How many centers could go in the first round 2024 NBA Draft?

The 2024 NBA draft is set to be held on Wednesday and Thursday in the upcoming week. Centers like Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan played a crucial role in their respective teams' prospects last season, and fans are eager to see where their favorite big men will land.

The first round of the NBA draft has potential five centers contending for their shots at the guaranteed contract. Here's a breakdown of their draft prospects.

Center prospects in the first round of 2024 NBA draft

#1. Donovan Clingan, UConn

After winning two back-to-back NCAA championships, Donovan Clingan has set his sights on the NBA. He is a projected top-five pick in most mock drafts. ESPN predicts Clingan to go at No. 3, while CBS Sports puts him at No. 1 due to the Atlanta Hawks' interest in the center.

In his sophomore season, Donovan Clingan averaged 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.5 blocks. He shot an impressive 63.9% from the floor. While Clingan has a restricted shooting range (25.0% from deep and 58.3 from free-throw), he is an excellent rim protector and a reliable finisher.

#2. Zach Edey, Purdue

Having won all major National Player of the Year awards, Zach Edey had his best college season in his senior year. After testing the NBA waters in 2023, where he was predicted to go undrafted, Edey returned to college and averaged a nation-high 25.2 points with 12.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 blocks.

Zach Edey shot 62.3% from the floor and 50.0 from beyond the arc in his final season in college and was one of the top big men during the NBA draft combine. He was previously predicted as a late first-round or early second-round pick but has now jumped spots.

Per the latest mock draft, Zach Edey could go at No. 16 according to ESPN and No. 12 per CBS Sports.

#3. Kyle Filipowski, Duke

In his two years at Duke, Kyle Filipowski averaged 15.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 blocks. Besides his scoring and decent shooting range, 47.3% from the floor and 31.4% from deep, Filipowski is a great playmaker. However, concerns persist about his ability to protect the rim.

ESPN predicts Kyle Filipowski to be a No. 21 pick, while CBS Sports puts him at No. 17.

#4. Yves Missi, Baylor

In his lone season with the Bears, Yves Missi averaged 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He shot 61.4% from the floor but avoided the 3-point line. Having started playing basketball late, at 16, Missi has the natural instinct for the game but needs time to hone those skills.

"Missi is a rim-running big man with impressive mobility and explosiveness as a lob threat and physical tools that could serve him down the line on the defensive end," ESPN's Jonathan Givony wrote while projecting him as a No. 22 pick.

"If his processing speed and frame continue to improve, the Cameroon native has potential as a screen-setter and rim-protector who can do a little more than that offensively."

#5. Kel'el Ware, Indiana

After a poor showing with the Oregon Ducks, Kel'el Ware transferred to Indiana, where he had his best season. Ware averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.9 blocks.

Besides his incredible rim-protecting skills, Ware has a good shooting range, having made 58.6% of his shots from the floor and 42.5% percent from the 3-point range for the Hoosiers. He is a predicted No. 24 pick on ESPN and the No. 23 pick on CBS Sports.