MikeHamiltonFan
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2009
- Messages
- 6,366
- Likes
- 0
SEC brimming with big-time recruits again GoVolsXtra
This story talks about it a little bit, but I wanted to delve a bit deeper into the players we will all enjoy watching who are entering the SEC this season.
The SEC has an amazing influx of basketball talent. Before Luke Cothron failed to qualify they had 28 of the Rivals 150 coming to SEC rosters. I will just discuss the classes I think that will make the biggest impact, and then the players I think who will shine brightest as freshmen.
Tobias Harris will be the best freshman in the SEC. He is in a great position to score an absurd amount and to shine on a national stage through the OOC schedule so that when he gets to conference play, we may have our first player since Allan Houston the refs will respect. If you disagree, I would enjoy revisiting this thread after the season, just reply with your freshman POY in the SEC.
I believe that Enes Kanter will not be allowed to make a ton of money overseas and suit up for Cal, but even if I am wrong, I believe that Tobias Harris will prove to be the top freshman in the league.
Kentucky
Even without Kanter, the best class belongs to Kentucky, and Brandon Knight should be electric. At some point it will frustrate him that his magic shines less brightly because of how incredible Wall was the year before, but Knight is an absolute stud. The numerical ranking of the players in the class is more absurd when you see that it is not as talented as the 2011 class. Thank God Calipari is not a talented X's and O's guy and keeps playing super freshmen who leave for the NBA because his teams will always be more talented than anyone else in the SEC in terms of NBA talent.
I will not break down each of these studs, as we have a UK fan here who I am sure will be happy to provide a better commentary than I could.
PF Enes Kanter (3)
PG Brandon Knight (6)
PF Terrence Jones (13)
SG Doron Lamb (21)
SF Stacey Poole (33)
C Eloy Vargas
Tennessee
Tennessee we all know has a great class. What is lost from Rivals list is that TN is increasing depth and defensive ability in the post dramatically with the addition of Fields and Maymon. Both of those guys will have an impact on our season. There were people last year who were crying thinking about Swiper having to spell Williams at C if anything happened to Hall because of our lack of bigs. Pearl gave us tons of depth.
PF Tobias Harris (7)
SG Jordan McRae (47)
SG Trae Golden (63)
Rivals comments "The Tennessee class is in the top 10 behind the signing of Tobias Harris, the No. 5 prospect in the Rivals150. Tennessee previously had landed a formidable one-two scoring punch with the backcourt duo of McRae and Golden. McRae is a rangy wing player who can score off the catch and the dribble. Golden is a physical combo guard who thrives off scoring off the dribble."
The best part about Harris aside from his amazing work ethic is how clean his nose is. He is the anti Ramar Smith.
Florida
Florida has a very strong class, but the best newcomer may be transfer Mike Rosario. Dan Werner leaving is addittion by subtraction and Georgetown transfer Vernon Maclin will try to have a much stronger year this year than last. He will be joined in the frontcourt by stud recruit Patric Young. Alex Tyus wants to make it to the NBA, and his previous play does not make that aspiration a reality. Anyone who thinks Florida is a soft team this year is going to get their nose bloodied.
PF Patric Young (27)
SF Casey Prather (71)
PF Will Yeguete
PF Cody Larson
PG Scottie Wilbekin
Rivals comments "It was a busy spring for Billy Donovan and the Gators. After addressing their lack of toughness with the beastly Young and hard-playing Prather in the Fall, the Gators added several pieces during the late signing period. A coaching change at Iowa allowed the underrated and skilled Larson to change his college destination. Slightly undersized, Yeguette earned admirers during the spring for his toughness and rebounding ability. Wilbekin is expected to finish up his high school classes early in order to help out his hometown program's backcourt. Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario isn't part of the 2010 class, but he has already proved to be a scoring guard on the high major level."
South Carolina
The next team in the top 25 classes is a team that everyone is writing off because of one player.
