High-Impact Big Men

<p>Difference-makers at the center and power forward position can be rare in the small-ball era. But, when teams can utilize one within the offense, they’re vital to a winning system. Below are six big men whose skillsets have shined throughout the season.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/gavin-mcgrath/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/gavin-mcgrath/">Gavin McGrath</a></a> - Onalaska: As Onalaska develops their case for the top team in the state, McGrath continues to flourish as their center. Onalaska has added scorers across the board, but he still musters up 6.4 points per game. Where he makes his mark is as a body down low. He disrupts paint action from opposing offenses with his 6’9” frame and lengthy wingspan, which has accounted for 2.7 blocks and 5.7 rebounds a game this season.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/j-t-seagreaves/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/j-t-seagreaves/">J.T. Seagreaves</a></a> - Monroe: Behind <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cade-meyer/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cade-meyer/">Cade Meyer</a></a>, Seagreaves has had quite the season. The sophomore forward is stretching the floor for Monroe, putting up 13.6 points a game as a switchblade scorer. His jumper continues to be deadly and versatile, while his size gives him a nice mold to fill.</p> <p>Monroe’s young core is centered around their underclassman trio, and though Seagreaves will help build the program by playing a secondary role, there’s no doubt that he’s able to take over and dominate games.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brock-heffner/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brock-heffner/">Brock Heffner</a></a> - Grafton: On a talent-laden Grafton roster, Heffner has impressed the most this season. He played just two games last season, but he’s quickly made up ground, averaging 18.1 points per game this year as the number two option on a prominent program in the state.</p> <p>What makes him a high-impact player, though, is that he’s so essential to winning, as he's averaged just 12.3 points per game in their three losses on the year. There’s a correlation between him and team success, which, at a bare minimum, makes him a high-impact prospect.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/yacouba-traore/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/yacouba-traore/">Yacouba Traore</a></a> Jr. - Madison Memorial: This season, Memorial has hung around the upper-tier in the Big Eight Conference. Their big man and leading scorer <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/yacouba-traore/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/yacouba-traore/">Yacouba Traore</a></a> Jr. is the energizer for that. He’s an X-factor for his defensive abilities. His size and defensive sense have led to high-steal games and emphatic blocks, which helps to give this Memorial team the edge to upset elite programs.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/amari-jedkins/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/amari-jedkins/">Amari Jedkins</a></a> - Racine Case: Case is a guard-heavy team, as youthful scoring guards make up the bulk of their roster. Jedkins maintains an equal dynamic with his inside prowess. In addition to his 8.9 points per game, he’s hauling in 7.5 rebounds a night and swatting away 1.1 shots, providing Case with a 6’8” defensive stalwart to compliment their backcourt.</p> <p>Although he hasn’t jumped into a primary scoring role, he’s scored over his average points per game in six of the past seven games, improving as the season goes on.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/darrien-long/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/darrien-long/">Darrien Long</a></a> - Racine Horlick: The sophomore big man may have the highest potential of anyone listed here. He’s quite clearly a high-impact player, averaging 12.1 points and 10 rebounds a night. However, it’s the non-statistical impact that warrants a spot on this list. His bounciness and dimensions at a young age foreshadow a bright future, while an improving three-point shot give him options as a position-less player.</p>