2022-2023 SEC College Basketball Preview

The SEC is certainly one of the 2 super conferences in college athletics that are shaping realignment. For as much as they are football oriented and make moves with the football in mind, they have built a pretty incredible basketball conference. I have 25% of the top 20 as coming from the SEC this season and 9 teams in my top 33. I believe that’s entirely realistic, too. They had 7 in the top 32 last year of NET. Here are the national rankings, so you can see the tiers I believe each team is on.

These are our national rankings so you can see the tiers we place each team on nationally.

1-363 ranking

SEC Basketball Standings

		National Rank
3	Kentucky	SEC
7	Tennessee	SEC
12	Arkansas	SEC
16	Auburn	SEC
19	Alabama	SEC
24	Florida	SEC
27	Texas A&M	SEC
30	Missouri	SEC
33	LSU	SEC
58	Mississippi State	SEC
64	Ole Miss	SEC
84	Georgia	SEC
94	South Carolina	SEC
109	Vanderbilt	SEC

Bracketology

Instead of an All-Conference team, I?ve listed the Top Returning Players by Peak Adjusted Efficiency for SOS. Most will likely come from this list anyway, but the awards are more team driven. I?m more interested in who is doing the most when they are on the court. The players can?t control the team that was put around them. If they are putting up tangible numbers at top efficiency per possession on bad teams, that is more impressive to me. It?s coming under more pressure and game planning for them, with less viable options around them to take the pressure off. This list encompasses the players that have been the best on a D1 court going into the season.

ADJ eff		Rank
2	Oscar Tshiebwe	Kentucky
10	Colin Castleton	Florida
16	Tolu Smith	Mississippi State
29	Tyrece Radford	Texas A&M
32	Isiaih Mosley	Missouri
49	KJ Williams	LSU
50	Kobe Brown	Missouri
51	Tyreke Key	Tennesse
58	Noah Carter	Missouri
74	Henry Coleman	Texas A&M
84	Hayden Brown	South Carolina
88	Braelen Bridges	Georgia
90	Santiago Vescovi	Tennesse
108	Terry Roberts	Georgia
130	Trey Bonham	Florida
140	Jahvon Quinerly	Alabama
142	Ricky Council	Arkansas
159	Will Richard	Florida
160	Mark Sears	Alabama
161	Antonio Reeves	Kentucky
165	Kendal Coleman	LSU
169	Josiah-Jordan James	Tennesse
173	Kario Oquendo	Georgia
175	Makhi Mitchell	Arkansas
178	Ronnie DeGray III	Missouri
188	Zakai Zeigler	Tennesse
189	Jordan Wright	Vanderbilt

(Last year?s NET, Seed, and Tournament Finish on the top header line for reference. Deep bench players are not listed, only those in the projected rotation. I also included player ADJ eff rankings. ADJ eff Rankings and qualifying explanation here.)

1. Kentucky

Kentucky	9 NET	2 seed	PER	1R
Oscar Tshiebwe	6-9, 260	17.4ppg, 15.2rpg	35	Sr
Damion Collins	6-9, 202	2.9ppg, 2.0rpg	21.2	So
Chris Livingston	6-6, 190	5*		Fr
Antonio Reeves	6-4, 190	20.1ppg, 3.5rpg (@ Illinois St)	21.5	Jr
Sahvir Wheeler	5-10, 180	10.1ppg, 6.9apg	14..7	Sr
CJ Fredrick	6-3, 195	7.5ppg, 1.9apg (Iowa 2021)	13.5	So
Jacob Toppin	6-9, 294	6.2ppg, 3.2rpg	19.1	So
Carson Wallace	6-3, 180	5*		Fr
Lance Ware	6-9, 223	1.5ppg, 1.9rpg	13.2	So

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
2	Oscar Tshiebwe
161	Antonio Reeves
281	Sahvir Wheeler

Reeves, Fredrick, and Collins/Toppin should be comparable to the losses of Washington, Grady, and Brooks. The latter group may have had more individual talent, but I think the replacements can make up for it with better fit and shooting. I see that shooting as a better complement to a player like Tshiebwe. Having a PG like Wheeler who is elite at facilitating to get Tshiebwe and the shooters the ball around him is the key here. I think the shooting could unlock an already potent offense even more.

