Roy Hibbert of the Indiana Pacers will be the NBA’s next great center. I know that’s an incredibly bold statement but after watching him play for the last couple of years I’m pretty confident in those words.

I’ve been a fan of Roy Hibbert for some time now but lately this guy is tearing it up, including a nineteen point, ten boards, one turnover performance versus the Orlando Magic last night. I labeled him my “ 2010-11 NBA Breakout Player” earlier this season and he is certainly living up to his end of the bargain. Within the next two years I’m positive he will join Dwight Howard as the two most dominant centers in the game.

Oh, and I might be crazy here, but I’m predicting that the Indiana Pacers will win the Central Division. They have an exciting core of young players and if they can put it together this year they’re going to be a tough out come playoff time. Don’t let me down, fellas.

Already this season Roy has five double-doubles after recording just ten all of last season. In the final game of the 2009-10 season he gave us a glimpse of future excellence by posting 29 points on 10-16 shooting and has picked up right where he left off. Hibbert enters next week averaging 16.7 points, 10.0 boards, and 2.6 blocks – those are numbers that deserve All-Star honors, my friends. Check out his game log from this season HERE.

It’s not just the numbers, either. I remember watching him play against the Magic LAST season where I couldn’t believe how he held his own against Dwight, showing a full-range of moves on offense including a sweet fadeaway jumper and mid-range hook shot.

This year? While he needs quite a bit of work handling the pick-and-roll defensively this guy is a beast. Even at his 7’2” height Hibbert displays surprising agility and quickness that includes a still raw but effective post-up game. His outside stroke continues to surprise me and he left Dwight flustered several times the other night as I’m sure Howard is not used to being dominated for any stretch during games these days. His rebounding numbers will only improve as well considering he needs to improve his rebounding positioning – he’s snaring ten boards a night off of athletic-ability alone at times!

No Eric Gordon, you don’t have an opinion that counts. Every great big man was posterized once or twice, right? At least my man Hibbert went for the rejection, unlike the chillin’ Chris Bosh when he was victimized by Rondo.

In hindsight, do you think the Toronto Raptors might regret trading this guy?

I don’t just go by skill when choosing my favorite athletes, either. Roy Hibbert seems like a hard worker and fine fellow – he stated before attending Georgetown that he planned to stay all four years like former Hoyas’ legends Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning and by golly he did just that, even when he had the chance to enter the draft as a lottery pick in 2007. Loyalty is important, folks!

Not only that, he’s been involved in multiple forms of charity work with the Pacers’ star swingman Danny Granger, who I’m a big supporter of as well.

Lastly, for those of you who play NBA2K11 and choose fantasy-draft mode take a flyer on Roy – he’s like a mini-Wilt Chamberlain out there, I swear!

The bottom line? Keep an eye on Mr. Hibbert and don’t be afraid to expect great things. He, along with Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, Rajon Rondo, and Russell Westbrook give me a lot of hope that the NBA will be in great hands toward the end of this decade.

I’ll be voting for you to participate in this year’s NBA All-Star game, Roy. Keep it up!