Chris Cenac Jr., Houston - 2026 NBA Draft - Future up in the air

[Caneman786]

LINK TO DIRECTORY OF ALL PLAYERS

Chris Cenac Jr. is a freshman at the University of Houston who is the starting center for the Houston Cougars.

His freshman season just ended in a heartbreaking loss to the 3 seed Illinois Fighting Illini, who upset the 2 seeded Cougars in the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA tournament. The Cougars ended their season with a record of 30-7.

During the season, Cenac Jr. played in all 37 of the Cougars' games, averaging 9.5 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game in 24.8 minutes a night. However, this may be seen as underwhelming, if you look into his expectations.

Standing at 6' 11" tall and weighing 240 pounds, Cenac Jr. initially came into Houston expected to be the clear-cut best freshman on the team. Hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, he was ranked #6 in his high school class. He was expected to be a top ten pick in this year's draft, very easily in the lottery. However, he fell down the draft boards as the season progressed, and by mid-season, was seen as a late first round pick. He has remained there since then.

At this point, it's looking like he may even return to college next year to take advantage of the 2027 NBA Draft and its projected weak draft class. What do you all think will happen?

The poll runs for the next 20 days.

Ranking History:
Ranked #10 on August 30
Ranked #6 on November 2
Ranked #20 on January 5
Ranked #27 on January 17
Ranked #28 on February 21
Ranked #26 on February 27
Ranked #26 on March 18
Ranked #26 on March 26

[BigGargamel]

Definitely needs another year. The only reason someone would take him in the first round would be his 5 star pedigree. I wouldn't take him over the sophomore and junior centers that could declare.

Talented enough to make a lottery push next year. Needs to show more offensive consistency, and that he can be more than a big role player. He got the minutes all year, but did not do a whole lot with them.

[RookieStar]

He really 6'11?

Probably camera angle but he looks shorter than that against those Illi Euro Alliance players. How tall were those bigs of Illi?

[King Ken]

He would be a top 10 pick next year

[Caneman786]

He really 6'11?

Probably camera angle but he looks shorter than that against those Illi Euro Alliance players. How tall were those bigs of Illi?

The Ivisic brothers are really tall.

Tomislav is listed at 7' 1" and Zvonimir is listed at 7' 2".

[RookieStar]

He really 6'11?

Probably camera angle but he looks shorter than that against those Illi Euro Alliance players. How tall were those bigs of Illi?

The Ivisic brothers are really tall.

Tomislav is listed at 7' 1" and Zvonimir is listed at 7' 2".

Ah yeah no wonder...

[Chuck Everett]

A guy his size who seems afraid to mix it up around the rim and score around the basket, isn't worth much to me. His shooting fell off a cliff against Houston's best opponents (Illinois, Arizona, Tennessee, Iowa State) and while he can rebound, he's poor in rotation against smaller defenders. He's a pure PF archetype, that would be in hell if he had to play center at the NBA level. Just not tough enough down there for the bigs like that. I actually believe he has high bust potential regardless of where he's selected. Other than challenging his manhood, I'm not sure what else will get him to play to his size.

As with anything, even if you're drafting on potential, what does he currently do above average besides defensive rebound?

[moss_is_1]

My first thoughts when I watched him is that he's pretty soft. Reminded me of Christian Wood, looks the part but then he plays and you wonder why he's not producing.

[BlazersBroncos]

My first thoughts when I watched him is that he's pretty soft. Reminded me of Christian Wood, looks the part but then he plays and you wonder why he's not producing.

Reminds me of Zeke Nnaji. Right down to being overrated as a shooter, not creating any blocks at the college level and being a very fluid mover.

[Chuck Everett]

My first thoughts when I watched him is that he's pretty soft. Reminded me of Christian Wood, looks the part but then he plays and you wonder why he's not producing.

Reminds me of Zeke Nnaji. Right down to being overrated as a shooter, not creating any blocks at the college level and being a very fluid mover.

Damn. Can't unsee it now. And I abhorred Zeke coming out of Arizona. Red flags all over the place, wow.

[BigGargamel]

My first thoughts when I watched him is that he's pretty soft. Reminded me of Christian Wood, looks the part but then he plays and you wonder why he's not producing.