As I was researching the freshman, Livingston?s stats as a Junior were pretty unreal. One of the best lines I?ve ever seen, 31.1ppg, 15.8rpg, 6.5apg, 4.7spg, 4.3bpg and he shot 56% from three 2.7 makes a game in Akron. He even averaged 24ppg and led them to a state title as a freshman and 15ppg 8rpg for Team USA as well. I generally don?t expect big things from freshmen on loaded teams, but this one is hard to ignore. He did come down to earth a little on a loaded Oak Hill as a senior with 17.1ppg, still, his fit on this team is intriguing.

The separation between the top 5 before all the Gonzaga and UNC massive June adds was relatively small in my estimation, so this choice came down ultimately to who had the best player, and that?s Tshiebwe. It?s still the case for the rest. He?s still the best player in the country until someone else takes that crown. Having a proven shooter at a P5 conference like Fredrick (47% from 3 careers) and highly productive per-possession returners like Collins and Toppin beside him who appear ready for bigger roles puts Kentucky over the top.

2. Tennessee

Tennessee	7 NET	3 seed	PER	2R
Uros Plavsic	7-0, 262	4.2ppg, 4.0rpg	15.9	Sr
Olivier Nkamhoua	6-8, 223	8.6ppg, 5.6rpg	19.4	Sr
Josiah-Jordan James	6-6, 207	10.3ppg, 6.0ppg	17	Sr
Santiago Vescovi	6-3, 180	13.3ppg, 3.2apg	19.6	Sr
Zakai Zeigler	5-9, 160	8.8ppg, 2.7apg	16.6	So
Tyreke Key	6-3, 205	17.2ppg, 5.3rpg (2021 @In St)	23.5	Sr
Julian Phillips	6-7, 210	5*		Fr
B.J. Edwards	6-1, 165	4*		Fr
Jonas Aidoo	6-11, 230	2.1ppg, 2.0rpg		So

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
51	Tyreke Key
90	Santiago Vescovi
169	Josiah-Jordan James
188	Zakai Zeigler

The lack of post-season success is the only knock here. While Chandler is a loss this is a team that returns many of the parts as well as adds a multiple-year All MVC performer in Tyreke Key. Key missed all of last year with shoulder surgery at Indiana State, but that?s far less of a concern than a lower-body injury. We?ve seen guys like Paul George and Patty Mills come back from shoulder surgery and never miss a beat.

Key seems capable of making up for some of the value Chandler provided in a different way and is a huge addition to a team already with a lot of continuity and experience. Now they just need to take the next step in the postseason. The regular-season version of this team should put them in another advantageous position with a high seed. They should also be the biggest threat to Kentucky for the SEC titles as well.

3. Arkansas

Arkansas	21 NET	4 seed	PER	E8
Makhi Mitchell	6-9, 235	9.9ppg, 7.3rpg(@RI)	18.4	Jr
Jalen Graham	6-9, 220	9.9ppg, 4.6rpg (@Arizona St)	16.7	Jr
Ricky Council	6-6, 205	12.0ppg, 5.4rpg(@Wichita St)	19.9	So
Davonte Davis	6-3, 180	8.3ppg, 3.7rpg	11.8	Jr
Nick Smith	6-4, 190	5*		Fr
Trevon Brazile	6-9, 215	6.6ppg, 5.1rpg(@Mizz)	19.6	So
Derrian Ford	6-3, 190	4*		Fr
Makhel Mitchell	6-10, 245	10.7ppg, 5.6rpg(@RI)	18.2	Jr
Jordan Walsh	6-7, 195	5*		Fr
Anthony Black	6-7, 190	5*		Fr

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
142	Ricky Council
175	Makhi Mitchell
204	Makhel Mitchell
232	Jalen Graham

Musselman has certainly demonstrated the ability to leverage the NIL to get transfers and elite high school talent. The biggest concern here is having to rely on an 18-year-old freshman PG no matter how hyped they are. This is still the era of the super senior where everyone is essentially a year older and college basketball is still as old as it has ever been. Smith put up 26.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 7.3 apg, all very elite numbers in high school, but it?s still high school. Watching the video of him he appeared very tall and skilled with the ball but also very slender. I would expect 4th and 5th year players to get into him with their strength and leverage advantages.

