Athlon Sports is ranking the top ten post players in college basketball this season and Kentucky has two players on the list. Julius Randle tops the list at #1 and Willie Cauley-Stein is the 6th best post player.
1. Julius Randle, Kentucky
6-9/225, Fr.
Randle could give Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins a run for top freshman honors, though Randle may have a more complete supporting cast around him. John Calipari has described him as a “beast” who reminds him of the gritty Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
2. Mitch McGary, Michigan
6-10/255, So.
McGary was a revelation during the Wolverines’ run to the national championship game. Now, Michigan will see if those numbers can hold up through the course of a full season. With national player of the year Trey Burke gone, McGary will need to maintain his postseason form.
3. Johnny O’Bryant III, LSU
6-9/256, Jr.
O’Bryant will be one of the key cogs in what LSU hopes is its first NCAA Tournament team since 2009. O’Bryant was one of the SEC’s most dominant players in the paint on both ends of the court, averaging 13.6 points and 8.7 rebounds.
4. James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina
6-9/230, Jr.
McAdoo appeared destined for superstardom last season, but like North Carolina’s ACC aspirations, those hopes didn’t materialize. McAdoo put up respectable numbers (14.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg), but he shot only 44.5 percent from the floor. He’ll aim to improve his efficiency as a junior.
5. Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee
6-8/260, Jr.
Stokes battled through double teams last season to average 12.4 points and 9.6 rebounds, but the Volunteers forward improved down the stretch as he adjusted. He’s been one of the SEC’s elite players in the post, but the return of Jeronne Maymon may help him reach another level.
6. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
7-0/244, So.
Cauley-Stein flourished late in the season, even before the season-ending injury to Nerlens Noel. Cauley-Stein returned from a midseason injury to average 10.1 points and 7.1 rebounds in the final 12 games. He’ll be a defensive force for the Wildcats as a full-timer.
7. Isaiah Austin, Baylor
7-1/225, So.
Austin may have been disappointed that a shoulder injury prevented him from entering the NBA Draft after one season. If Austin plays with an edge, Baylor cold have one of the top frontcourts in the country.
8. Montrezl Harrell, Louisville
6-8/235, Jr.
Harrell was one of a handful of Cardinals who broke out during Louisville’s title run, starting with 20 points and seven rebound against Syracuse in the Big East tournament championship game. Louisville is moving him to center to replace Gorgui Dieng. Will it hold for the full season?
9. Alex Kirk, New Mexico
7-0/245, Jr.
Kirk returned from back surgery to be one of the keys of New Mexico’s Mountain West championship. The seven-footer averaged 12.1 points and 8.1 rebounds, but he was also a defensive force with 63 blocked shots.
10. Davante Gardner, Marquette
6-8/290, Sr.
Gardner slimmed down as a junior to become an imposing presence down low. Coming off the bench, he averaged 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 21.5 minutes. His physical play pays off as he averaged 83.5 percent on five free throws per game.
Julius Randle could be one of the best players to ever play for Kentucky.
Read Mitch McGary’s postseason run puts him near top of list by clicking here.
