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SEC preview
Posted on: August 17, 2021 at 07:05:13 CT
FIJItiger MU
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https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/SEC-basketball-preview-summer-look-Alabama-Crimson-Tide-Kentucky-Wildcats-Arkansas-Razorbacks-169226327/#169226327_1
TOP RECRUITING CLASSES IN THE 247SPORTS COMPOSITE
1. Tennessee (No. 3 nationally) — The prize is Kennedy Chandler (No. 8 overall in the 247Sports Composite), a point guard who fits Rick Barnes’ meta. But he’s one part of a class that includes six commitments and boasts four top-60 players. That includes five-star power forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (25) and four stars Jonas Aidoo (39) and Jahmai Mashack (60).
2. Kentucky (8) — The Wildcats have just three incoming freshmen, but made the most of it, with two five-star players and another who was a high four star. TyTy Washington (14) might start off the season coming off the bench but should push to start as the year goes on. Daimion Collins (15) will also have the benefit of coming along slowly but could be a bouncy rim protector. Bryce Hopkins (38) could also be tough to keep off the court.
3. Alabama (12) — JD Davison’s (12) speed and ability to push the pace didn’t just earn him a five-star ranking, it makes him a great fit for Nate Oats’ style. Charles Bediako (34) gives the Crimson Tide a 6-foot-11 center with ability to groom for the future, with Jusaun Holt (107) projecting as a quality shooter down the line.
4. LSU (13) — Efton Reid (26) has the size and skill level to factor in quickly in Baton Rouge, and the five-star is joined by a four-star wing from powerhouse IMG Academy in Brandon Murray (81). The Tigers needed to add more size and upgraded with not just the 6-11 Reid, but also 6-9 Jerrell Colbert (129) and 6-8 Bradley Ezewiro (260).
5. Texas A&M (26) — Shooting guard Manny Obaseki (33) is the third-highest rated player to commit to the Aggies in the recruiting database era. That would be enough of a cause to celebrate, but the Aggies also landed a four-star point guard in Wade Taylor (117) and a 6-9 center in Ashton Smith (211).
TOP INCOMING RECRUIT
Jabari Smith
As the No. 2 power forward and the No. 6 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite, Smith is the highest-ranked recruit in an SEC class that includes seven five-star prospects. Bruce Pearl and co. are generally well known for their up-tempo style, and Smith — who will likely spend much of his time at the four next to former five-star center Walker Kessler — has the ability to get up and down the court in transition. If the Tigers are able to space the court, Smith could take advantage as a player who can both shoot from the outside himself and face up and attack the basket.
TOP NEWCOMER
There are any number of players who could plug into this spot, including multiple Kentucky players. We picked Kentucky’s Kellan Grady out of that bunch, over his teammate Oscar Tshiebwe and others throughout the conference. Grady averaged 17.4 points per game over his four-year Davidson career and is coming off a season where he put up 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 38.2% from behind the 3-point arc. That kind of shooting — Grady has 240 career 3-point makes — and scoring (2,002 career points) will fit in well for a Kentucky team that went out this offseason looking for players to put the ball in the basket more consistently.
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Scotty Pippen Jr., G, Vanderbilt — Pippen is back at Vanderbilt after putting up monster production numbers: 20.8 points. 4.9 assists, 1.8 steals a year ago.
Jaden Shackelford, G, Alabama — It’s tough to pick one Alabama guard to thrive over the others, but Shackelford’ return is a big one after he’s averaged 14.5 points per game over the last two seasons.
Kellan Grady, G, Kentucky — 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists for Davidson last year; expect Grady to score and score efficiently for a resurgent Kentucky squad this season.
Keyontae Johnson, F, Florida — A bit of a wild card pick, Johnson was first-team All-SEC in 2019-20, then preseason SEC Player of the Year last year after his season was cut short when he collapsed on the court in the season’s fourth game.
John Fulkerson, C, Tennessee — Fulkerson’s production took a dip last year and he missed the NCAA Tournament with an injury. But we see a bounce-back closer to, and perhaps ahead of, the guy who averaged a 14-6 and shot 61.2% from the floor in 2019-20.
TOP SLEEPER TEAM (TEAM OUTSIDE THE TOP FIVE IN THE CONFERENCE THAT COULD MAKE A RUN)
Florida gets the nod here ahead of an intriguing Mississippi State team. The Gators currently rank No. 24 on statistics website BartTorvik.com, and that doesn’t account for Keyontae Johnson, who was an all-conference player when we last saw him healthy. Who knows what he’ll provide, which adds a level of X-Factor to this team. There’s also what looks like a pretty good backcourt, potentially one of the SEC’s best centers in Colin Castleton and some pretty good role players who could help the Gators get over the hump, like UMKC transfer Brandon McKissic, who didn’t just average 17.2 points per game, but who finished as the Summit League’s Defensive Player of the Year.
5. AUBURN
Adding five-star Jabari Smith and former five-star North Carolina transfer Walker Kessler gives Auburn one of the most fun-to-watch front courts with length, shot-blocking and even potentially outside shooting. If they can knock down those looks, this team could be a nightmare matchup in March. But the key to whether Auburn finishes fifth or makes a run at the SEC title will be the backcourt. Wendell Green, a transfer from Eastern Kentucky, could sneakily be one of the best transfers entering the SEC. And If some combination of transfers K.D. Johnson and Zep Jasper and returning wings Allen Flanigan and Devan Cambridge can fit together, this ranking could be too low.
4. TENNESSEE
The Volunteers got the nod over Auburn based on a better projected backcourt, with the nation’s top incoming point guard recruit in Kennedy Chandler looking like a prototypical Rick Barnes point guard with competitiveness and toughness. He could help push Santiago Vescovi off the ball, where he’s better, while Josiah-Jordan James, Victor Bailey Jr. and Justin Powell is a good group of wings. Unlike Auburn, the questions here are in the frontcourt, where John Fulkerson will attempt to shake off last year’s slump, five-star power forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield likely plugs straight in at the four and Jonas Aidoo gives Tennessee more big man depth than it has had in a while.
3. ARKANSAS
In a year where teams have to figure out how to get the most out of their transfer heavy squads, is there a better bet to do so than Eric Musselman? Musselman’s squad arguably lacks the top-end talent of the other SEC Goliaths, but he once again loaded up in the transfer portal on 6-foot-6 to 6-7 multi-positional players in transfers Au’Diese Toney (Pittsburgh), Stanley Umude (South Dakota), Trey Wade (Wichita State) and Kamani Johnson (Little Rock). Miami transfer Chris Lykes adds dynamism to a backcourt that could have an emerging star in Devo Davis, along with JD Notae, while Jaylin Williams had his moments a year ago and could become a solid SEC center.
2. KENTUCKY
Back come the Wildcats, who have a mixture of players who took their lumps a year ago (some of whom were among last year’s biggest bright spots), elite recruits and top-notch transfers. Keion Brooks could be the best returnee and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him push for All-SEC honors, while Davion Mintz and Dontaie Allen were among the lone shooters on last year’s roster. That won’t be the case this year, thanks to the addition of transfers Kellan Grady (Davidson) and CJ Fredrick (Iowa), both of whom could be knock-down guys in Lexington. Mintz will also help some at point guard, though that position is likely to go to Georgia transfer Sahvir Wheeler early, and perhaps TyTy Washington late, once Washington’s talent takes over. And Jacob Toppin is back in a frontcourt once again buffed by newcomers in rebounding machine Oscar Tshiebwe (West Virginia transfer) and recruits Daimion Collins and Bryce Hopkins. The main question: How does it all fit?
1. ALABAMA
The Crimson Tide look to have the SEC’s best backcourt, and one of the nation’s best groups. And that could propel the program back to the Sweet 16 or beyond. Jahvon Quinerly looked reenergized after transferring in from Villanova and closer to the former five-star prospect he was out of high school. Jaden Shackelford is an excellent scorer and All-SEC candidate. And newcomers JD Davison, a five-star freshman who is excellent in transition, and former McDonald’s All-American Nimari Burnett, a transfer from Texas Tech, means there’s little drop off through the first four or so players. Like Arkansas, there’s a wealth of interchangeable wings, while Fordham transfer Noah Gurley could provide some of the missing elements up front. Keep an eye on freshman center Charles Bediako, who could add a little something extra around the rim with his length as the season goes on.
https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/SEC-basketball-preview-summer-look-Alabama-Crimson-Tide-Kentucky-Wildcats-Arkansas-Razorbacks-169226327/#169226327_1
TOP RECRUITING CLASSES IN THE 247SPORTS COMPOSITE
1. Tennessee (No. 3 nationally) — The prize is Kennedy Chandler (No. 8 overall in the 247Sports Composite), a point guard who fits Rick Barnes’ meta. But he’s one part of a class that includes six commitments and boasts four top-60 players. That includes five-star power forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (25) and four stars Jonas Aidoo (39) and Jahmai Mashack (60).