Another issue I have with this team is who can make a three. That is a problem they have demonstrated they can mostly overcome and have success despite a lack of three-point shooting. It?s still less than ideal and problematic when you want to give a guy like Smith space to work and leverage his ball handling, height, and athletic advantages. This is a team some are picking as high as #1, I do think the fit and build of it will keep that ceiling lower though. Unless you got a Zion Williamson-level freshman having one of the best seasons ever it?s kind of hard to be one of the worst 3-point shooting teams like that Duke team was, and still have #1 aspirations.

Smith would benefit from a proven shooter beside him and someone to take some of the ball-handling pressure off him but there is no one like that on this roster. They do have an embarrassment of riches with proven players in the post. I guess all these transfers didn?t get the memo that you can?t all play at the same time. Hopefully, they can keep them all happy in the locker room as guys that were unhappy enough at the last stops to move on already.

4. Auburn

Auburn	13 NET	2 seed	PER	2R
Johni Broome	6-10, 235	16.8ppg, 10.5rpg(@Morehead St)	32.6	So
Jaylin Williams	6-8, 230	5.6ppg, 2.7rpg	16.6	Jr
Chance Westry	6-5, 175	4*		Fr
K.D. Johnson	6-1, 190	12.0ppg, 2.9rpg	14.9	Jr
Wendell Green	5-11, 170	12.3ppg, 5.1apg	18.6	Jr
Zep Jasper	6-1, 170	5.1ppg, 2.1apg	9.1	Gr
Yohan Traore	6-9, 220	4*		Fr
Allen Flanigan	6-6. 215	6.3ppg, 3.5rpg	6.5	Sr
Tre Donaldson	6-2, 190	4*		Fr
Dylan Cardwell	6-11, 250	3.0ppg, 3.0rpg	23.3	Jr

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
21	Johni Broome
123	Wendell Green
187	Jaylin Williams
273	K.D. Johnson

I believe Broome steps right in for Kessler, and this experienced backcourt will give them a good chance if they get any competent shooting help at all. Unfortunately, they still have to try to make up for Jabari Smith. Still, I think the floor is high on this team with a big like Broome and a backcourt like they have. They need someone to step in and play SF competently, Westry seems to project as the most capable.

5. Alabama

Alabama	32 NET	6 seed	PER	1R
Charles Bediako	7-0, 225	6.7ppg, 4.3rpg	23	So
Noah Gurley	6-8, 210	6.8ppg, 3.5rpg	14	Gr
Brandon Miller	6-8, 190	5*		Fr
Mark Sears	6-1, 185	19.6ppg, 4.1apg (@Ohio)	24.9
Jahvon Quinerly	6-1, 175	13.8ppg, 4.2apg	13.9	Sr
Domink Welch	6-5, 200	12.3pppg, 6.0rpg(St Bonny)	14.7	Gr
Jaden Bradley	6-2, 190	5*		Fr
Darius Miles	6-6, 185	5.8ppg, 3.3	12.9	Jr
Rylan Griffen	6-5, 180	4*		Fr
Noah Clowney	6-9, 210	4*		Fr
Nick Pringle	6-10, 220	9.2ppg 8.9rpg (JUCO)

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
140	Jahvon Quinerly
160	Mark Sears

This is a team with lots of quality depth. I really like the look of it. Bediako seems ready for more. With this much depth, I think Nate Oates will find the right combinations and be in good shape to withstand injuries or covid absences. Yes, unfortunately, teams still have to factor this into a post 2020 covid world IMO and this team is built for some absences.

Brandon Miller is the wildcard. I?m usually a little skeptical of 6-8 ?wings?, especially freshmen on loaded teams but his lateral speed to defend and ball handling seemed to check out from the videos I watched. Even if he?s not getting by defenders, he still seems like he could have value with how he shot the three-pointer. At his size, you know he can get some off.

Having made 41% on high volume (99 threes made), indicates Miller will have at least one reliable skill to lean on. The shooting seems pretty real when he backed it up with 86% from the line and shooting 47% from three the previous year. If he struggles, they have a proven player in Welch as well.