Reminds me of Zeke Nnaji. Right down to being overrated as a shooter, not creating any blocks at the college level and being a very fluid mover.

This is a good comparison. Nnaji looks like he can shoot, rebound and shot block but really doesn't do any of those things. Same with Cenac.

[babyjax13]

My first thoughts when I watched him is that he's pretty soft. Reminded me of Christian Wood, looks the part but then he plays and you wonder why he's not producing.

Reminds me of Zeke Nnaji. Right down to being overrated as a shooter, not creating any blocks at the college level and being a very fluid mover.

This is a good comparison. Nnaji looks like he can shoot, rebound and shot block but really doesn't do any of those things. Same with Cenac.

Cenac is pretty good as a shooter for a college center. I see more Bobby Portis, someone who did develop legitimate range and can rebound, but offers no positive defensive intangibles. That's still a useful player ...

[BigGargamel]

Reminds me of Zeke Nnaji. Right down to being overrated as a shooter, not creating any blocks at the college level and being a very fluid mover.

This is a good comparison. Nnaji looks like he can shoot, rebound and shot block but really doesn't do any of those things. Same with Cenac.

Cenac is pretty good as a shooter for a college center. I see more Bobby Portis, someone who did develop legitimate range and can rebound, but offers no positive defensive intangibles. That's still a useful player ...

He's a decent shooter yeah, but who cares. You can find spot up shooters off the trash heap (Champagnie for the Spurs).

You're 6'10 bro, act like it sometimes.

[babyjax13]

This is a good comparison. Nnaji looks like he can shoot, rebound and shot block but really doesn't do any of those things. Same with Cenac.

Cenac is pretty good as a shooter for a college center. I see more Bobby Portis, someone who did develop legitimate range and can rebound, but offers no positive defensive intangibles. That's still a useful player ...

He's a decent shooter yeah, but who cares. You can find spot up shooters off the trash heap (Champagnie for the Spurs).

You're 6'10 bro, act like it sometimes.

That's the thing, though, you can't find many decent shooters that big.

[Chuck Everett]

Cenac is pretty good as a shooter for a college center. I see more Bobby Portis, someone who did develop legitimate range and can rebound, but offers no positive defensive intangibles. That's still a useful player ...

He's a decent shooter yeah, but who cares. You can find spot up shooters off the trash heap (Champagnie for the Spurs).

You're 6'10 bro, act like it sometimes.

That's the thing, though, you can't find many decent shooters that big.

As of right now, Cenac is a poor shooter though. He shot 33% from 3 and 62% from the free throw line. In fact, most of his three point attempts from the college line were wide open (which are mid-range shots). Now he's going to go to the combine and we expect him to shoot well from the NBA 3? He better be putting in massive amounts of work between then and now.

Just for reference:

In Jabari Smith's lone season at Auburn, 42% from 3, 80% from the line (averaged 17 points per game).
In Zeke Nnaji's lone season at Arizona, 29% from 3, 76% from the line (averaged 16 points per game).

Cenac averaged 9.5 points. This guy has bust written all over him as things stand right today.

[babyjax13]

He's a decent shooter yeah, but who cares. You can find spot up shooters off the trash heap (Champagnie for the Spurs).

You're 6'10 bro, act like it sometimes.

That's the thing, though, you can't find many decent shooters that big.

As of right now, Cenac is a poor shooter though. He shot 33% from 3 and 62% from the free throw line. In fact, most of his three point attempts from the college line were wide open (which are mid-range shots). Now he's going to go to the combine and we expect him to shoot well from the NBA 3? He better be putting in massive amounts of work between then and now.

Just for reference:

In Jabari Smith's lone season at Auburn, 42% from 3, 80% from the line (averaged 17 points per game).
In Zeke Nnaji's lone season at Arizona, 29% from 3, 76% from the line (averaged 16 points per game).

Cenac averaged 9.5 points. This guy has bust written all over him as things stand right today.

I don't think most bigs in college that end up + shooters relative to position in the NBA are shooting much better than that in college. Portis shot 27% from 3 his freshman year, Isaiah Stewart shot 25%, WCJ shot 41% but on 1 shot per game, Turner shot 27%, Horford didn't shoot threes, etc. His comparison obviously isn't a shooter like KAT, but it seems to me that he has a trajectory to be a floor-spacing 5.