2. Kentucky (8) — The Wildcats have just three incoming freshmen, but made the most of it, with two five-star players and another who was a high four star. TyTy Washington (14) might start off the season coming off the bench but should push to start as the year goes on. Daimion Collins (15) will also have the benefit of coming along slowly but could be a bouncy rim protector. Bryce Hopkins (38) could also be tough to keep off the court.
3. Alabama (12) — JD Davison’s (12) speed and ability to push the pace didn’t just earn him a five-star ranking, it makes him a great fit for Nate Oats’ style. Charles Bediako (34) gives the Crimson Tide a 6-foot-11 center with ability to groom for the future, with Jusaun Holt (107) projecting as a quality shooter down the line.
4. LSU (13) — Efton Reid (26) has the size and skill level to factor in quickly in Baton Rouge, and the five-star is joined by a four-star wing from powerhouse IMG Academy in Brandon Murray (81). The Tigers needed to add more size and upgraded with not just the 6-11 Reid, but also 6-9 Jerrell Colbert (129) and 6-8 Bradley Ezewiro (260).
5. Texas A&M (26) — Shooting guard Manny Obaseki (33) is the third-highest rated player to commit to the Aggies in the recruiting database era. That would be enough of a cause to celebrate, but the Aggies also landed a four-star point guard in Wade Taylor (117) and a 6-9 center in Ashton Smith (211).
TOP INCOMING RECRUIT
Jabari Smith
As the No. 2 power forward and the No. 6 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite, Smith is the highest-ranked recruit in an SEC class that includes seven five-star prospects. Bruce Pearl and co. are generally well known for their up-tempo style, and Smith — who will likely spend much of his time at the four next to former five-star center Walker Kessler — has the ability to get up and down the court in transition. If the Tigers are able to space the court, Smith could take advantage as a player who can both shoot from the outside himself and face up and attack the basket.
TOP NEWCOMER
There are any number of players who could plug into this spot, including multiple Kentucky players. We picked Kentucky’s Kellan Grady out of that bunch, over his teammate Oscar Tshiebwe and others throughout the conference. Grady averaged 17.4 points per game over his four-year Davidson career and is coming off a season where he put up 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 38.2% from behind the 3-point arc. That kind of shooting — Grady has 240 career 3-point makes — and scoring (2,002 career points) will fit in well for a Kentucky team that went out this offseason looking for players to put the ball in the basket more consistently.
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Scotty Pippen Jr., G, Vanderbilt — Pippen is back at Vanderbilt after putting up monster production numbers: 20.8 points. 4.9 assists, 1.8 steals a year ago.
Jaden Shackelford, G, Alabama — It’s tough to pick one Alabama guard to thrive over the others, but Shackelford’ return is a big one after he’s averaged 14.5 points per game over the last two seasons.
Kellan Grady, G, Kentucky — 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists for Davidson last year; expect Grady to score and score efficiently for a resurgent Kentucky squad this season.
Keyontae Johnson, F, Florida — A bit of a wild card pick, Johnson was first-team All-SEC in 2019-20, then preseason SEC Player of the Year last year after his season was cut short when he collapsed on the court in the season’s fourth game.
John Fulkerson, C, Tennessee — Fulkerson’s production took a dip last year and he missed the NCAA Tournament with an injury. But we see a bounce-back closer to, and perhaps ahead of, the guy who averaged a 14-6 and shot 61.2% from the floor in 2019-20.
TOP SLEEPER TEAM (TEAM OUTSIDE THE TOP FIVE IN THE CONFERENCE THAT COULD MAKE A RUN)
Florida gets the nod here ahead of an intriguing Mississippi State team. The Gators currently rank No. 24 on statistics website BartTorvik.com, and that doesn’t account for Keyontae Johnson, who was an all-conference player when we last saw him healthy. Who knows what he’ll provide, which adds a level of X-Factor to this team. There’s also what looks like a pretty good backcourt, potentially one of the SEC’s best centers in Colin Castleton and some pretty good role players who could help the Gators get over the hump, like UMKC transfer Brandon McKissic, who didn’t just average 17.2 points per game, but who finished as the Summit League’s Defensive Player of the Year.
5. AUBURN
Adding five-star Jabari Smith and former five-star North Carolina transfer Walker Kessler gives Auburn one of the most fun-to-watch front courts with length, shot-blocking and even potentially outside shooting. If they can knock down those looks, this team could be a nightmare matchup in March. But the key to whether Auburn finishes fifth or makes a run at the SEC title will be the backcourt. Wendell Green, a transfer from Eastern Kentucky, could sneakily be one of the best transfers entering the SEC. And If some combination of transfers K.D. Johnson and Zep Jasper and returning wings Allen Flanigan and Devan Cambridge can fit together, this ranking could be too low.
4. TENNESSEE
The Volunteers got the nod over Auburn based on a better projected backcourt, with the nation’s top incoming point guard recruit in Kennedy Chandler looking like a prototypical Rick Barnes point guard with competitiveness and toughness. He could help push Santiago Vescovi off the ball, where he’s better, while Josiah-Jordan James, Victor Bailey Jr. and Justin Powell is a good group of wings. Unlike Auburn, the questions here are in the frontcourt, where John Fulkerson will attempt to shake off last year’s slump, five-star power forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield likely plugs straight in at the four and Jonas Aidoo gives Tennessee more big man depth than it has had in a while.
3. ARKANSAS
In a year where teams have to figure out how to get the most out of their transfer heavy squads, is there a better bet to do so than Eric Musselman? Musselman’s squad arguably lacks the top-end talent of the other SEC Goliaths, but he once again loaded up in the transfer portal on 6-foot-6 to 6-7 multi-positional players in transfers Au’Diese Toney (Pittsburgh), Stanley Umude (South Dakota), Trey Wade (Wichita State) and Kamani Johnson (Little Rock). Miami transfer Chris Lykes adds dynamism to a backcourt that could have an emerging star in Devo Davis, along with JD Notae, while Jaylin Williams had his moments a year ago and could become a solid SEC center.
2. KENTUCKY
Back come the Wildcats, who have a mixture of players who took their lumps a year ago (some of whom were among last year’s biggest bright spots), elite recruits and top-notch transfers. Keion Brooks could be the best returnee and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him push for All-SEC honors, while Davion Mintz and Dontaie Allen were among the lone shooters on last year’s roster. That won’t be the case this year, thanks to the addition of transfers Kellan Grady (Davidson) and CJ Fredrick (Iowa), both of whom could be knock-down guys in Lexington. Mintz will also help some at point guard, though that position is likely to go to Georgia transfer Sahvir Wheeler early, and perhaps TyTy Washington late, once Washington’s talent takes over. And Jacob Toppin is back in a frontcourt once again buffed by newcomers in rebounding machine Oscar Tshiebwe (West Virginia transfer) and recruits Daimion Collins and Bryce Hopkins. The main question: How does it all fit?
1. ALABAMA
The Crimson Tide look to have the SEC’s best backcourt, and one of the nation’s best groups. And that could propel the program back to the Sweet 16 or beyond. Jahvon Quinerly looked reenergized after transferring in from Villanova and closer to the former five-star prospect he was out of high school. Jaden Shackelford is an excellent scorer and All-SEC candidate. And newcomers JD Davison, a five-star freshman who is excellent in transition, and former McDonald’s All-American Nimari Burnett, a transfer from Texas Tech, means there’s little drop off through the first four or so players. Like Arkansas, there’s a wealth of interchangeable wings, while Fordham transfer Noah Gurley could provide some of the missing elements up front. Keep an eye on freshman center Charles Bediako, who could add a little something extra around the rim with his length as the season goes on.
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SEC preview - FIJItiger MU - 8/17 07:05:13