This article is part of our Conference Preview series.
College basketball has a short memory. While it may seem that Kentucky has dominated the SEC for a Kansas-like era, the Wildcats have only strung together three straight regular season championships. The squad for coach John Calipari does not have much returning talent, so the freshmen will have to progress quickly. While I could have worked a Wildcat into this SEC preview, there are better options across the board. To further complicate the matter, I am not sure how the Kentucky rotation is going to work out. My guess is Hamadou Diallo and Kevin Knox will be the stars, but Kentucky doesn't even have the top rated freshman in the conference -- that title belongs to Missouri's Michael Porter Jr. It could be a year of upheaval in the SEC.
Top Three Players
Yante Maten (F)
Last year, the Bulldogs boasted one of the best 1-2 punches in college basketball with Maten and J.J. Frazier. Maten returns as the top Bulldog and a leading candidate for SEC Player of the Year. Before missing five of the last seven games of the 2016-17 season with a knee injury, Maten showed a complete offensive package. He averaged 18.2 points and hit 48.8 percent of his 3-pointers. The 6-8 senior also anchored the Georgia defense with 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He may face the teeth of opposing defenses with Frazier gone, but the Bulldogs return an experienced crew with Juwan Parker, Derek Ogbeide, and Jordan Harris. Maten could be a 20-point scorer.
College basketball has a short memory. While it may seem that Kentucky has dominated the SEC for a Kansas-like era, the Wildcats have only strung together three straight regular season championships. The squad for coach John Calipari does not have much returning talent, so the freshmen will have to progress quickly. While I could have worked a Wildcat into this SEC preview, there are better options across the board. To further complicate the matter, I am not sure how the Kentucky rotation is going to work out. My guess is Hamadou Diallo and Kevin Knox will be the stars, but Kentucky doesn't even have the top rated freshman in the conference -- that title belongs to Missouri's Michael Porter Jr. It could be a year of upheaval in the SEC.
Top Three Players
Yante Maten (F)Last year, the Bulldogs boasted one of the best 1-2 punches in college basketball with Maten and J.J. Frazier. Maten returns as the top Bulldog and a leading candidate for SEC Player of the Year. Before missing five of the last seven games of the 2016-17 season with a knee injury, Maten showed a complete offensive package. He averaged 18.2 points and hit 48.8 percent of his 3-pointers. The 6-8 senior also anchored the Georgia defense with 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He may face the teeth of opposing defenses with Frazier gone, but the Bulldogs return an experienced crew with Juwan Parker, Derek Ogbeide, and Jordan Harris. Maten could be a 20-point scorer.
Deandre Burnett (G) 
Speaking of scoring, Burnett bust out of the gates in his first season with the Rebels with five 20-point games in his first six contests, including a 41-point outburst in an overtime win against Oral Roberts. The former Miami Hurricane continued scoring throughout the non-conference slate before slowing down against SEC competition. The 6-2 guard is a streaky 3-point shooter who hit five or more treys four times, but he also went 0-of-9 from downtown in a February win over Mississippi State. With a year of experience with Ole Miss under his belt, Burnett could be more consistent for an experienced squad.
Michael Porter Jr. (F) 
It may be that the Tigers knew they were getting Porter when they named Cuonzo Martin as their new coach, but the Mizzou faithful has to be ecstatic that they are back on the map after a few years of wandering in the SEC basement. The 6-10 freshman may be one of those rare prospects who is able to lift an entire team in one season. He has a diversified offensive game and should be a solid rebounder for coach Martin. Porter should open up plenty of space for the returning Tiger backcourt, including point guard Terrence Phillips as well as shooters Jordan Barnett and Kevin Puryear.
Top Newcomers
James Daniel (G)
In 2015-16, Daniel led the nation in scoring with 27.0 points while at American. He hoped to defend that scoring title last year, but a severe ankle injury limited the 6-0 guard to just two games. Daniel decided to move on and up. He joins a Tennessee squad that could use some offensive firepower. The team has a potential star in forward Grant Williams, but Daniel should get plenty of opportunities if he is healthy. Coach Rick Barnes does not generally use much motion in his offense, so Daniels' ability to attack the basket should be well used. While with the Bison, Daniel attempted 11.0 free throws per game and converted 84.6 percent of his freebies.
Randy Onwuasor (G) 
Daniel is not the only high scorer who is joining the SEC. With Southern Utah last year, Onwuasor was fifth in the nation at 23.6 points. The Texas Tech transfer found life in the Big Sky to be to his liking. He pumped in 30 points or more five times, including a career-high 43 points in a Big Sky tournament upset win over Montana State in triple-overtime. The 6-3 senior is not a proficient 3-point shooter (just 30.6 percent last season), but he attempted 7.9 free throws per game. He could share time with Brandon Sampson and Skylar Mays, but Onwuasor could easily move into the space left by Antonio Blakeney (17.2 points)
Collin Sexton (G) 
Coach Avery Johnson has a very nice recruiting class coming to the Crimson Tide. The jewel of the class is the 6-3 Sexton who ranked as the 10th best prospect in the ESPN Top 100. Sexton is a lead guard who can get to the basket easily and often. He is not limited to scoring around the basket and can loosen defenses from the perimeter as well. Like many young players, Sexton sometimes forces passes and can be reckless when attacking the basket. Johnson will use his experience to help mold Sexton into a point guard without curbing his aggression. If he and fellow freshman John Petty stick around Alabama, the Tide could have one of the best backcourts in the country in future years.
Pair of Sleepers
Dan Gafford (C)I expected Moses Kingsley to be the best center in the country last year and it didn't happen. Kingsley's progress from his excellent junior season did not continue and now he is gone. Gafford, a 6-11 freshman, could be one of the players to fill his role. He is great around the basket and should be a dynamic player to watch on fast breaks. Gafford is also an excellent shot blocker. The biggest question is whether or not Gafford will be ready for big minutes in his first year under coach Mike Anderson. The team could really use a productive player on the interior.
Djery Baptiste (C) 
The Commodores are another team with minutes to be had at center. Luke Kornet served as a stretch-five for coach Bryce Drew in the coach's first season on the Commodore bench. Kornet now plays for the Knicks (at least for the Summer), so it may be Baptiste's time to shine. The 6-11 center did not play much as a freshman, but he appeared in every game. Perhaps Drew was prepping the big man for a larger role as a sophomore. In the early going as a freshman, Baptiste received extra playing time, but could not stay out of foul trouble with 11 fouls in his first three games. If he can stop fouling, Baptiste could be a late-round player to look at for rebounds and blocks.