Sometimes one player seems so integral to a teams success, that when he is gone people project the whole team will fall apart. I actually believe that South Carolina will have a better OOC result without Downey than with him. I think it is likely they will suffer in the conference schedule without a go to, but with two of their starters (Archie and Holmes) who missed most of the year to injury back to play I think it is very possible they will be a balanced and deeper team than last year.
PF Damontre Harris (64)
PG Bruce Ellington (96)
PF R.J. Slawson (117)
C Carlton Geathers
SG Brian Richardson
PG Eric Smith
Rivals comments "Second-year coach Darrin Horn has created some impressive momentum on the recruiting front. His five-man class is led by Harris, a four-star big man with loads of potential. Ellington is a freakishly fast and strong four-star point guard. Slawson is another athletic post man with potential. Richardson, a scoring wing, and Smith - an athletic point guard - round out the class."
LSU
The only other class in the top 25 of Rivals is the rescue of Trent Richardson. He was playing a rappers son who most consider to be the equivalent of a Tyler Summitt last year. His depth was really hurting. In the off season he kicked off the second leading scorer (Bo Spencer) from last year, showing how much he believes in what he has coming in. Malcolm White is not new to the SEC but he is new to LSU. White is a transfer from Ole Miss who averaged 7.2 points and 5.7 rebounds a game in 2008-09. Richardson said he feels most comfortable with him of all his players at this point. It looks likely that he will be starting two freshmen from this class.
SF Matt Derenbecker (77)
PG Andre Stringer (107)
SF Ralston Turner (142)
PG K.C. Ross-Miller (147)
PF Jalen Courtney
Rivals comments "Despite a rough 2009-10 campaign, coach Trent Johnson certainly has the LSU program moving in the right direction on the recruiting front. His 2010 recruiting class is led by Berenbecker, who is a highly skilled wing out of Louisiana. Stringer is a four-star point guard with a great long-range shot. Turner is also a shooter with a dose of athleticism on the wing. Adding help in the backcourt is Ross-Miller, a scoring point guard. Rounding out the class is Courtney, who is a versatile forward."
Arkansas
Jeff Peterson who transferred from Iowa to Arkansas is a very strong player at PG. Unlike Fortson he should be able to keep a great assist/turnover ratio.
He will be joined by JUCO Marvell Waite who will have to contribute in the frontcourt for Arkansas to avoid a massive drop off from the play of the departed Washington.
Freshmen for Pelphrey who are incredible and will start immediately will have to wait until next year, but he has some capable contributors in:
Rivals #81
Rickey Scott G
Irving, TX Irving Macarthur School
A physical athlete with a versatile game.
4 stars
6'3" 195
and
#110
Mardracus Wade G
Chatham, VA Hargrave Military Academy
Athletic slasher and rebounder.
3 stars
6'2" 170
Lest you view Wade as lowly ranked, realize that he ended up a slot above Aaron Craft who we all know well in the Rivals 150. Also in playing at Hargrave he should be ready to transition to CBB quickly.
This is Clarke's team but these guys will provide some good depth and should be solid contributors by next year.
Auburn
Poor Luke Cothron will make UMass a good program around the time Pelphrey is bringing studs into Fayetteville, fall of 2011, but Auburn is going to open it's new arena to a team that stinks out loud. Auburn also recruited non reader Shawn Kemp Jr. so to say the talent they have is thin would be an understatement. They may only win 10 games and should have no more wins in conference than last years LSU squad. One of the shortest teams in the conference, and the least talented.
Mississippi State
Renardo Sidney will finally get to play in the SEC and he should be a stud from the first game he gets in. He is probably going to be the most talented newcomer in the West, and his inclusion in SEC play is one of primary reasons Stansbury has the talent to win his side of the conference.
Dee Bost's lack of understanding of the rule book will keep him out for a semester, but in his absence JC transfer Brian Bryant will play, and local product Jalen Steele will get plenty of PT.
Junior college transfer Brian Bryant may find himself starting at the point guard position. The Bulldogs do not have anyone else I see making a major impact this season as a newcomer.
Mississippi
I really want Ole Miss to succeed dramatically and then fail so I can watch sportwriters use "in the drivers seat" puns against Kennedy. This team lost very strong backcourt talent when Terrico White was drafted by the Pistons but they have added some studs in recruiting.
This is Chris Warren's team, but amidst 6 of 12 players being new, Chris is very happy to have:
Rivals ranked 83
Demarco Cox C
Yazoo City, MS Yazoo City
"Post player who can bang with the best and score with touch."
4 stars 6'8" 285
RR #89
Dundrecous Nelson G
Jackson, MS Murrah
"Combo guard with impressive athleticism."
4 stars 5'11" 180
Alabama
Anthony Grant underachieved with lots of talent in failing to win 20 games last season. With blown leads occurring multiple times after looking impressive against talented teams, it was clear that the team lacked the mental toughness to make it to the NCAA's.
Andrew Steele will want to come back from his injury and get to the NCAA's but that will only be possible if there are major contributions from the group of freshmen.
RR #90
Trevor Releford G
Shawnee Mission, KS Bishop Miege
"A trickster with the ball."
4 stars 5'10" 170
Releford should contribute in a major way as a freshman. He may even start, depending on Steele's progress and the play of a few others.
RR #99
Jason Carter F
Humble, TX Christian Life Center
"Post player with a shooter's touch."
4 stars 6'8" 230
Another very strong player who will play lots of minutes as a freshman. Weak post presence for Alabama unless he steps up.
RR #138
Charles Hankerson G
Miami, FL Coral Reef
"Big bodied wing who excels at passing the ball."
3 stars 6'5" 210
Overall this team looks like it will break the 20 win barrier, but head to the NIT. If they can join Ole Miss and Miss. State in the NCAA hunt from the West it will only be with big contributions from freshmen.
Vanderbilt
Kevin Stallings had three top 150 players for a very strong class I am betting you did not hear about. That is par for the course for Stallings. While we all know that Vanderbilt's gym has a unique configuration that makes it tough to play in, they also have a very solid coach who would be considerably more famous with a few better possessions in the NCAA tournament of years past.
Vanderbilt is firmly in the hunt to return to the tournament this year.
Belmont, Missouri, Marquette and St. Mary's all should be winnable games for a team that will rely on John Jenkins to step forward in a similar way to what TN is looking for from Hopson. West Virginia, Minnesota and North Carolina all may be opponents in Puerto Rico, a tournament that could see Vanderbilt play its way most of the way out of the NCAA discussion or herald another very strong season for Stallings.
Jeffrey Taylor and John Jenkins make a very strong backcourt duo for a team that Stallings has described as his "hardest working". They are also missing the disappearing giant AJ Ogilvy and should be able to avoid embarrassing the entire conference as they did last year OOC. The frontcourt does have a large void that could give some playing time to some freshman. Except the backcourt newcomers to be brought along slowly like Jenkins was.
RR #92
Rod Odom F
Concord, MA Middlesex School
"Ultra-long small forward with skill and upside"
4 stars
RR #133
Kyle Fuller G
Moreno Valley, CA Rancho Verde
"Physical point man."
3 stars 6'1" 190
RR #150
James Siakam F
Carbondale, IL Brehm Prep
"A high energy, physical forward"
3 stars 6'6" 210
Georgia
Georgia is the all hyped team this year. Leslie and Thornton are extremely talented, but they will not be able to make the tournament and live up to the hype unless they get big contributions from newcomers.
Their most highly rated newcomer is one TN fans are familiar with due to our pursuit of him,
RR #121
Marcus Thornton F
Atlanta, GA Westlake
"Strong athlete with upside."
3 stars 6'7" 215
Donte Williams is another 3 star big man from Lithonia who is big and may be ready to provide some quality minutes as a backup.
Gerald Robinson will probably start. He is the most important newcomer on their team. He played last at Tennessee State and he averaged 17.8 points per game in 2008-2009. He will provide Georgia with a 3rd scorer who can make his own shot off the dribble.
27 players in the top 150 is strong as a conference.
Junior college players and transfers will also have an impact. Let me know if you think any important players were missed, and let me know who you think will have the biggest impact this year as an SEC newcomer. Thanks for reading!
This story talks about it a little bit, but I wanted to delve a bit deeper into the players we will all enjoy watching who are entering the SEC this season.
The SEC has an amazing influx of basketball talent. Before Luke Cothron failed to qualify they had 28 of the Rivals 150 coming to SEC rosters. I will just discuss the classes I think that will make the biggest impact, and then the players I think who will shine brightest as freshmen.
Tobias Harris will be the best freshman in the SEC. He is in a great position to score an absurd amount and to shine on a national stage through the OOC schedule so that when he gets to conference play, we may have our first player since Allan Houston the refs will respect. If you disagree, I would enjoy revisiting this thread after the season, just reply with your freshman POY in the SEC.
I believe that Enes Kanter will not be allowed to make a ton of money overseas and suit up for Cal, but even if I am wrong, I believe that Tobias Harris will prove to be the top freshman in the league.
Kentucky
Even without Kanter, the best class belongs to Kentucky, and Brandon Knight should be electric. At some point it will frustrate him that his magic shines less brightly because of how incredible Wall was the year before, but Knight is an absolute stud. The numerical ranking of the players in the class is more absurd when you see that it is not as talented as the 2011 class. Thank God Calipari is not a talented X's and O's guy and keeps playing super freshmen who leave for the NBA because his teams will always be more talented than anyone else in the SEC in terms of NBA talent.
I will not break down each of these studs, as we have a UK fan here who I am sure will be happy to provide a better commentary than I could.
PF Enes Kanter (3)
PG Brandon Knight (6)
PF Terrence Jones (13)
SG Doron Lamb (21)
SF Stacey Poole (33)
C Eloy Vargas
Tennessee
Tennessee we all know has a great class. What is lost from Rivals list is that TN is increasing depth and defensive ability in the post dramatically with the addition of Fields and Maymon. Both of those guys will have an impact on our season. There were people last year who were crying thinking about Swiper having to spell Williams at C if anything happened to Hall because of our lack of bigs. Pearl gave us tons of depth.
PF Tobias Harris (7)
SG Jordan McRae (47)
SG Trae Golden (63)
Rivals comments "The Tennessee class is in the top 10 behind the signing of Tobias Harris, the No. 5 prospect in the Rivals150. Tennessee previously had landed a formidable one-two scoring punch with the backcourt duo of McRae and Golden. McRae is a rangy wing player who can score off the catch and the dribble. Golden is a physical combo guard who thrives off scoring off the dribble."
The best part about Harris aside from his amazing work ethic is how clean his nose is. He is the anti Ramar Smith.
Florida
Florida has a very strong class, but the best newcomer may be transfer Mike Rosario. Dan Werner leaving is addittion by subtraction and Georgetown transfer Vernon Maclin will try to have a much stronger year this year than last. He will be joined in the frontcourt by stud recruit Patric Young. Alex Tyus wants to make it to the NBA, and his previous play does not make that aspiration a reality. Anyone who thinks Florida is a soft team this year is going to get their nose bloodied.
PF Patric Young (27)
SF Casey Prather (71)
PF Will Yeguete
PF Cody Larson
PG Scottie Wilbekin
Rivals comments "It was a busy spring for Billy Donovan and the Gators. After addressing their lack of toughness with the beastly Young and hard-playing Prather in the Fall, the Gators added several pieces during the late signing period. A coaching change at Iowa allowed the underrated and skilled Larson to change his college destination. Slightly undersized, Yeguette earned admirers during the spring for his toughness and rebounding ability. Wilbekin is expected to finish up his high school classes early in order to help out his hometown program's backcourt. Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario isn't part of the 2010 class, but he has already proved to be a scoring guard on the high major level."
South Carolina
The next team in the top 25 classes is a team that everyone is writing off because of one player.
Sometimes one player seems so integral to a teams success, that when he is gone people project the whole team will fall apart. I actually believe that South Carolina will have a better OOC result without Downey than with him. I think it is likely they will suffer in the conference schedule without a go to, but with two of their starters (Archie and Holmes) who missed most of the year to injury back to play I think it is very possible they will be a balanced and deeper team than last year.
