What Eddie Lampkin Jr. brings to Boulder as Colorado's new starting center

After hiring Coach Prime as CU’s head football coach in December, the University of Colorado’ recently relaxed transfer requirements are now fully in play for Tad Boyle and the men’s basketball team. The Buffs already had three players enter the transfer portal and now they have their first transfer in.

Former TCU starting center, Eddie Lampkin Jr. committed to the University of Colorado on April 2nd. Here’s what you need to know about the newest big man who will be repping the black and gold this fall.

He fills the Lawson hole perfectly

With Lawson Lovering’s exit to Utah, CU’s frontcourt was facing multiple questions. Incoming freshman Assane Diop and freshman Joel Hurlburt were looking like they were going to be assuming huge roles in their first collegiate action. Now with Eddie Lampkin Jr., Colorado has solidified an intimidating starting frontcourt with the big man transfer and Tristan da Silva.

At 6-foot-11 and 270 lbs, Eddie Lampkin Jr. is a massively strong body, capable of posting up nearly anyone in the country. In 24 games this season he averaged 6.3 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game on a 22 minutes per game average. That is more points and rebounds in less playing time than what Lovering averaged this year.

Eddie Lampkin Jr. with authority 😤 @TCUBasketball pic.twitter.com/OYucMFljFW

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) November 27, 2022

Even with his incredible size, Lampkin Jr. is impressively light on his feet with soft hands. The mountain of a man has an impressive arsenal of post moves, including spins and skyhooks. He can also get out in transition. Colorado’s new center finished in the 85th percentile this past season in points per transition possession, averaging 1.28 points when he got out in open hardwood.

Lampkin Jr. will be an immediate plug-in to a CU squad ready to make noise in the Pac-12 next year. With no time to waste with Cody Williams coming in, Eddie Lampkin Jr. is a much-needed improvement at the starting five for Tad & Co.

Lampkin has Battey-esque energy

The mayor of Boulder may have met his match in Eddie Lampkin Jr. The sophomore from Houston injects energy into every single one of his teammates and the entire fanbase.

Watch him against Arizona in last year’s second-round NCAA Tournament matchup and you’ll want to run through a brick wall for Eddie Lampkin Jr. The 6-foot-11 center has a fight in him that the CU Events Center will quickly fall in love with next season.

While playing at TCU, Lampkin Jr. emphasized how much the energy of the arena fuels him and his team.

“My main focus is the fans,” said Lampkin Jr. “I want to impress them because that’s gonna [help] turn my team up.”

The TCU transfer will bring energy to the Buffs’ starting five which has been absent since Evan Battey’s departure.

With a new environment and new opponents, Lampkin Jr. is bound to tear up the Pac-12 next season for a CU team that just got a whole lot scarier.

Transfers to look out for

With a couple of scholarship slots still to fill, CU is just getting started in the portal. Another name I would keep an eye on is Northern Colorado guard Dalton Knecht.

Knecht is one of the more highly touted players in the portal, but with ties to Colorado, the Buffs might have an edge on the rest of the field. From Thornton, Colorado, Knecht is a 6-foot-6 sharpshooting guard.

This past season in Greeley he knocked down 48% of his shots from the field and 38% from three. He would be a great offensive piece to add to the rotation.

Another name to watch is Grand Canyon guard transfer Chance McMillian. McMillian led the Antelopes to an NCAA tournament berth this past season behind 10.3 points per game while shooting 44% from three. He would be another valuable weapon to add to the backcourt.