NCAA Basketball: Analyzing 2021 5-star C Charles Bediako’s top 10 teams
By Ian Mumm
Baylor Bears
As one of the most successful teams in 2019, Baylor is right in Bediako’s wheelhouse defensively. The Bears were fringe top-50 teams in both steals and blocks, while also being a top-10 team in points per game allowed. Scott Drew had a lot of roster depth across the board, but used a very small frontcourt rotation especially at the center spot.
Despite losing starter Freddie Gillespie to graduation this offseason, Drew still has considerable depth with Tristan Clark and incoming freshman Dain Dainja and Zach Loveday. While the rotation will sort itself out in 2020 amongst these players, the depth of developed guards on the roster will likely keep several of these centers on the 2021 roster when Bediako would join the team. Although he offers safe offensive upside for Baylor, his contributions are unlikely to be significant given the rotation to fight through.
His best assets as a rebounder and shot blocker are the likely way he sees the majority of minutes at center. The Bears were not a strong defensive rebounding team at all in 2019 and could have been a much more dominant team had they performed better in this area.