PF Damontre Harris (64)
PG Bruce Ellington (96)
PF R.J. Slawson (117)
C Carlton Geathers
SG Brian Richardson
PG Eric Smith
Rivals comments "Second-year coach Darrin Horn has created some impressive momentum on the recruiting front. His five-man class is led by Harris, a four-star big man with loads of potential. Ellington is a freakishly fast and strong four-star point guard. Slawson is another athletic post man with potential. Richardson, a scoring wing, and Smith - an athletic point guard - round out the class."
LSU
The only other class in the top 25 of Rivals is the rescue of Trent Richardson. He was playing a rappers son who most consider to be the equivalent of a Tyler Summitt last year. His depth was really hurting. In the off season he kicked off the second leading scorer (Bo Spencer) from last year, showing how much he believes in what he has coming in. Malcolm White is not new to the SEC but he is new to LSU. White is a transfer from Ole Miss who averaged 7.2 points and 5.7 rebounds a game in 2008-09. Richardson said he feels most comfortable with him of all his players at this point. It looks likely that he will be starting two freshmen from this class.
SF Matt Derenbecker (77)
PG Andre Stringer (107)
SF Ralston Turner (142)
PG K.C. Ross-Miller (147)
PF Jalen Courtney
Rivals comments "Despite a rough 2009-10 campaign, coach Trent Johnson certainly has the LSU program moving in the right direction on the recruiting front. His 2010 recruiting class is led by Berenbecker, who is a highly skilled wing out of Louisiana. Stringer is a four-star point guard with a great long-range shot. Turner is also a shooter with a dose of athleticism on the wing. Adding help in the backcourt is Ross-Miller, a scoring point guard. Rounding out the class is Courtney, who is a versatile forward."
Arkansas
Jeff Peterson who transferred from Iowa to Arkansas is a very strong player at PG. Unlike Fortson he should be able to keep a great assist/turnover ratio.
He will be joined by JUCO Marvell Waite who will have to contribute in the frontcourt for Arkansas to avoid a massive drop off from the play of the departed Washington.
Freshmen for Pelphrey who are incredible and will start immediately will have to wait until next year, but he has some capable contributors in:
Rivals #81
Rickey Scott G
Irving, TX Irving Macarthur School
A physical athlete with a versatile game.
4 stars
6'3" 195
and
#110
Mardracus Wade G
Chatham, VA Hargrave Military Academy
Athletic slasher and rebounder.
3 stars
6'2" 170
Lest you view Wade as lowly ranked, realize that he ended up a slot above Aaron Craft who we all know well in the Rivals 150. Also in playing at Hargrave he should be ready to transition to CBB quickly.
This is Clarke's team but these guys will provide some good depth and should be solid contributors by next year.
Auburn
Poor Luke Cothron will make UMass a good program around the time Pelphrey is bringing studs into Fayetteville, fall of 2011, but Auburn is going to open it's new arena to a team that stinks out loud. Auburn also recruited non reader Shawn Kemp Jr. so to say the talent they have is thin would be an understatement. They may only win 10 games and should have no more wins in conference than last years LSU squad. One of the shortest teams in the conference, and the least talented.
Mississippi State
Renardo Sidney will finally get to play in the SEC and he should be a stud from the first game he gets in. He is probably going to be the most talented newcomer in the West, and his inclusion in SEC play is one of primary reasons Stansbury has the talent to win his side of the conference.
Dee Bost's lack of understanding of the rule book will keep him out for a semester, but in his absence JC transfer Brian Bryant will play, and local product Jalen Steele will get plenty of PT.
Junior college transfer Brian Bryant may find himself starting at the point guard position. The Bulldogs do not have anyone else I see making a major impact this season as a newcomer.
Mississippi
I really want Ole Miss to succeed dramatically and then fail so I can watch sportwriters use "in the drivers seat" puns against Kennedy. This team lost very strong backcourt talent when Terrico White was drafted by the Pistons but they have added some studs in recruiting.
