A lot of teams aren't looking for much offense from their centers, however, and will be willing to let Tischer grow into his game at that end of the court. Tischer will likely go in the second round, but the possibility that he sneaks into the first round can't be ruled out.
Deji Akindele, Chicago State - Mid-Continent Conference Defensive Player of the Year; averaged 2.5 bpg.
Marcin Gortat, Poland - Limited basketball experience, particularly at high level, but fine shot-blocker who could develop quickly.
Jared Homan, Iowa State - Averaged 8.7 rebounds and Big 12-leading 2.1 blocks per game as senior; earned All-Tournament honors at Portmouth Pre-Draft Camp.
Dwayne Jones, St. Joe's - A-10 Defensive Player of the Year; ranked fifth in D-I with 11.6 rpg and 3.0 bpg.
Uros Slokar, Slovenia- 2002 Slovenian League Rookie of the Year has spent last two seasons playing for prestigious Benetton Treviso.
