NBA Comparison: Kel’el Ware

Strengths: Cenac is a highly intriguing 6’11 big man with a rare blend of size, fluidity, and upside … Possesses an excellent frame with a massive wingspan and the strength to continue adding weight, giving him long-term physical upside … Very good athlete who runs the floor with ease and plays well in transition, where he can finish above the rim or apply pressure as a rim runner … Bouncy and explosive leaper, showing consistent ability as a lob threat and put-back finisher … Productive rebounder, averaging 7.9 rebounds in just 24.8 minutes per game, with strong instincts, motor, and willingness to initiate contact on the glass … Plays with toughness and doesn’t shy away from physicality, consistently battling inside … Shows flashes of a modern offensive skill set, including face-up ability, a jab-step pull-up, and developing perimeter shooting touch … Shooting mechanics are clean with a solid foundation, and he has shown the ability to knock down threes in spurts … Background as a point forward earlier in his development is evident in his ball handling and comfort attacking in straight lines … Displays flashes of passing feel and is a solid passer for a young big, capable of making reads within the flow of the offense … Active and engaged defensively, benefiting from Houston’s disciplined system under Kelvin Sampson … Shows awareness, effort, and the ability to cover ground with his length … Generates second-chance points with rebound follow-ups and plays with consistent energy … Overall skill set and physical tools give him significant long-term upside as a two-way big

Weaknesses: Cenac remains a raw prospect who will require time and development to reach his potential … Offensive polish is still lacking, as he averaged just 9.0 points per game and struggled with consistency and efficiency at times … Overall efficiency is a concern, shooting 48.5% from the field, 33.3% from three, and 62.1% from the free throw line, numbers that reflect both developing skill and inconsistent shot selection, which hurts his stock … Not yet a reliable go-to option, with limited ability to consistently create offense for himself in half-court settings … Post game is underdeveloped, lacking advanced footwork, counters, and touch to consistently score with his back to the basket … Perimeter shooting shows promise but remains inconsistent despite solid mechanics, and will need more volume and confidence … Playmaking is fairly limited at this stage and he does not consistently create looks for others, with passing more functional than a true strength … Still learning the nuances of the game, including timing, positioning, and decision-making on both ends … Can be inconsistent defensively despite strong tools, particularly with discipline and awareness outside of structured systems … Not much of a rim protector at this stage (0.5 BPG), which is underwhelming for his size, though he projects more as a switchable defender than a true interior anchor … Overall feel and consistency lag behind his physical tools, reinforcing his status as a long-term developmental prospect …

Outlook: Cenac projects as a mid first round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, viewed as an upside swing with significant long-term potential … His combination of size, fluidity, and emerging perimeter skill set fits well with the modern NBA game, making him an appealing developmental big for teams in that range … While he is still a work in progress offensively and will need time to improve his consistency and overall polish, the flashes are strong enough to justify investment … His background handling the ball earlier in his career adds an intriguing layer to his development as a face-up big … In the right system with patience, he has the tools to grow into a versatile two-way contributor … Overall, he profiles as a boom-or-bust mid first round talent with a pathway to becoming a high-impact player if his development trends positively

Notes: 2025–26 Stats: 37 GP, 24.8 MPG, 9.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 48.5% FG, 33.3% 3PT, 62.1% FT … Led Houston in rebounding as a freshman (7.9 RPG), becoming the first freshman to do so since 2011–12 … Recorded 13 double-digit rebounding games and six double-doubles … Posted a standout 17-point, 17-rebound performance vs. Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament … Grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament First Round … Named 2025–26 NABC All-Gulf District Second Team … Former 5-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American out of Link Academy (Branson, MO) … Born February 1, 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana … Position: Forward/Center … Height: 6’11 … Weight: 240 … Freshman … Declared for the 2026 NBA Draft

