Top 5 centers in the WCC this past season
By Josh Horton
March 6, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Portland Pilots center Thomas van der Mars (12) during player introductions against the Loyola Marymount Lions before the game of the WCC Basketball Championships at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
No. 3 – Thomas van der Mars (Portland)
Preseason Rank: 2
Thomas van der Mars came into the season as a nice player with a few nice offensive moves. He had shown flashes of solid play, but just as often he would completely disappear. Throughout the season the junior improved his game, becoming extremely efficient in his scoring efforts. He also showed more consistency scoring in double digits in 22 of the Pilots 31 games.
Van der Mars finished the season averaging 13.5 points and 7.2 rebounds. He shot over 60% from the field, finishing 30th in the country in that stat.