6. Florida

Florida	61 NET	NIT	PER	2R
Colin Castleton	6-11, 231	16.2ppg, 9.0rpg	28.8	Gr
CJ Felder	6-7, 230	3.5ppg, 2.3rpg	17.9	Sr
Will Richard	6-5, 195	12.1ppg, 6.0rpg(@Belmont)	21.6	So
Kyle Lofton	6-3, 190	12.8ppg, 5.9apg(@St Bonny)	16.4	Sr
Trey Bonham	6-0, 170	13.6ppg, 4.0apg(@VMI)	22.8	Jr
Alex Fudge	6-8, 185	3.3ppg, 3.2rpg(@LSU)	13.4	So
Myreon Jones	6-3, 180	8.5ppg, 2.8rpg	11.9	Gr
Jason Jitoboh	6-11, 285	4.1ppg, 2.4rpg	23.3	Sr
Kowacie Reeves	6-6, 182	5.5ppg, 1.4rpg	12.9	Sr
Denzel Aberdeen	6-4, 175	4*		Fr

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
10	Colin Castleton
130	Trey Bonham
159	Will Richard
280	Kyle Lofton

Florida has a new coach and the fresh start they wanted. Returning a stud like Castleton and some solid role players will help Todd Golden. Golden did his part with a great transfer haul to round it out I think they are on the way up. I like this roster and Golden proved he could lead a big turnaround into the top 25 taking San Francisco from 11-14 to the top 25 last year with a couple of good transfer adds. I think this sets up similar, and Castleton is a nice start to build around.

7. Texas A&M

Texas A&M	36 NET	NIT		CG
Julius Marble II	6-8, 225	6.4ppg, 3.3rpg (@Mich St)	18.2	Jr
Henry Coleman	6-7, 229	11.0ppg, 6.2rpg	22.4	Jr
Tyrece Radford	6-2, 200	10.9ppg, 6.2rpg	18.8	Sr
Andre Gordon	6-2, 188	5.4ppg, 2.2rpg	13.4	Sr
Wade Taylor	6-0, 186	8.2ppg, 2.2apg	14.6	So
Andersson Garcia	6-7, 205	4.3ppg, 4.2rpg (@Miss St)	20.5	Jr
Denis Dexter	6-5, 210	8.4ppg, 5.0rpg(@WSU)	12.3	Sr
Manny Obaseki	6-4, 189	3.6ppg, 1.8rpg	9.8	So
Hayden Hefner	6-6, 182	3.5ppg, 1.0rpg	11.7	Jr
Javonte Brown	7-0, 250	1.5ppg, 1.6rpg	13.3	So
Erik Pratt	6-5, 180	18.1ppg 4.1rpg (JUCO)		Jr
Solomon Washington	6-6, 190	4*		Fr

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
29	Tyrece Radford
74	Henry Coleman

Jackson is a massive loss because he was superb, yet they only played him 26 minutes a game. It’s not like they are replacing a guy playing 35 minutes like most stars making his impact are. If they played the good players like him and Coleman that are impacting the game positively more minutes, and you probably make the NCAA’s instead of the NIT last year.

That’s not their style though. This team is extremely deep again, that’s why I posted 11 deep because they went about that deep last year. I don’t know why players with options want to come here and play these suppressed minutes, but they do. They added some nice players and have existing continuity.

As a general philosophy, I’d much rather have a guy like Quenton Jackson last year playing 10 more minutes than the 10th or 11th man even if he’s not as fresh. This is a college with a 30-second shot clock and 40 minute game with really young guys. This is not the NBA with 30-something-year-olds playing 82 games. I’ve never really seen the value in suppressing the star’s minutes and having rotations this deep. Those minutes essentially go to the 10th men.

Radford had a down year, but I do think he can step it up and play more like he did at Virginia Tech under Buzz and help make up some of the Jackson loss. There is still a lot of returning continuity and good players, from a team playing well late in the year too. I just question the style lending itself to a high ceiling with exceptions like Rick Pitino type talent and depth at Kentucky or Louisville.

