Southeastern Conference Player Power Rankings - Version 1.0 (Preseason)

College basketball will be on our television screens very, very soon. Technically, the first game tips off at 11:00 a.m. EST on Monday as IUPUI takes on Division III Spalding. The first good game of opening day will be played at 4:30 p.m. between Oregon and Georgia. In total, there are over 175 games featuring Division I teams on November 6th.

As we continue to preview the season here at Kentucky Sports Radio, it seemed fitting to take a closer look at the Southeastern Conference. We’ve already outlined our preseason tiers ranking all 14 teams in the league. Now, we will take on a similar exercise for individual players.

Both the media and league coaches have announced preseason All-SEC selections leading up to the season. There is a nice mixture of returning talent, exciting freshmen, and up-and-coming players in the conference this season. Wade Taylor IV from Texas A&M has been a near consensus pick in the preseason as the SEC’s best player.

However, there are returning guards at Tennessee, five-star freshmen at Kentucky, and a plethora of talented transfers at Arkansas who would like to have a word about crowning Taylor IV. Over the last few seasons, the SEC has emerged as one of the best basketball leagues in the country. In fact, no conference in the country has churned out NBA talent like the SEC.

With all of the individual talent in the conference, we will take a semi-regular look at who has impressed from around the SEC. This power ranking will lean towards a “what have you done for me lately?” snapshot, but the overall body of work certainly plays a role as well. For now, the preseason power rankings will be more of a projection as to who we expect to be the most impactful players between now and early April.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into Version 1.0 of the Southeastern Conference Player Power Rankings.

SEC Player of the Year Contenders

1. Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M) – Taylor emerged as one of the best guards in the Southeastern Conference last season averaging 16.3 points and 3.9 assists per game. His two-way ability played a big role in the Aggies going 15-3 in the league on their way to a second-place finish. He will now have a target on his back every night. If the shooting jump he made from year one to year two can hold for his junior season, then you’ll likely see Taylor IV be among the best players in the league.

2. Antonio Reeves (Kentucky) – For all that has been made about the freshmen class, Reeves is the known commodity returning to Lexington. The SEC’s Sixth Man of the Year last season is back after averaging 14.4 points on 39.8% shooting from three-point range for the ‘Cats. It is hard to predict exactly who will be Kentucky’s best player, but Reeves is the safest bet.

3. Santiago Vescovi (Tennessee) – This is the good, old-fashioned best player on the best team pick. If the Volunteers win the SEC it’ll go a long way towards Vescovi being named Player of the Year. The veteran left-handed guard has already started 110 games in Knoxville. He is very much a known commodity. Vescovi very well could battle Taylor IV as the best two-way guard in the league this season.

Dominant Big Men Knocking on the Door

4. Johni Broome (Auburn) – If someone other than a guard wins SEC Player of the Year it will likely be Auburn’s Broome. The two-time All-OVC selection was excellent in his first season for the Tigers in 2022-23. Broome transitioned seamlessly averaging 14.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. If Coach Bruce Pearl and Tigers compete for an SEC Tournament double bye, expect Broome to be squarely in the Player of the Year conversation.

5. Tolu Smith (Mississippi State) – Smith would have potentially been the favorite for SEC Player of the Year if he entered the season healthy. However, the 6’10” big man could be out until around the first of the year. If that is the case it will be nearly impossible for him to win the award. Still, Smith is one of the best in the SEC. Last season, he averaged 15.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Freshmen and Transfers

6. Justin Edwards (Kentucky) – The only freshman to land a preseason All-SEC designation, Edwards is a potential top-five NBA Draft pick. He is a 6’8″ left-handed wing who will be a constant matchup problem for opposing defenses. It is hard to know what to expect from freshmen right away, but physically Edwards has all the tools.

7. DJ Wagner (Kentucky) – Kentucky could cannibalize their ability to have someone win Player of the Year. However, they also have the most guys talented enough to be considered real contenders. Wagner will have the ball in his hands a ton and features the offensive aggressiveness necessary to win the award. It wouldn’t be shocking for Wagner to be the Wildcats’ best player this season.

8. Aaron Estrada (Alabama) – Estrada is no stranger to winning conference Player of the Year awards. In fact, he was the two-time CAA Player of the Year at Hofstra before bringing his talents to the SEC. Coach Nate Oats’ style of play should bring out the best in the dynamic guard’s game. He averaged 20.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game last season. If he can approach those numbers in the up-tempo system, he could be a sneaky candidate for the award.

Betting on Upside

9. Riley Kugel (Florida) – A trendy name to follow heading into the 2023-2024 season, Kugel was selected preseason First Team All-SEC by the coaches. The 6’5″ guard averaged 9.9 points per game as a freshman, but he was at his best in the final 10 games when he averaged 17.3 points per game during that span. If he continues that trajectory into this season he could shoot up this list.

10. Trevon Brazile (Arkansas) – There is no shortage of upside in this 6’10” prospect. However, through two seasons of college basketball, he has missed more games than he has played. Brazile was solid as a freshman at Missouri and then put up 11.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Arkansas. Those averages came in just nine games though. If he can stay healthy, which is a big if, he can be one of the best in the Southeastern Conference.

Other Names to Consider

• 11. El Ellis (Arkansas)
• 12. Zakai Zeigler (Tennessee)
• 13. Grant Nelson (Alabama)
• 14. Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida)
• 15. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss)