NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 8 teams in play for 2023 big Xavier Booker

6. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes lost a lot of frontcourt production this offseason, including All-Big Ten forward E.J. Liddell. That leaves Zed Key, a rising junior big man to start at the five-spot. He’s joined by four-star freshman, Felix Okpara, for next season. But making matters more complex is that the team already has a four-star commitment in the 2023 class in Austin Parks.

It’s not that Booker can’t compete with these guys if he chooses Ohio State but there are simply options that make more sense, especially among the Big Ten options. But it does make sense that after two years of focusing on reloading the backcourt, they now work to add multiple bigs in the 2023 class. Yet it’ll probably be better to add a combo forward/power forward instead of another center, particularly if Key ends up being a four-year player.

5. Gonzaga Bulldogs

The Bulldogs are in the same spot as Oregon as a west coast longshot but their program is in a little better shape overall. That’s thanks in part to the great work with the big men, with returning All-American center Drew Timme as the latest example. He’s likely gone after next season but the team did land Efton Reid, a former five-star recruit and transfer from LSU.

At the WCC level, Booker and Reid could play together in the frontcourt, with the recruit playing as a power forward. But there are several top-60 underclassmen prospects such as Kaden Perry, Braden Huff, and Ben Gregg also in contention. There’s a lot for Gonzaga to offer Booker but depending on what happens, may have the least likely path to a starting gig among the eight contenders.