Aran Smith 4/15/26

Strengths: 6’10 mobile big man … Good size and length with a 7’4 wingspan … Very good mobility, fluidity, and coordination. Runs the floor very well with long strides … Good athlete. Gets up well, translates his athleticism as a finisher, rebounder, and shot blocker. Beats other players his size up the court … Quick for his size with a nice first step. Can slash from the perimeter and mid-post. Uses his spin move to avoid defenders when attacking … Solid foundation as a post scorer, showing a fadeaway and jump hook. Efficient scorer with soft touch around the basket. Scoring stats: 18.6 PPG 49.6% FG% NBPA Top 100, 8.9 PPG 53.8% FG% U17 World Cup 2024, 12.6 PPG 46.9% FG% EYBL Scholastic 2024-25 … Has potential as an inside-out scoring threat. Good looking release and foundation as a jump shooter, showing much improvement stretching the floor over his senior year. Only shot 18.8% 3PT% on 3.6 3PT attempts per game at the NBPA Top 100 and 25% 3PT% on 1.1 3PT attempts per game at the U17 World Cup in 2024, but shot a much improved 39.3% 3PT% on 1.9 3PT attempts per game over the EYBL Scholastic in 2024-25 … Good pick and roll/pop potential … Draws fouls at a good rate and solid free throw shooter. Shot 86.3% FT% on 5.7 free throw attempts per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2024 and 77.2% FT% over the EYBL Scholastic in 2024-25 … Good handle for his size in the open court. Can push the ball up the floor after defensive rebounds. Can change direction with the ball … Solid court vision and passing ability. Makes cross-court passes in the half-court. Passes well out of the post and mid-drive … Good rebounder on both ends. Converts offensive rebounds into baskets at a good rate. Led event with 11.4 (2.9 offensive) rebounds per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2024 and a league best 8.2 (1.7 offensive) rebounds per game over the EYBL Scholastic in 2024-25 … Can defend on the perimeter with good lateral movement and rotates well defensively for his size. Averaged a 5^th best 1.6 steals per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2024 and 1.2 steals per game over the EYBL Scholastic in 2024-25 … Good shot blocker with good timing and reliable help-side defender. Averaged a 3^rd best 1.6 blocks per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2024 and a 2^nd best 1.6 blocks per game over the EYBL Scholastic in 2024-25 … Still has a way to go putting things together but does a lot of things at a foundational level that can be improved and expanded. High ceiling …

Weaknesses: Good basketball body but needs to continue to get stronger … Can expand post-game, footwork, and technique as he won’t have quite the size/speed advantages at the next levels. While fairly skilled, he can struggle against opponents that can match his size and tools … Can be turnover prone trying to do too much as a ball-handler and has a tendency to duck and force his way to the basket. Tends to travel a bit. Loses the ball on drives at times with little defensive pressure and can mishandle passes … Good motor but must play with consistent aggression … Foul prone. Averaged 4.6 fouls per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2024 …

Outlook: Incoming Houston freshman … Transferred to Link Academy for his senior year … Won Gold at the U17 World Cup in 2024 … Scored 11 points and grabbed 7 (3 offensive) rebounds in the 2025 McDonald’s All-American … Played in the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit … Scored 11 points and grabbed 6 (4 offensive) rebounds in the 2025 Jordan Brand Classic … 2025 Naismith All-American 3^rd Team … 2025 EYBL Scholastic All-Conference 2^nd Team … 2025 EYBL Scholastic All-Defensive Team … Led Link Academy to win the 2025 EYBL Scholastic Conference Tournament to earn MVP with 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 blocks in the championship game …

Evan Tomes 7/1/25

Strengths: 6’10 mobile big man … Good size and length with a 7’4 wingspan … Very good mobility, fluidity, and coordination. Runs the floor very well with long strides … Good athlete. Gets up well, translates his athleticism as a finisher, rebounder, and shot blocker. Beats other players his size up the court … Quick for his size with a nice first step. Good slashing ability from the perimeter and mid-post. Uses spin to avoid defenders when attacking … Efficient scorer with soft touch around the basket. Averaged 18.6 points per game on 49.6% FG% at the NBPA Top 100 and 8.9 points per game on 53.8% FG% at the U17 World Cup in 2024 … Good pick and roll/pop potential … Draws fouls at a good rate and good free throw shooter. Shot 86.3% FT% on 5.7 free throw attempts per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2024 … Good handle for his size in the open court. Can push the ball up the floor after defensive rebounds. Changes direction well with the ball … Solid court vision and passing. Makes cross-court passes in the half-court. Passes well out of the post and mid-drive … Good rebounder on both ends. Converts offensive rebounds into baskets at a good rate. Led event with 11.4 (2.9 offensive) rebounds per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2024 … Can defend on the perimeter with good lateral movement and rotates well defensively for his size. Averaged a 5^th best 1.6 steals per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2024 … Good shot blocker with good timing and reliable help-side defender. Averaged a 3^rd best 1.6 blocks per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2024 … Good motor and is constantly moving … Still has a way to go putting things together but does everything at a foundational level that can be improved and expanded. High ceiling …

Weaknesses: Good basketball body but needs to continue to get stronger … Good looking release and has the foundation as a jump shooter, but his 3PT shooting isn’t strong enough to consistently stretch the floor at this point in this development. Shot 18.8% 3PT% on 3.6 3PT attempts per game at the NBPA Top 100 and 25% 3PT% on 1.1 3PT attempts per game at the U17 World Cup in 2024 … Can expand post-game and technique as he won’t have quite the size/speed advantages at the next levels … Foul prone. Averaged 4.6 fouls per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2024 …

Outlook: Transferred to Link Academy for his senior year … Won Gold at the U17 World Cup in 2024 …

Evan Tomes 11/14/24