Data study · 2025–26 season
College basketball positions and forward size by conference
Few players are listed as centers, so a conference's size shows in its forwards. Across 32 Division I conferences, forwards average from 6'7" (79.5") (Atlantic Sun Conference) to 6'9" (81.0") (Big 12 Conference).
Computed from 16,511 player-seasons · 2025–26 · updated Sep 29, 2026
Few players are listed as centers.
Only 4% of the 16,499 players with a listed position are listed as centers, and no conference lists more than 25. A center-by-conference average would rest on too few players to trust, so this page reads forwards; center size by division is on the position-and-division pages.
Forward height differs by conference.
In Division I, Big 12 Conference lists the tallest forwards at 6'9" (81.0") on average and Atlantic Sun Conference the shortest at 6'7" (79.5") — a 1.5" spread across 32 conferences.
The guard share of a roster varies by conference.
Guards make up 70% of listed positions in Northeast Conference and 52% in Pac-12 Conference, the two ends of the 32 Division I conferences.
The tallest Division I forwards, by conference
Big 126'9" (81.0")
Southeastern6'9" (80.9")
Missouri Valley6'9" (80.8")
Pac-126'9" (80.8")
Big Ten6'9" (80.7")
Conference USA6'9" (80.6")
Atlantic 106'9" (80.6")
Atlantic Coast6'9" (80.6")
players with a position = 218 · 185 · 164 · 108 · 232 · 134 · 210 · 242
The dot scale is deliberately truncated so a real but narrow spread stays visible; every conference and exact value is in the tables below.
Division I — tallest eight and shortest eight by forward height
The summary| Conference | Players | Guards | Forwards | Centers | Forwards avg height | Forwards avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big 12 Conference | 218 | 58% | 31% | 11% | 6'9" (81.0") | 229 lb |
| Southeastern Conference | 185 | 58% | 34% | 9% | 6'9" (80.9") | 228 lb |
| Missouri Valley Conference | 164 | 62% | 31% | 7% | 6'9" (80.8") | 225 lb |
| Pac-12 Conference | 108 | 52% | 43% | 6% | 6'9" (80.8") | 220 lb |
| Big Ten Conference | 232 | 54% | 38% | 8% | 6'9" (80.7") | 231 lb |
| Conference USA | 134 | 58% | 40% | 2% | 6'9" (80.6") | 222 lb |
| Atlantic 10 Conference | 210 | 60% | 33% | 7% | 6'9" (80.6") | 220 lb |
| Atlantic Coast Conference | 242 | 55% | 37% | 9% | 6'9" (80.6") | 221 lb |
| Mountain West Conference | 108 | 56% | 38% | 6% | 6'8" (79.9") | 222 lb |
| Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference | 201 | 58% | 38% | 4% | 6'8" (79.8") | 216 lb |
| Southern Conference | 173 | 62% | 35% | 3% | 6'8" (79.8") | 216 lb |
| America East Conference | 137 | 53% | 43% | 4% | 6'8" (79.7") | 212 lb |
| United Athletic Conference | 129 | 66% | 31% | 3% | 6'8" (79.7") | 217 lb |
| Patriot League | 154 | 55% | 43% | 3% | 6'8" (79.7") | 219 lb |
| Northeast Conference | 128 | 70% | 29% | 2% | 6'7" (79.5") | 213 lb |
| Atlantic Sun Conference | 120 | 60% | 37% | 3% | 6'7" (79.5") | 207 lb |
Every conference, all three divisions
The full data| Conference | Players | Guards | Forwards | Centers | Forwards avg height | Forwards avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big 12 Conference | 218 | 58% | 31% | 11% | 6'9" (81.0") | 229 lb |
| Southeastern Conference | 185 | 58% | 34% | 9% | 6'9" (80.9") | 228 lb |
| Missouri Valley Conference | 164 | 62% | 31% | 7% | 6'9" (80.8") | 225 lb |
