2028 NBA Draft Center Rankings: The Early Top Big Men
Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje of Duke is the early favorite to be the first center taken in the 2028 NBA draft. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo has called the 7-footer, born in 2009, the clear front-runner for the No. 1 pick in that class. Behind him, the best 2028 centers are still in high school: Lewis Uvwo, Darius Wabbington, Paul Osaruyi and Isaiah Hill lead the class of 2027. No outlet has published a full 2028 mock draft yet, so this ranking is built from ESPN’s early watch list and the national recruiting rankings.
2028 NBA draft centers at a glance
| Early No. 1 center | Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje, Duke, listed 7’0″ to 7’2″ |
|---|---|
| Top high school center | Lewis Uvwo, Prolific Prep, 6’11” |
| Tallest | Cherif Millogo, listed 7’4″ |
| Who is eligible | Players born in 2009 or earlier; mainly the high school class of 2027 |
| Published 2028 mock drafts | None yet |
| Rankings used | ESPN, 247Sports, On3/Rivals |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Who is in the 2028 NBA draft class?
A player has to turn 19 in the calendar year of the draft, and American players must be a year removed from high school. So the 2028 class is mostly today’s high school seniors, the class of 2027, plus international players born in 2009.
Two things make this list unusual. First, the best prospect is already in college: Boumtje-Boumtje skipped a year of high school to enroll at Duke at 17, but his age keeps him out of the 2027 draft. Second, several of the top class of 2027 big men did the opposite and moved up a year. Obinna Ekezie Jr. (Louisville), Theo Edema (St. John’s), Caleb Ourigou (Arkansas) and TJ St. Louis (Alabama) are all in college now and belong to the 2027 draft instead.
2028 NBA draft center rankings
| Rank | Player | Height | 2026-27 team | College | 247Sports | On3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje | 7’0″ to 7’2″ | Duke (freshman) | Duke | Reclassified | Reclassified |
| 2 | Lewis Uvwo | 6’11” | Prolific Prep (FL) | Uncommitted | 7 | 7 |
| 3 | Darius Wabbington | 6’11” | Sunnyslope HS (AZ) | Indiana | 12 | 13 |
| 4 | Paul Osaruyi | 6’9″ to 6’10” | Bella Vista Prep (AZ) | Uncommitted | 18 | 20 |
| 5 | Isaiah Hill | 7’0″ | Pike HS (IN) | Purdue | 22 | 17 |
| 6 | Kamsi Awaka | 6’10” | Blair Academy (NJ) | Florida | 41 | 40 |
| 7 | Cherif Millogo | 7’4″ | St. Francis HS (CA) | Uncommitted | 44 | 37 |
Boumtje-Boumtje is first on ESPN’s early evaluation. The high school players are ordered by the average of their 247Sports and On3 national rankings, read on 9 October 2026. Awaka and Millogo are tied on that average.
1. Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje, Duke
Boumtje-Boumtje was born on 30 May 2009 and came through FC Barcelona’s youth system before enrolling at Duke. He was the Most Valuable Player of the FIBA U17 World Cup, where he averaged 19.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks and made 53.1% of his three-pointers, according to NBADraft.net.
- What scouts like: ESPN’s Jeremy Woo credits him with rare perimeter skill for a 7-footer, plus defensive instincts.
- What they doubt: he can settle for jump shots, he needs strength, and he is playing college basketball at 17.
- Height: Duke lists 7’2″; other sources say 6’11” or 7’0″.
2. Lewis Uvwo, Prolific Prep
Uvwo is the top-ranked center in the class of 2027 at ESPN and 247Sports. He is 6’11” with a reported 7’7″ wingspan, and he blocked 6.0 shots a game at Nike’s Peach Jam. He was also the Defensive Player of the Year on the EYBL 17U circuit. The video above shows his Peach Jam.
- What scouts like: elite shot blocking, rebounding and finishing lobs. ESPN’s Paul Biancardi says he embraces the dirty work.
- What they doubt: his offense. Sports Illustrated notes he has played organized basketball for less than three years and scores mostly on dunks and putbacks.
- Recruitment: uncommitted, with interest from Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, BYU and Arkansas.
3. Darius Wabbington, Sunnyslope
Wabbington, 6’11” and about 255 pounds, committed to Indiana on 6 October 2026. He averaged 17.2 points and 9.4 rebounds as a junior and won silver with the United States at the 2026 FIBA U18 AmeriCup. NBADraft.net praises his passing, touch and physical post play, and questions his length and athleticism against top competition.
4 and 5: Paul Osaruyi and Isaiah Hill
- Paul Osaruyi, Bella Vista Prep: a Canadian big man listed between 6’8″ and 6’10” with a wingspan over 7’2″. NBADraft.net describes a fast-twitch athlete with a strong post game and a good handle for his size, and marks him down for shot selection and fouls.
- Isaiah Hill, Pike High School: a 7-footer with a reported 7’5″ wingspan who committed to Purdue in May 2026. He averaged 12.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks as a junior. ESPN had him eighth in the class when he committed.
6 and 7: Kamsi Awaka and Cherif Millogo
- Kamsi Awaka, Blair Academy: a 6’10”, 250-pound center who committed to Florida in October 2026. He is known for rebounding, screening and shot blocking.
- Cherif Millogo, St. Francis: the tallest player in the class at 7’4″. He averaged 24.7 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.3 blocks last season. His national ranking is modest for now, but nobody else on this list has his size. Read our Cherif Millogo scouting report.
Forwards who could play center
Two of the best big men in the class are listed as power forwards. C.J. Rosser of Southeastern Prep, 6’10” and ranked second nationally by both 247Sports and On3, is a shooter and athlete who has been compared by ESPN to Jabari Smith Jr. Kager Knueppel, a 6’9″ Duke commit, made 50.7% of his three-pointers on the EYBL circuit. Neither is a true center today, but NBA teams move players like them to the five all the time.
Why the 2028 rankings will change
Three reasons. Reclassification is common: several class of 2027 big men have already moved up a year. No outlet has published a 2028 mock draft, so there is no consensus to measure against. And the players one year younger are very good: Yann Kamagate, Bamba Touray and Dylan Betts are in the class of 2028 and cannot be drafted until 2029 unless they reclassify. They are on our list of the tallest high school players in America.
Related lists: tallest NBA players in 2026-27, tallest college basketball players and tallest high school players in America.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best center in the 2028 NBA draft?
Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje of Duke is the early favorite. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo called him the clear front-runner for the No. 1 pick in the 2028 class. Among high school players, Lewis Uvwo of Prolific Prep is the top-ranked center.
Who is eligible for the 2028 NBA draft?
Players who turn 19 in 2028, which means anyone born in 2009 or earlier. American players must also be one year removed from high school, so the high school class of 2027 becomes eligible in 2028.
Is Cherif Millogo in the 2028 NBA draft?
He can be. Millogo is in the high school class of 2027, so 2028 is the first draft he can enter.
Why is Yann Kamagate not on this list?
Kamagate is in the high school class of 2028, so the first NBA draft he can enter is 2029, unless he reclassifies.
Track the 7-footers in this class
Boumtje-Boumtje, Hill, Wabbington and Millogo are in our database of young 7-footers, along with every other high school and college player we can find at 7’0″ or taller.
Sources: ESPN (Jeremy Woo and Paul Biancardi), 247Sports, On3, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, Arizona Sports, theScore and Roundtable. These are high school athletes; we report basketball facts only. Last checked 9 October 2026.