8. Missouri

Missouri	151 NET	None
Mohamed Diarra	6-10,215	17.8ppg, 12.6rpg (JUCO)		Jr
Kobe Brown	6-7, 240	12.5ppg, 7.6rpg	21.2	Sr
DeAndre Gholston	6-5, 215	16.8ppg, 5.2rpg (2021@Mil)	19.2	Sr
Isiaih Mosley	6-5, 201	20.4ppg, 6.4rpg	27.7	Sr
Sean East	6-3, 170	20.9ppg 5.7apg (JUCO)		Jr
Nick Honor	5-10, 205	7.7ppg, 2.4apg(@Clemson)	12.9	Sr
Noah Carter	6-6, 229	15.0ppg, 4.1rpg(@NIU)	23.7	Jr
D?Moi Hodge	6-4, 180	15.4ppg, 3.1rpg (@Clev St)	23.8	Gr
Tre Gomillion	6-4, 215	10.5ppg, 4.7rpg (@Clev St)	17.1	Gr
Ronnie DeGray III	6-7, 220	8.3ppg, 4.6rpg	16.8	Jr
Aidan Shaw	6-8, 190	4*		Fr

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
32	Isiaih Mosley
50	Kobe Brown
58	Noah Carter
178	Ronnie DeGray III

I loved what they had done even before they added Mosley. This is a completely different team with a new coach. I think people could be sleeping on the work Dennis Gates has put in on one spring. It?s great stuff including bringing over 2 core Cleveland State players to help him set the tone and vouch for him. Sean East even has solid D1 experience as well at Bradley and UMass and I choose to ignore how bad Gholston played last year. That was a weird year IMO with a highly inefficient, overhyped coach?s son altering his role and spots on the court. I expect him to bounce back closer to his 2021 season. This is a team that if they look good early will move up quickly in my rankings. Right now just the unknown of how they all work together seems to be the only hold-up and I doubt I?m sleeping on them more than most will. They could be a top 15 talented team, but who knows how it comes together.

9. LSU

LSU	20 NET	6seed		1R
KJ Williams	6-10, 245	18.0ppg, 8.4rpg (@Murray St)	30.3	Gr
Kendal Coleman	6-8,230	15.4ppg, 10.1rpg (@Northwestern St	24.4	So
Trae Hannibal	6-2, 210	9.2ppg, 5.1rpg(@ Murray St)	21.7	Jr
Cam Hayes	6-3,175	7.8ppg, 3.1apg (@NC St 2021)	14.1	So
Justice Hill	6-0, 170	13.4ppg, 5.1apg(@Murray St)	19.2	Jr
Derek Fountain	6-9, 210	5.4ppg, 3.0rpg(2021@ Miss St)	12.4	Jr
Adam Miller	6-3, 180	8.3ppg, 2.8rpg (2021@Illinois)	9.5	So
Mwani Wilkinson	6-5, 215	4.0ppg, 3.0rpg	9.9	So
Jalen Reed	6-9, 230	4*		Fr
Shawn Phillips	6-10, 250	4*		Fr
Tyrell Ward	6-7, 180	4*		Fr

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
49	KJ Williams
165	Kendal Coleman
248	Trae Hannibal

I like what McMahon has done since his arrival, even losing most of his team. They probably won’t be able to play in the NCAA, unfortunately for things he didn’t do. I guess no one told the new players this. Either way, I like what he did around the new guys retaining Miller and Wilkerson even if I wasn’t as high on them as others. Off the bench, they are completely solid.

Either way, when you can essentially reconstitute 3/4’s of the impactful core of a top 30 NET team at Murray State that went to the 2nd round, I think that will go a long way in the rebuild. Those three carry-over players can help set the tone and culture for what McMahon wants and drive some continuity and get the rest of the players in place. This is something the other portal-heavy-type teams probably won’t have early.

I doubt anyone else will rank them anywhere nearly as high, but it comes down to how real you think a top 30 NET/2nd round Murray State was. I think they were legit and this is almost like transporting their team to the P6 and adding Colman and some LSU depth, I think this could even be a little disrespectful. We’ll see how well it works in the SEC.

