OGDEN — A great center is what every coach in the country wants. Supply seems to be limited, though; otherwise, every Division I team would have one.

“The five-spot is a hard position all across the country to feel really good about,” Weber State head coach Kaleb Canales said. “But we feel great about it.”

One veteran, more-proven big, one up-and-coming youngster, and one steadying presence make up Weber State’s roster of bigs.

“Rebounding, scoring, we’re excited about this group. It’s difficult to hammer down, even in the NBA,” Canales said. “But we get some depth in there, create some competition, get the best of the situation.”

Young Kwak, Associated Press

Seattle and Southern Utah transfer Brock Felder, previously a senior, joins New Mexico State second-year transfer Augustine Ekwe and returning third-year player Declan Cutler to make up the group.

“I think their skill sets mesh with each other and they’re going to be the anchors of what we want to do offensively and defensively,” the first-year coach said. “All three of them, speaking as a group, they’re skilled, have good hands, they’re smart. They have a knack for certain things that are important, like shot-blocking, running the floor and running some offense through them.”

BROCK FELDER

Felder is one of four Utah natives among the 14 currently set to play for the Wildcats. As a senior at Parowan High, Felder averaged 21.2 points and 11 rebounds per game while shooting 63.4%, earning him Class 2A player of the year from the Deseret News.

The 6-foot-8 post player signed with hometown Southern Utah out of high school and played 12.9 minutes per game off the bench as a freshman. The next year, Felder was a 31-game starter, averaging 5.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and a WAC-leading 2.1 blocks per game. He tried his luck in the transfer portal, and ended up at Seattle playing behind Gonzaga transfer Jun Seok Yeo.

Now he’s back in Utah and, at this point, seems likely to start at center for Weber State; either way, he and Ekwe are likely forming a one-two punch.

Robert Casey, Weber State Athletics

“Age-wise and playing experience-wise, he was important for us and checked a lot of boxes for us,” Canales said.

After shooting 63.4% as a high school senior, Felder’s career mark in three years of college is 64.2%. Felder can be a rim-running dunker and has a defensive rating under 100 for two straight years.

“Analytically, he blocks shots at a high level, protects the rim,” Canales said. He brings a certain level of toughness to our group that we’re going to love coaching.”

With the new 5-for-5 eligibility rules, Felder could potentially anchor WSU’s frontcourt for two seasons.

He carries career highs against Division I opponents of 14 points (twice with Southern Utah in the 2024-25 season), 13 rebounds (twice in the same SUU season), and six blocks (for SUU, against his future team Seattle, in the same season).

What an insane sequence by Brock Felder. Sheesh pic.twitter.com/3jYjGchFAt

— SUU Men’s Basketball (@SUUBasketball) February 11, 2024

AUGUSTINE EKWE

WSU hopes it has located another high-motor big in second-year New Mexico State transfer Augustine Ekwe. A native of Nigeria, the 6-foot-9 post player prepped at Wasatch Academy before signing with NMSU.

“Could not be more excited about his development and his future,” Canales said.

Ekwe played 10.6 minutes in 23 games as a freshman at New Mexico State behind fifth-year senior and Idaho transfer Julius Mims. He averaged 2.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, shooting 57.4% from the field and 9 of 11 at the foul line. His career highs against DI opponents include eight points against Samford, seven rebounds against New Mexico and three blocks against Western Kentucky.

Ekwe may need to solve a propensity for fouling to stay on the floor; Canales is optimistic about his ultimate impact.

“We’re going to lean on him a lot on both ends of the floor, and I think he’s ready for it. He’s a great kid, has a great personality,” Canales said. “When you’re describing what we want the five position in our system to look like, he’s tailor-made for it. He runs the floor, has a high motor, plays hard on both ends. I think it’s going to be contagious to the rest of the team.”

DECLAN CUTLER

One of just two returning players from the 2025-26 season, Cutler is also one of just two on the roster (along with Felder) one could call an “upperclassman” in the old four-year system.

The 6-foot-9 player has appeared in 57 games at Weber State at 8.5 minutes per contest, averaging 1.6 points and 2.1 rebounds. He played behind Malek Gomma and Nigel Burris last season.

“I’ve been super impressed with Declan. His skill set meshes with the rest of the guys. Declan’s been a joy to coach and getting to know him has been great,” Canales said.

Cutler holds career highs against DI opponents of six points against Oral Roberts, five rebounds against Montana and two blocks against Idaho State.

“His development is a priority for us. And he’s been here, so he helps us with institutional knowledge that helps the team. We want to help him grow as a player, he has big goals and we want to help him get there.”