| Pac-12 Conference | 108 | 52% | 43% | 6% | 6'9" (80.8") | 220 lb |
| Big Ten Conference | 232 | 54% | 38% | 8% | 6'9" (80.7") | 231 lb |
| Conference USA | 134 | 58% | 40% | 2% | 6'9" (80.6") | 222 lb |
| Atlantic 10 Conference | 210 | 60% | 33% | 7% | 6'9" (80.6") | 220 lb |
| Atlantic Coast Conference | 242 | 55% | 37% | 9% | 6'9" (80.6") | 221 lb |
| Big West Conference | 148 | 63% | 32% | 5% | 6'9" (80.6") | 213 lb |
| Big East Conference | 169 | 53% | 37% | 10% | 6'8" (80.4") | 225 lb |
| Coastal Athletic Association | 197 | 62% | 32% | 6% | 6'8" (80.4") | 228 lb |
| Big South Conference | 137 | 64% | 34% | 2% | 6'8" (80.3") | 214 lb |
| Big Sky Conference | 164 | 63% | 34% | 4% | 6'8" (80.3") | 224 lb |
| American Conference | 163 | 56% | 36% | 7% | 6'8" (80.3") | 220 lb |
| Sun Belt Conference | 177 | 60% | 36% | 4% | 6'8" (80.2") | 221 lb |
| Ivy League | 137 | 59% | 38% | 3% | 6'8" (80.2") | 221 lb |
| Summit League | 121 | 64% | 31% | 5% | 6'8" (80.1") | — |
| Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference | 117 | 57% | 38% | 4% | 6'8" (80.1") | 217 lb |
| Mid-American Conference | 168 | 57% | 40% | 4% | 6'8" (80.1") | 219 lb |
| Horizon League | 167 | 63% | 34% | 2% | 6'8" (80.0") | 221 lb |
| Southland Conference | 178 | 62% | 33% | 4% | 6'8" (80.0") | 217 lb |
| Southwestern Athletic Conference | 176 | 62% | 33% | 5% | 6'8" (80.0") | 219 lb |
| West Coast Conference | 162 | 57% | 35% | 7% | 6'8" (79.9") | 221 lb |
| Ohio Valley Conference | 107 | 61% | 35% | 5% | 6'8" (79.9") | — |
| Mountain West Conference | 108 | 56% | 38% | 6% | 6'8" (79.9") | 222 lb |
| Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference | 201 | 58% | 38% | 4% | 6'8" (79.8") | 216 lb |
| Southern Conference | 173 | 62% | 35% | 3% | 6'8" (79.8") | 216 lb |
| America East Conference | 137 | 53% | 43% | 4% | 6'8" (79.7") | 212 lb |
| United Athletic Conference | 129 | 66% | 31% | 3% | 6'8" (79.7") | 217 lb |
| Patriot League | 154 | 55% | 43% | 3% | 6'8" (79.7") | 219 lb |
| Northeast Conference | 128 | 70% | 29% | 2% | 6'7" (79.5") | 213 lb |
| Atlantic Sun Conference | 120 | 60% | 37% | 3% | 6'7" (79.5") | 207 lb |
| Conference | Players | Guards | Forwards | Centers | Forwards avg height | Forwards avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunshine State Conference | 177 | 64% | 33% | 3% | 6'7" (79.4") | 211 lb |
| Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 147 | 65% | 33% | 3% | 6'7" (79.3") | 211 lb |
| Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | 231 | 64% | 33% | 3% | 6'7" (79.2") | 210 lb |
| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 220 | 65% | 30% | 5% | 6'7" (79.2") | 211 lb |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | 170 | 64% | 29% | 8% | 6'7" (79.2") | 205 lb |
| East Coast Conference | 127 | 69% | 28% | 4% | 6'7" (79.2") | 211 lb |
| California Collegiate Athletic Association | 180 | 64% | 32% | 4% | 6'7" (79.2") | 215 lb |
| Great Northwest Athletic Conference | 157 | 64% | 31% | 4% | 6'7" (79.1") | 213 lb |
| Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 237 | 64% | 34% | 2% | 6'7" (79.1") | 211 lb |
| Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | 216 | 63% | 34% | 2% | 6'7" (79.1") | 211 lb |
| South Atlantic Conference | 199 | 62% | 34% | 4% | 6'7" (79.0") | 209 lb |