10. Mississippi State

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
16	Tolu Smith
214	DeShawn Davis

Transfers
Will McNair Jr.	6-10, 265	6.6ppg, 4.9rpg	15.5	New Mex St
Eric Reed Jr.	6-2, 190	16.3ppg, 3.3rpg	17.3	SE Mizz St
Dashawn Davis	6-2, 185	10.9ppg, 5.5apg	16	Oregon St

The best thing Mississippi State did this off-season was hired, Chris Jans. I think he’s one of the best up-and-coming coaches and he’s won at several stops while climbing the ladder. These former JUCO coaches like Jans and Steve Forbes seem to be a very underused avenue for coaching hires. Something about recruiting high-level college players in JUCO and knowing you have to flip the roster every year seems to translate to the college basketball world of today with the transfer portal. Those guys are well-equipped. Jans with big boy talent should work out pretty well. Ben Howland did him a favor by leaving a big-time player in Tolu Smith. His 14.2ppg 6.5rpg is a great building block.

Jans two keep transfers in Eric Reed from Southeast Missouri State and DeShawn Davis from Oregon State. Oregon State was a3-winn trash (a year after an Elite 8 WTF), but Davis was good averaging 10.9ppg and 5.5apg on a team that couldn’t shoot which is pretty solid. He will be able to get the ball to Smith for sure, and with a Center/Point Guard Combo as good as they have it’s a good start. Adding Eric Reed’s shooting will help as well. He’s the shooter this team badly needed, having shot .398% from three in his 2 seasons there on a strong 2.3made-a-game volume. Between feeding those two the ball, Davis could be among the leaders in assist in the nation. Reed will help give Davis and Smith space to work.

Davis himself didn’t shoot well either, going 9-48 for 18% from three. This is the same player that made 48 threes at 42% in JUCO’s the previous year and he made 84 at .391% in his 2 seasons in JUCO. He can’t be that bad of a three-point shooter in the small sample he had last year. I expect a MUCH better showing shooting the there pointer this season and a bigger volume.

11. Ole Miss

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
210	Daeshun Ruffin
239	Theo Akwuba
244	Josh Mballa

Key Newcomers
Theo Akwuba 11.3ppg, 9.3rpg, 2.0bpg, 25.6 PER in 2021 @Louisana
Josh Mballa 15.3ppg, 10.8rpg 25.7 PER in 2021 @ Buffalo
Jayveous McKinnis 12.4ppg, 10.3rpg, 2.9bpg 26.7 PER @ Jackson State
Key Returners
Dashun Ruffin 12.6ppg and 3.4apg and 18.0 PER
Matthew Murrell 12.1ppg, 3.0rpg 15.9 PER

Mississippi is a team that returns a good bit of experience, even while losing some players to graduation and transfer. They also did a pretty good job to replace what they lost in the portal, adding Theo Akwuba (11.3ppg, 9.3rpg, 2.0bpg, 25.6 PER in 2021) from Louisiana and Josh Mballa(15.3ppg, 10.8rpg 25.7 PER in 2021) from Buffalo to solidify the post. Both players are a couple of years removed from their best season but who cares. When you have shown a ceiling that high I’m going to certainly believe you can get back. They are quality adds even if they only play as well as they did last season regardless. Big time gets.

In an embarrassment of riches in the post, they also added Jayveous McKinnis at 6-7, 220 from Jackson State to the post. He averaged 12.4ppg, 10.3rpg, and 2.9bpg with a 26. 7 PER. He also averaged 13.2rpg the season before as well. Rebounding is one of the best-translating stats from level to level and this team should have no issue rebounding. They should pummel other teams on the boards with two incoming players that have averaged a double double in D1.

Ole Miss will also get Dashun Ruffin back at point guard who only played 14 games last season. They missed him last season and getting his efficient 12.6ppg and 3.4apg and 18.0 PER will be very helpful. They also return Matthew Murrell 12.1ppg, 3.0rpg 15.9 PER and comes with a top 45 pedigree out of high school for people that care about that. He was fine but maybe he has some more potential to explore as well. The depth and pieces seem to be there, the real question is if Kermit Davis can bring it all together. The natives have to be getting restless as the trajectory hasn’t been very good after making the NCAA’s and year one and going 13-19 last season.

