Ranking the Top 10 College Basketball Players in the SEC
RedCup Mitch
Posted On January 31
It’s no secret that the SEC has some of the best teams in the country. Usually Kentucky is leading the pack, but this Tennessee squad is currently sitting at No. 1 in the country and a major national title contender. LSU, Mississippi State, Auburn, and a couple of other teams have second weekend potential in what projects as one of the deepest conferences top to bottom. With 14 teams, this Top 10 list was much more difficult to narrow down than the previous Big 12 list. Enjoy.
10: Nicolas Claxton SO Georgia
12.8 PPG 9.4 RPG 2.2 APG 1.4 SPG 2.9 BPG .455 FG% .300 3PT%
Sitting at 10-10 Overall and 1-6 in the SEC, Georgia is not having a great season. Nicolas Claxton is however quietly leading the conference in Rebounds per game as well as Blocks per game. Claxton was a non-factor last season as a Freshman and has been a bright spot for a struggling Georgia team.
9: Bryce Brown SR Auburn
16.9 PPG 2.2 RPG 2.2 APG 1.2 SPG 0.1 BPG .436 FG% .401 3PT%
Bryce Brown is a knockdown shooter and perfect compliment to fellow backcourt member Jared Harper. He can score with any guard in the conference and has taken over full games for stretches this season. A lack of impact in other aspects of the game limits his ceiling on this list.
8: Jared Harper JR Auburn
15.4 PPG 2.8 RPG 6.5 APG 0.9 SPG 0.0 BPG .401 FG% .385 3PT%
Despite his size at 5’11”, Harper has developed into one of the best guards in college basketball. An elite playmaker, Harper thrives running the pick and roll and can also light a team up from behind the arc (2.6 3PM/Game).
7: Breein Tyree JR Ole Miss
17.3 PPG 3.3 RPG 2.9 APG 0.9 SPG 0.4 BPG .489 FG% .381 3PT%
After two year as an average contributor, Tyree has broken out as a legit No. 1 option. As the conference’s 3rd leading scorer, Tyree can put up numbers. His ability to break down the defense and spread the floor have helped Ole Miss reach a respectable 4-3 record in the SEC.
6: Keldon Johnson FR Kentucky
14.6 PPG 5.3 RPG 1.5 APG 0.9 SPG 0.1 BPG .511 FG% .406 3PT%
Kentucky doesn’t have an Anthony Davis or a John Wall like in years past, but this team has some talent. Keldon Johnson leads the team as a unbelievable athlete and scorer. He has scored at a very efficient clip and emerged as a a No. 1 option for Kentucky. Defensively he is versatile enough to cover any perimeter player.
5: Daniel Gafford SO Arkansas
16.2 PPG 9.2 RPG 0.7 APG 1.1 SPG 1.9 BPG .659 FG% .000 3PT%
One of the best centers in college basketball, Gafford is a 20-10 threat every contest. His 6’11” size combined with his athleticism and touch around the rim is just unfair at the college level. His 1.9 Blocks per game has a huge impact on opposing guards looking to get into the paint.
4: Quinndary Weatherspoon SR Mississippi State
17.3 PPG 5.6 RPG 2.7 APG 1.3 SPG 0.3 BPG .487 FG% .349 3PT%
Weatherspoon has been a 12+ PPG scorer in all four seasons of his collegiate career and hasn’t really gotten a ton of attention outside of the SEC. He is very active on the boards for a 6’4″ guard and is capable of creating extra possessions for his team.
3: Admiral Schofield SR Tennessee
16.6 PPG 6.6 RPG 2.6 APG 1.0 SPG 0.4 BPG .482 FG% .409 3PT%
SEC fans have know Schofield for years, but just this year he has began to attract national attention. Tennessee looks like the best team in the SEC and Schofield has played a huge part of that. The knockdown shooter plays very well of Grant Williams and is versatile enough to line up anywhere 2-4 for the Volunteers.
2: Tremont Waters SO LSU
15.3 PPG 2.9 RPG 6.0 APG 3.0 SPG 0.2 BPG .448 FG% .343 3PT%
Although Waters ranks 2nd in the SEC in assists, just watching the games you can tell he’s arguably the best passer in the nation. He lop passes are among the best I’ve ever seen and he breaks them out 2+ times a game. This years LSU team is much better than last years, and Waters struggled a little bit to start, but now he appears to have figure things out. He also is among the nation’s leaders in steals at 3.0 if I forgot to mention that.
1: Grant Williams JR Tennessee
20.2 PPG 7.3 RPG 3.6 APG 1.2 SPG 1.6 BPG .571 FG% .346 3PT%
Grant Williams is the best player in the conference and I will fight you over it. The way he scores on the interior at 6’7″ 235 lbs is unbelievable. His efficiency in the paint is a huge reason why he’s among the best players in the nation and his 7.3 RPG only amplify that. As a defender, he is versatile enough to guard almost any position at the college level. With Williams leading the charge, Tennessee looks like a good bet to go far in March.
