SEC's Top 10 Players

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 29, 2010

SEC's Top 10 Players

John Jenkins

Jenkins was the biggest recruit ever to commit to the 'Dores (ranked the No. 15 overall prospect by Rivals) and didn't disappoint in his freshman campaign, being named the SEC's Sixth Man of the Year. Jenkins may be the finest pure shooters in America, posting an absurd 48.3 percent clip from beyond the arc. He has also shown the ability to regularly get to the foul line, making 80 percent of his free throws. As a full-time starter this season, Jenkins could emerge as one of the true offensive dynamos in the conference.

Scotty Hopson

With the graduation of Wayne Chism, Tennessee is in need of a new alpha dog, and all signs point to this former McDonald's All-American. Hopson is a multi-talented player with a lengthy 6-foot-7 frame, but he's still very raw. This could be the season Hopson puts it all together.

Marshawn Powell

With all of the talented freshmen in the conference last season (including Kentucky's four one-and-dones), Powell's impressive debut season went largely unnoticed. He averaged 14.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks over his first year in Fayetteville. Powell's most impressive game was a 25-point, eight-rebound effort against shot-blocking extraordinaire Jarvis Varnado and the talented Mississippi State frontline. He'll take on an increased role this season and should flourish.

Brandon Knight

Knight follows in the footsteps of Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans and John Wall as John Calipari's next great point guard. Knight's biggest strength is his scoring ability, as evidenced by his 37 points in Kentucky's Blue/White intrasquad scrimmage. Like Calipari's aforementioned point guards from the past, Knight appears to be a guaranteed one-and-done, but he should make that one season count.

JaMychal Green

Green averaged 14.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game as a sophomore, but there's still plenty of room for improvement, especially on the offensive end of the floor. He showed flashes of pure dominance as a junior, but consistency was a big issue. Green bulked up in the offseason and will enter this year as Alabama's centerpiece. He's a bit undersized as a power forward, but he makes up for it with great length and excellent athleticism.

Travis Leslie

While Trey Thompkins is the Dawgs' rock in the post, Leslie is the human highlight reel. The freakishly athletic guard has become somewhat of a YouTube legend with a bevy of jaw-dropping dunks, including a memorable stuff over Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins last season. While his perimeter skills are still in the developmental stages, Leslie has proven to be a quick learner and could play himself into a high draft position with a big junior campaign.

Chris Warren

The Rebels lost three of its top five scorers from last season's team, but at least they bring back their best player in Warren. The point guard averaged 17.2 points and 3.5 assists while stroking 43.8 percent of his attempts from three-point range. And this is the man you want with the ball in the waning seconds; Warren has been an ultra-clutch performer since he set foot on campus in 2007.

Jeffery Taylor

One of the nation's most versatile players, Taylor currently projects as a lottery pick in the 2011 NBA draft. Taylor's biggest strength is his work on the defensive end. With great length and quickness, he can guard almost any position on the floor. Offensively, the junior displays rare explosiveness going to the bucket, but he needs to work on his jump shot.

Enes Kanter

Kentucky is still waiting for a decision on Kanter's eligibility. (The NCAA is reviewing whether the received excessive benefits while playing for his Turkish club team.) In his honor, Wildcat faithful have begun the "Free Enes" movement -- understandable, considering the big man's advanced skill set. An exceedingly long and physical presence in the post with valuable Euroleague experience, Kanter could dominate the college game immediately.

Trey Thompkins

As the SEC's returning leader in points (17.7) and rebounds (8.3) per game, Thompkins is one of the nation's truly elite big men. The gifted power forward could have entered the 2010 NBA draft, but felt he had more to accomplish at Georgia. A multi-faceted big man, Thompkins can score with his back to the basket or facing up. Last season, he became Georgia's first All-SEC first-teamer in seven years. He enters the 2010-11 campaign as a heavy favorite for conference player of the year and looks to guide the Dawgs back to the Big Dance.