NCAA Basketball: Top 30 frontcourt players for 2021-22 season
By Ian Mumm
26. Jayden Gardner, Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia lost many of their top frontcourt pieces this offseason, both to graduation and the NBA. They desperately needed reinforcements in those areas to reload prior to this year and were fortunate to land former East Carolina forward Jayden Gardner. Over his career, the 6’7” senior has averaged 18.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game providing some hope of an immediate contributor to Hoo Nation.
Gardner will help Virginia’s prospects of putting points on the board, but the Cavaliers are known for low-scoring, heavyweight battles thanks to their defensive style. Their newest addition was already an above-average defensive player in his own right and coupled with the team’s philosophy will seamlessly fit in as one of the key contributors next year.
25. Osun Osunniyi, St. Bonaventure Bonnies
St. Bonaventure has a very senior-laden roster this season and is deservedly receiving lots of preseason attention both in the A-10, but also as an NCAA Tournament sleeper. While there is plenty of guard talent to help propel the team to meet those heights, there is equal pressure on big man Osun Osunniyi to continue his productive ways in 2021-22. Seeing as that’s all he’s done since stepping on campus three years ago, it’s highly likely we see another strong year from the 6’10” center.
Osunniyi has been ulta-reliable in the paint for the Bonnies and has accumulated a career .586 FG%. Only five other players have been able to match his offensive scoring efficiency combined with the sheer number of minutes the senior has played between 2019-2021. To take it a step further, the Bonnies have been able to drastically benefit from Osuniyi’s defensive production as well.
He is one of four players since 2010 to tally 2300+ minutes, the same FG%, and produce at least 2.7 blocks per game over a three-year span. St. Bonaventure’s success could very well depend on the center’s production this year.