This is Chris Warren's team, but amidst 6 of 12 players being new, Chris is very happy to have:
Rivals ranked 83
Demarco Cox C
Yazoo City, MS Yazoo City
"Post player who can bang with the best and score with touch."
4 stars 6'8" 285
RR #89
Dundrecous Nelson G
Jackson, MS Murrah
"Combo guard with impressive athleticism."
4 stars 5'11" 180
Alabama
Anthony Grant underachieved with lots of talent in failing to win 20 games last season. With blown leads occurring multiple times after looking impressive against talented teams, it was clear that the team lacked the mental toughness to make it to the NCAA's.
Andrew Steele will want to come back from his injury and get to the NCAA's but that will only be possible if there are major contributions from the group of freshmen.
RR #90
Trevor Releford G
Shawnee Mission, KS Bishop Miege
"A trickster with the ball."
4 stars 5'10" 170
Releford should contribute in a major way as a freshman. He may even start, depending on Steele's progress and the play of a few others.
RR #99
Jason Carter F
Humble, TX Christian Life Center
"Post player with a shooter's touch."
4 stars 6'8" 230
Another very strong player who will play lots of minutes as a freshman. Weak post presence for Alabama unless he steps up.
RR #138
Charles Hankerson G
Miami, FL Coral Reef
"Big bodied wing who excels at passing the ball."
3 stars 6'5" 210
Overall this team looks like it will break the 20 win barrier, but head to the NIT. If they can join Ole Miss and Miss. State in the NCAA hunt from the West it will only be with big contributions from freshmen.
Vanderbilt
Kevin Stallings had three top 150 players for a very strong class I am betting you did not hear about. That is par for the course for Stallings. While we all know that Vanderbilt's gym has a unique configuration that makes it tough to play in, they also have a very solid coach who would be considerably more famous with a few better possessions in the NCAA tournament of years past.
Vanderbilt is firmly in the hunt to return to the tournament this year.
Belmont, Missouri, Marquette and St. Mary's all should be winnable games for a team that will rely on John Jenkins to step forward in a similar way to what TN is looking for from Hopson. West Virginia, Minnesota and North Carolina all may be opponents in Puerto Rico, a tournament that could see Vanderbilt play its way most of the way out of the NCAA discussion or herald another very strong season for Stallings.
Jeffrey Taylor and John Jenkins make a very strong backcourt duo for a team that Stallings has described as his "hardest working". They are also missing the disappearing giant AJ Ogilvy and should be able to avoid embarrassing the entire conference as they did last year OOC. The frontcourt does have a large void that could give some playing time to some freshman. Except the backcourt newcomers to be brought along slowly like Jenkins was.
RR #92
Rod Odom F
Concord, MA Middlesex School
"Ultra-long small forward with skill and upside"
4 stars
RR #133
Kyle Fuller G
Moreno Valley, CA Rancho Verde
"Physical point man."
3 stars 6'1" 190
RR #150
James Siakam F
Carbondale, IL Brehm Prep
"A high energy, physical forward"
3 stars 6'6" 210
Georgia
Georgia is the all hyped team this year. Leslie and Thornton are extremely talented, but they will not be able to make the tournament and live up to the hype unless they get big contributions from newcomers.
Their most highly rated newcomer is one TN fans are familiar with due to our pursuit of him,
RR #121
Marcus Thornton F
Atlanta, GA Westlake
"Strong athlete with upside."
3 stars 6'7" 215
Donte Williams is another 3 star big man from Lithonia who is big and may be ready to provide some quality minutes as a backup.
Gerald Robinson will probably start. He is the most important newcomer on their team. He played last at Tennessee State and he averaged 17.8 points per game in 2008-2009. He will provide Georgia with a 3rd scorer who can make his own shot off the dribble.
27 players in the top 150 is strong as a conference.
Junior college players and transfers will also have an impact. Let me know if you think any important players were missed, and let me know who you think will have the biggest impact this year as an SEC newcomer. Thanks for reading!
