Seven Sophomore Forwards/Big Men Primed to Breakout in 2014-15

Apr 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Connecticut Huskies center

(35) defends against Kentucky Wildcats center

(44) in the first half during the championship game of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2014 NFL season kicking off in merely hours, timing hasn’t exactly proven to be my strong point in writing these College Basketball 2014-15 season preview articles.

But my transition game has been impeccable, as I’m ready to dive back into Sophomore players who’s time is now – well more like two and a half months from now – to breakout and be college hoops’ next big stars.

Last week I focused on five second-year backcourt players who are ready to take on bigger roles this upcoming season, and as promised, here are my forwards and center’s who you should start getting familiar with as they’re bound to become household names.

Once again, apologies to anyone who plays for Kentucky – and BYU’s Eric Mika – as I’m paying homage to some of the lesser known players in this column. Let’s get into it:

Austin Nichols, Forward, Memphis

9.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 59-percent FG

As a freshman, Austin Nichols learned the ultimate lesson that “life comes at you fast, bruh,” starting in all 34 of the Tigers games despite playing for a team with six seniors on its roster. The #15-ranked high school senior had his fair share of ups-and-downs during his rookie season, but finished on a high note scoring double-digits in seven of Memphis’ last nine games of the season, including a 15 point effort in their season-ending loss at the hands of Virginia.  Head coach Josh Pastner will be relying heavily on Nichols and Junior Shaq Goodwin this season, which gives them a big who can bang (Goodwin) and a big who’s efficient scoring the ball facing up as Nichols shot 59-percent from the field last season despite mainly avoiding the interior.

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Chris Walker, Florida, Forward

1.9 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 59-percent FG

It’s hard to argue that not being able to enroll at Florida until last December due to academic issues helped Chris Walker, but looking at last year’s roster, maybe being able to sit back, learn, and get his weight up will help Walker be the break out player I have him penned to be for his Sophomore season. Already registering 25 pounds heavier than he was as a senior in high school – photo evidence – Walker’s preparing to take on some of UF legend Patric Young’s role as an enforcer, and considering how much longer and more athletic Walker is than Young, if he can get a better feel for the game he could be one of the best big men in a conference loaded with them.

Bobby Portis, Arkansas, Forward

12.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 1.0 SPG

In his Freshman year at Arkansas, Bobby Portis showed that he was pretty much capable of doing everything. At 6-foot-10, the 16-ranked senior in the High School class of 2013 can get up and down the floor better than most his size, has quick hands, an above average perimeter game for a big, is a good passer, and absolutely knows how to use his length to his advantage. My biggest knock on Portis is that he seemed very fatigued down the stretch of last season, shooting the ball well below his season average and looking less aggressive than he did out of the gate, but I have to imagine that a year of experience and an offseason of working on his game and his body will help him come out and make Arkansas a team worth keeping an eye on this season.

Jordan Mickey, LSU, Forward

12.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.1 BPG

Remember how I said the SEC is loaded with bigs? I almost feel bad putting Jordan Mickey on this list because he was an absolute monster last season, but unless you’re Florida or Kentucky, it’s hard out here for an SEC standout to get proper attention (hence my Arkansas love fest in this column). Mickey joined the likes of Shaquille O’Neal last season by being the second Tiger in school history to record 100 blocks in a season, as he led the conference with 3.1 blocks per game. After being the teams second leading scorer his first season, the departure of Johnny O’Bryant will open up more scoring opportunities for the ultra athletic big man, who could wind up contending for National Player of the Year as he tries to return LSU to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009.

Moses Kingsley, Arkansas, Center

4.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.5 BPG

This is where I once again apologize to Eric Mika, who should have a stellar season and maybe even win WCC Player of the Year, but I can’t ignore a player who put up Per-40 averages of 14.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG, and 5.3 BPG (!!!) in Arkansas Sophomore Moses Kingsley. In just 11.5 minutes per game, Kingsley finished seventh in the SEC in blocks per game, and with Coty Clarke graduated and Kingsley as the only true center returning from last year, I think he’ll be the perfect complement to Portis in the front court this season. I’m not expecting much on the offensive end from the 6-foot-10 and growing big, but he has a great chance at leading the nation in blocked shots if he can stay out of foul trouble.

Kennedy Meeks, North Carolina, Forward/Center

7.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 55-percent FG

Down 45 pounds and counting – again, photo evidence – there’s no reason that Kennedy Meeks shouldn’t be able to live up to everything Roy Williams was expecting when he landed the 59-ranked player in the High School class of 2013. In just 16.3 minutes per game as a Freshman, Meeks averaged 7.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 55-percent from the field, all numbers which were more than likely scaled back by his lack of stamina and conditioning. I don’t want to jump to lazy Sean May comparisons because both guys are…festively plump…but comparing advanced stats at the same age shows that Meeks had a better rebound rate, was more effective on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, and was far more efficient shooting the ball, in less minutes. It’ll be interesting to say the least to see if shedding weight helps Meeks have the season so many basketball pundits are expecting, or if it’s just been a scapegoat.

Amida Brimah, Connecticut, Center

4.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.3 BPG

Sim simma, who got the keys to my Brimah…alright now that I got that out of the way, despite spending the summer rehabbing from surgery on his left shoulder, Sophomore Amida Brimah of the defending champion UConn Huskies is having a great summer preparing for a bigger role for this upcoming season. According to coach Kevin Ollie “his development and how he pushes himself is something I’ve never seen. He’s remarkable when it comes to that,” which is scary considering he had the second most blocks in the AAC last season despite averaging just 16.2 minutes per game. I’d have to imagine that a fully healthy Brimah sees more minutes in his second season, and that in more minutes he doesn’t just put up bigger numbers, but his defensive impact is felt on a larger level, making UConn a dangerous team yet again.