3 Centers UCLA Could Target This Offseason

Olivier Rioux is a player that many teams are still unsure how to utilize. Standing at 7-foot-9, he quite literally towers over every player in college basketball. While he remains largely unproven — averaging 0.6 points and 0.5 rebounds per game with Florida last season — there is potential for serious development.

The downside to adding Rioux is that it would likely require another center to handle most of the minutes. Some view Rioux as more of a novelty player, while others see him as a potential glimpse into the future of college basketball. Either way, UCLA certainly needs more height, and Rioux would provide it immediately.

Mouhamed Sylla | Georgia Tech

Mouhamed Sylla is a player UCLA simply cannot afford to miss out on. In his freshman season at Georgia Tech, he averaged 9.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 57.9% from the field. What makes him particularly impactful is his defensive upside, as he also averaged 1.2 blocks per game.

UCLA does not necessarily need a center who will score 15-plus points per game. Instead, the Bruins need someone willing to do the dirty work and average eight or more rebounds per game. If UCLA were able to land Sylla, many of its concerns at center would immediately disappear. He is definitely a player to watch throughout the transfer portal.

Andrew McKeever | St. Mary's

The final player to appear on several lists is Andrew McKeever. McKeever may have the best chance of joining UCLA for the 2026-27 season. Not only does he fit many of UCLA’s current needs, but he is also a California native, which could give the Bruins a significant recruiting advantage.

As mentioned earlier, UCLA does not necessarily need a high-volume scorer at center. However, McKeever already provides strong rebounding production — averaging 9.2 rebounds per game — and still has room to develop offensively. With continued improvement, the sky could be the limit if McKeever joins UCLA.

The bottom line for the Bruins is simple: they need more help at center. With Xavier Booker returning, last season showed that UCLA cannot rely on him to be the team’s primary center. However, Booker could be an excellent complement alongside a more traditional big man.