Ranking the 10 best center prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft
By Rowan Kent
Center #9: Charles Bediako, Alabama
It’s indicative of this draft class’s relative depth at center that a player like Charles Bediako, who wasn’t selected to go to the NBA draft combine, could still be in play for teams. Even though he wouldn’t be on radars to be drafted in most years, there’s enough that he brings to the table for teams to consider this year.
Bediako came to Tuscaloosa as a five-star center, but has found himself overshadowed by the other young stars and perimeter studs at Alabama. Even though he isn’t putting up dominant numbers on the inside, Bediako started almost every game over the past two years and was a solid presence in the middle for the Crimson Tide:
One of the big takeaways from Alabama's win over Mississippi State was Charles Bediako's defense anchoring performance.
— ShotQuality (@Shot_Quality) December 30, 2022
Based on the shots taken, Tolu Smith was expected to score 10 more points, but repeatedly failed to beat Bediako in the post. pic.twitter.com/iGtsEuFuD3
The appeal of Bediako would be that he’s a massive human being, has some good defensive instincts, and wasn’t able to flash or develop all of his skills at Alabama. If that’s true, he may be worth a late second-round flier for a team. Otherwise, a two-way contract or summer league appearance could get him into the league.