Oregon Basketball: Projected starting 5 after Quincy Guerrier transfer

Oregon had two potential first-round draft prospects heading into the 2020-21 season. Will Richardson was one and N’Faly Dante was the other.

The former five-star center had a quiet freshman season in just 12 games, averaging 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds but he was expected to make a big leap as a sophomore. He was unfortunately injured early on, cutting his season short to just six games. He did average 8.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in six games and he should be primed to have an even bigger third season.

Assuming he’s healthy, Dante is the Ducks’ best option at center but even if he’s not 100 percent by the start of the season, Franck Kepnang showed promise and Nathan Bittle is a five-star freshman.

Dante is 6-11 and 230 pounds and he looks like a future NBA big man as long as he can continue to dominate in the post with his 63 percent shooting rate.

While the NBA is moving away from big men who can’t shoot, Dante fits the old-school mold and there will be a place for him at the next level after he dominates in 2020-21 at center for the Ducks.