| Great Lakes Valley Conference | 209 | 59% | 37% | 4% | 6'7" (79.0") | 208 lb |
| Conference Carolinas | 245 | 64% | 33% | 3% | 6'7" (79.0") | 212 lb |
| Lone Star Conference | 195 | 65% | 34% | 1% | 6'7" (79.0") | 212 lb |
| Gulf South Conference | 147 | 69% | 29% | 1% | 6'7" (78.8") | — |
| Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | 249 | 67% | 32% | 1% | 6'7" (78.8") | 214 lb |
| Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference | 204 | 71% | 25% | 3% | 6'7" (78.8") | 206 lb |
| Pacific West Conference | 162 | 65% | 33% | 2% | 6'7" (78.8") | 219 lb |
| Great American Conference | 187 | 66% | 33% | 1% | 6'7" (78.8") | 204 lb |
| Peach Belt Conference | 146 | 61% | 35% | 4% | 6'7" (78.7") | 206 lb |
| Mountain East Conference | 190 | 64% | 35% | 2% | 6'7" (78.6") | 205 lb |
| Northeast-10 Conference | 134 | 63% | 37% | 1% | 6'6" (78.5") | — |
| Great Midwest Athletic Conference | 216 | 58% | 38% | 4% | 6'6" (78.3") | 206 lb |
| Conference | Players | Guards | Forwards | Centers | Forwards avg height | Forwards avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Small College Athletic Conference | 184 | 65% | 30% | 5% | 6'7" (78.6") | 211 lb |
| University Athletic Association | 141 | 53% | 44% | 3% | 6'6" (78.4") | 209 lb |
| New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference | 130 | 61% | 35% | 5% | 6'6" (78.4") | — |
| Centennial Conference | 169 | 63% | 35% | 2% | 6'6" (78.3") | 209 lb |
| Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 148 | 60% | 36% | 3% | 6'6" (78.2") | 209 lb |
| Southern Athletic Association | 159 | 68% | 30% | 2% | 6'6" (78.1") | — |
| Liberty League | 168 | 61% | 39% | 1% | 6'6" (78.1") | 207 lb |
| Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 156 | 69% | 26% | 6% | 6'6" (78.0") | — |
| MAC Freedom | 162 | 72% | 27% | 2% | 6'6" (77.9") | 206 lb |
| College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin | 186 | 63% | 34% | 3% | 6'6" (77.9") | 205 lb |
| American Southwest Conference | 105 | 65% | 30% | 5% | 6'6" (77.9") | — |
| Coast to Coast Athletic Conference | 110 | 68% | 29% | 3% | 6'6" (77.8") | — |
| North Coast Athletic Conference | 167 | 65% | 30% | 5% | 6'6" (77.8") | 204 lb |
| Northwest Conference | 161 | 66% | 32% | 2% | 6'6" (77.8") | 203 lb |
| Landmark Conference | 171 | 68% | 27% | 5% | 6'6" (77.7") | — |
| Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference | 171 | 64% | 35% | 1% | 6'6" (77.7") | 197 lb |
| USA South Athletic Conference | 114 | 66% | 27% | 7% | 6'6" (77.6") | — |
| Conference of New England | 192 | 65% | 33% | 3% | 6'6" (77.6") | 203 lb |
| Old Dominion Athletic Conference | 202 | 63% | 34% | 3% | 6'6" (77.6") | 206 lb |
| Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association | 155 | 56% | 37% | 6% | 6'6" (77.5") | 205 lb |
| Collegiate Conference of the South | 116 | 72% | 28% | 1% | 6'6" (77.5") | — |
| Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference | 271 | 68% | 30% | 2% | 6'5" (77.4") | 207 lb |
| American Rivers Conference | 156 | 72% | 25% | 3% | 6'5" (77.4") | 204 lb |
| Presidents' Athletic Conference | 254 | 70% | 28% | 2% | 6'5" (77.3") | 203 lb |
| New Jersey Athletic Conference | 157 | 64% | 31% | 5% | 6'5" (77.3") | — |
| Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 179 | 59% | 39% | 3% | 6'5" (77.3") | — |
