[Anton1234Participant]

This is the second part of my ranking of college giants. You can find the first one at:
https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/year-of-the-college-giant-ranking-2/

So, there have been some huge news in the world of college giants!
1) Aday Mara was granted leave from his team and will now be joining UCLA for next season!
2) Zvonimir Ivisic commited to play for Kentucky. Then there was a lot of drama that he would not be eligible to play for the team, but very recently he has been made eligible. One more giant for our list.
3) Donovan Clingan is injured. Should miss at least the first month of the season. Very unfortunate.
4) I’ve looked at a bunch of sources, and Hunter Dickinson is often listed as the same exact height as Ryan Kalkbrenner; perhaps Dickinson has grown since the 2021 combine? For now he’s an addition to the list. He’s clearly not a small guy.

Some quick points:
– I am attempting to rank the best NCAA players that are 7’2’’ or taller in shoes;
– I am ranking players according to projected impact in college next season, not NBA potential.

1. Zach Edey (7’4”, 306) – reigning NPOY. Bumped his scoring average a little.
Projected numbers: 23 ppg, 13 rpg, 2.5 apg, 3 bpg, 58 FG%

2. Hunter Dickinson (7’2’’?, 260) – I think he will break out and be a candidate for NPOY. Very complete college player: dominant around the basket, can post up, great passer, can shoot threes.
Projected numbers: 20 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 apg, 1.8 bpg, 56 FG%

3. Ryan Kalkbrenner (7’2”, 252) – not quite as physically imposing as Dickinson and Edey but still one of the most dominant bigs in college.
Projected numbers: 20 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.5 bpg, 62 FG%

4. Aday Mara (7’3”, 245) – continues to be extremely polarizing. Often looked like the best player in the European U18 championship. Also, disappeared when it mattered most and was very passive. Which version of Mara is UCLA getting? Lowered his projected ppg and bpg by a bit.
Projected numbers: 14 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 apg, 2 bpg, 54 FG%

5. Donovan Clingan (7’2”, 265) – very unfortunate time to get injured. I thought he’d struggle at first in an expanded role and will now have less time to figure everything out. Slides down a spot.
Projected numbers: 12 ppg, 10 rpg, 4 bpg, 64 FG%

6. Connor Vanover (7’5”, 227, 25 years old) – 24 y.o. giant. I’ve thought about it, and I believe he will put up big numbers for Missouri, I might have underrated him a bit in pt. 1. Still stays below Clingan because Clingan will be doing his thing on a better team in games that matter more.
Projected numbers: 18 ppg, 8 rpg, 3.5 bpg, 49 FG%

7. Zvonimir Ivisic (7’2’’, 220) – thin prospect that will get a lot of PT because of the injury to Bradshaw. Like Mara, can shoot the three and score inside. Ivisic is a little smaller but is faster and more athletic. Still, quite raw and I do not imagine him to have a very long leash on this Kentucky team.
Projected numbers: 10 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 46 FG%

8. Jamarion Sharp (7’5”, listed 225 but probably heavier) – probably does not play much because of Moussa Cisse.
Projected numbers: 7 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 bpg, 65 FG%

[OhCanada-Participant]

Zvonimir Ivisic is going to destroy college basketball.

[Anton1234Participant]

You think so? What are your projections for him?

[HitsterParticipant]

I agree with Oh Canada that Isivic is going to be very impressive at UK. I don’t put much importance over his stats more how he develops as a player. He is 7ft 3 ins and can run the floor, shoot 3 pointers. With the Used Car Salesman Cal’s hype behind him I can see him being a likely lottery pick. Him and Bradshaw playing as a twin towers duo could be fun.

[Author]

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