12. Georgia

Georgia	223 NET
Braelen Bridges	6-10, 235	12.9ppg, 5.6rpg	19.6	Gr
M. Moncrieffe	6-7, 215	9.0ppg, 5.3rpg (2021@OKST)	17.1	Jr
Kario Oquendo	6-4, 210	15.0ppg, 4.3rpg	16.9	Jr
Terry Roberts	6-3, 180	14.5ppg, 4.1apg(@Bradley)	21.1	Sr
Justin Hill	6-0, 185	14.2ppg, 4.1apg(@Longwood)	20	Jr
Mardrez McBride	6.2, 178	11.3ppg, 3.0rpg(@N.Texas)	13.6	Gr
Frank Anselem	6-10, 201	2.6ppg, 3.8rpg(@Syracuse)	14.1	Jr
Jabri Abdur-Rahim	6-7, 214	6.9ppg, 3.2rpg	12.3	So
Jailyn Ingram	6-7,215	10.7ppg, 6.0pg	14.7	Gr

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
88	Braelen Bridges
108	Terry Roberts
173	Kario Oquendo

There are a lot of quality additions to this team, and White I believe while not a great coach, he will be a lot better than Crean. Oquendo shot 3’s much better in JUCO?s and I believe can get that up, so there is some room to grow there. He will not have to try to carry this team all by himself now as well so the looks should be better. When Bridges is a traffic cone in the post, they have options now with a guy like Anselem now they can at least go to. I?m not sure how Ingram can still be in school 7 years later, but I guess he is. Just lots of depth and more competent coaching now.

13. South Carolina

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
84	Hayden Brown

Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk	6-8, 235	1.6ppg, 2.1rpg	13.9	Illinois
Hayden Brown	6-5, 225	18.8ppg, 9.5rpg	24.8	The Citidel
Ebrima Dibba	6-6, 205	8.1ppg, 5.4apg	14.1	Coastal Carolina
Troy Boynton	6-4, 170			Evansville
Meechie Johnson Jr.	6-2, 170	4.4ppg, 1.2apg	6.5	Ohio State

Lamont Paris got the job this spring and went to work trying to rebuild this roster. He did a pretty decent job landing Hayden Brown, who while an undersized 6-5 PF I think will find a way to still be productive in the SEC. The Southern Conference is a lot better than people realize, and he was playing a big vs a solid SOS. The biggest addition however is GG Jackson who was the #1 recruit in the 2023 class and had committed to UNC. When he reclassified and UNC didn’t have the scholarship to give him this year he found his way on this South Carolina team. At 6-9, 210 he is also at PF, so I’m not really sure of the fit between him and Brown. They project as pretty clearly the two best players so they have to be on the court somehow together if that means C/PF or PF/SF, neither seems ideal though to me. So there is that weird fit as neither shoot 3’s very well.

Jackson is only 17 years old and will not turn 18 until December. He’s also 6-9, 210 which is a little light. I know there will be a lot of expectations for him to produce and be a star from day one but I think people need to remember this is still the age of the super senior where everyone is a year older than their class. He will be competing in the post with some 23-year-old men like Oscar Tshiebwe. I don’t expect him to be the kind of star I would assume most do from day one even if he is a projected top 5 pick. That’s future potential, and he still seems a bit raw and young at the present to expect a game-changing impact. Maybe I will eat those words but he didn’t play much in the U18s. He only got in 2 of the 3 games and averaged 17 minutes a game. He was pretty explosive in those games with 14ppg 8rpg so who knows? He’s not going to be playing 17-year-olds from Brazil next year. I just wonder why he wasn’t playing more if he’s the superstar many think from day one. Some people said the same thing about Emoni Bates too and reclassification can be hit or miss.

The outside shooting on this team projects to be bad as well. I wouldn’t expect either Jackson or Brown to have much space to work in as teams collapse on them and hope they will dare their shooter to take three’s.

14. Vanderbilt

Peak Efficiency Adjusted by SOS	Returning Players in the Top 300
189	Jordan Wright
245	Myles Stute

Gone is Scottie Pippen Jr, and his 20.4ppg and 4.5apg. Pippen was 1st in Points Produced in all of the college basketball last season. To say they have a lot to make up is an understatement. Jerry Stackhouse didn’t replace him. He tried with Ezra Manjon who averaged 15.0ppg 3.4apg with a 15.2 PER at UC-Davis, but this is like the homeless man’s version. What they lost in Pippen will likely have to be replaced mostly by Wright and Stute. It could get rough in Nashville this season.