Big 12 Basketball: Top 15 impact players from 2020 recruiting class

8. Kansas State Wildcats: Davion Bradford

The second of the two Kansas State Basketball entries is ranked 136 nationally and 19 at his position. 7’0 260 pound Davion Bradford is going to solve a glaring problem the Coach Bruce Weber had in 2019-20. Coach Weber had 6’9, 228-pound senior Makol Mawion averaging over seven points on six field-goal attempts per game. Bradford is going to bring a different dynamic to the post position in Coach Weber’s offense.

By no means is Bradford as physical as you would want a seven-footer to be, but he is always around the basketball whether he is looking for offensive or defensive rebounds. Attacking the boards will be welcomed by the ninth-best rebounding team in the conference, but on offense is where he will make his greatest impact.

Weber had Mawion set weak side screens then hit the opposite block when the ball is swung to the wing. A lot of the Wildcats offense was to attack off the dribble once the ball is swung if there was no penetration, then there was the kickback to Mawion at the high post. Bradford hits that shot regularly, and Weber can have Bradford extend to the perimeter to open up the key even more.

Aside from being able to knock down shots, Bradford runs the open court very well for easy baskets, and despite not being physical in the paint, his drop step right and into the middle is very effective.  He is a second-tier center for he will make a bigger impact than the ones already discussed and may even challenge for the All-Freshman team as there is just one more center to discuss.