[Chuck Everett]

That's the thing, though, you can't find many decent shooters that big.

As of right now, Cenac is a poor shooter though. He shot 33% from 3 and 62% from the free throw line. In fact, most of his three point attempts from the college line were wide open (which are mid-range shots). Now he's going to go to the combine and we expect him to shoot well from the NBA 3? He better be putting in massive amounts of work between then and now.

Just for reference:

In Jabari Smith's lone season at Auburn, 42% from 3, 80% from the line (averaged 17 points per game).
In Zeke Nnaji's lone season at Arizona, 29% from 3, 76% from the line (averaged 16 points per game).

Cenac averaged 9.5 points. This guy has bust written all over him as things stand right today.

I don't think most bigs in college that end up + shooters relative to position in the NBA are shooting much better than that in college. Portis shot 27% from 3 his freshman year, Isaiah Stewart shot 25%, WCJ shot 41% but on 1 shot per game, Turner shot 27%, Horford didn't shoot threes, etc. His comparison obviously isn't a shooter like KAT, but it seems to me that he has a trajectory to be a floor-spacing 5.

Okay, that's fine, but what are you basing that off of? His high school tape? Because his college performance was not good whatsoever.

Beef Stew averaged 17 ppg as a freshman at Washington.
Bobby Portis averaged 12 ppg at Arkansas (played two).
Wendell Carter averaged 13.5 ppg at Duke.
Myles Turner averaged 10ppg at Texas.
Al Horford averaged 5.6ppg at Florida (played three).

Basically, what this tells me, is Cenac should probably stay in school and improve? And I absolutely do not believe he has the physicality to play the 5 spot in the NBA. Not even as a floor spacer, because defensively he doesn't really protect the rim.

[babyjax13]

As of right now, Cenac is a poor shooter though. He shot 33% from 3 and 62% from the free throw line. In fact, most of his three point attempts from the college line were wide open (which are mid-range shots). Now he's going to go to the combine and we expect him to shoot well from the NBA 3? He better be putting in massive amounts of work between then and now.

Just for reference:

In Jabari Smith's lone season at Auburn, 42% from 3, 80% from the line (averaged 17 points per game).
In Zeke Nnaji's lone season at Arizona, 29% from 3, 76% from the line (averaged 16 points per game).

Cenac averaged 9.5 points. This guy has bust written all over him as things stand right today.

I don't think most bigs in college that end up + shooters relative to position in the NBA are shooting much better than that in college. Portis shot 27% from 3 his freshman year, Isaiah Stewart shot 25%, WCJ shot 41% but on 1 shot per game, Turner shot 27%, Horford didn't shoot threes, etc. His comparison obviously isn't a shooter like KAT, but it seems to me that he has a trajectory to be a floor-spacing 5.

Okay, that's fine, but what are you basing that off of? His high school tape? Because his college performance was not good whatsoever.

Beef Stew averaged 17 ppg as a freshman at Washington.
Bobby Portis averaged 12 ppg at Arkansas (played two).
Wendell Carter averaged 13.5 ppg at Duke.
Myles Turner averaged 10ppg at Texas.
Al Horford averaged 5.6ppg at Florida (played three).

Basically, what this tells me, is Cenac should probably stay in school and improve? And I absolutely do not believe he has the physicality to play the 5 spot in the NBA. Not even as a floor spacer, because defensively he doesn't really protect the rim.

Returning could be worthwhile. I don't really expect non-lottery centers under like ... 21 ... to contribute much their rookie year. It seems like older rookies or high lottery centers are the ones who typically can absorb minutes.

[BigGargamel]

Cenac is pretty good as a shooter for a college center. I see more Bobby Portis, someone who did develop legitimate range and can rebound, but offers no positive defensive intangibles. That's still a useful player ...

He's a decent shooter yeah, but who cares. You can find spot up shooters off the trash heap (Champagnie for the Spurs).

You're 6'10 bro, act like it sometimes.

That's the thing, though, you can't find many decent shooters that big.

Yeah, but like I said, who cares? Nearly everyone in the NBA is a shooter now. Do something else, or you're pretty much useless. ESPECIALLY if you have size.

He's not even a special shooter. Adequate with the ability to be okay.

[vincecarter4pres]

Reminds me some of Myles Turner.