| St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 182 | 58% | 36% | 5% | 6'5" (77.2") | 192 lb |
| MAC Commonwealth | 142 | 65% | 34% | 1% | 6'5" (77.2") | — |
| Midwest Conference | 199 | 55% | 42% | 3% | 6'5" (77.1") | 207 lb |
| Skyline Conference | 173 | 68% | 29% | 2% | 6'5" (77.1") | — |
| United East Conference | 204 | 69% | 30% | 1% | 6'5" (77.1") | 203 lb |
| Upper Midwest Athletic Conference | 138 | 74% | 25% | 1% | 6'5" (77.1") | — |
| Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference | 134 | 67% | 31% | 1% | 6'5" (77.0") | — |
| Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference | 156 | 70% | 28% | 3% | 6'5" (77.0") | — |
| Great Northeast Athletic Conference | 211 | 67% | 29% | 3% | 6'5" (76.9") | — |
| Empire 8 | 214 | 67% | 29% | 4% | 6'5" (76.9") | 203 lb |
| Little East Conference | 152 | 68% | 21% | 11% | 6'5" (76.8") | — |
| State University of New York Athletic Conference | 168 | 65% | 32% | 3% | 6'5" (76.8") | 203 lb |
| Ohio Athletic Conference | 179 | 57% | 37% | 6% | 6'5" (76.8") | 203 lb |
| Atlantic East Conference | 99 | 66% | 33% | 1% | 6'5" (76.8") | — |
| Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference | 133 | 67% | 29% | 5% | 6'5" (76.7") | — |
| North Atlantic Conference | 135 | 64% | 35% | 1% | 6'5" (76.7") | — |
| City University of New York Athletic Conference | 120 | 55% | 43% | 3% | 6'4" (76.5") | — |
How to use this table
Find the conference and read the position shares: a conference that carries more guards has more guard roster spots to fill each year, and one that carries more forwards has more spots for bigger players. Then compare a forward's listed height and weight to the conference's forward averages.
For a guard, the conference-height page carries the guard column. For a center, the averages by division are the reliable read, because too few players per conference are listed as centers.
Which conferences actually recruit a player like yours is the question this table cannot answer. That depends on position, production and market, which is what the Recruiting Fit Report scores program by program.
See which conferences fit your profile
Your profile, scored against every program in this data. The free Market Preview takes six minutes and needs no card.
Methodology
Source · sample · scope16,511 player-seasons · 1,060 programs · 2025–26
Definitions and scope
- Source
- Official 2025–26 rosters published by the athletics sites of 1,060 NCAA D1, D2 and D3 men's programs, collected by Depth Chart, joined to each program's conference.
- Positions
- As each school lists them. A combination such as G/F counts under its first position. Players with no listed position are left out.
- Conferences
- A school mid-realignment counts in the conference it plays in this season. Conferences with fewer than 30 players with a listed position are not shown, and a forward average is shown only when at least 30 forwards list a height or a weight.
- Measurements
- As listed by the school: heights 60–90 inches and weights 120–350 pounds; anything outside those ranges is treated as a typo and left out.
- Sample
- 16,511 player-seasons with a listed position and a known conference on 2025–26 rosters.
- Computed
- Sep 29, 2026 · methodology 2026-08-28.1
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