The SEC is supposedly a football conference. But while the SEC has been dominant in football for as long as most of us can recall, the SEC is also a great basketball conference too. There are many great NBA players who came from the SEC such as Al Horford, David Lee, Joakim Noah, Chandler Parsons, Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Brandon Knight, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Patrick Patterson, Jodie Meeks, Tobias Harris, Tayshaun Prince, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller, Glen Davis, Corey Brewer, Rajon Rondo and others. Some of the game’s greatest layers of all time came from the SEC as well. Stars such as Dominique Wilkins, Shaquille O’Neal, Pete Maravich, Dan Issel, Charles Barkley, Robert Horry, Chuck Person and Bernard King came from the SEC. Even Pat Riley, the architect and/or head coach of several great NBA teams played his college ball in the SEC.
This season there are many great players in the SEC. Some of these will be playing in the NBA very soon and will likely make an impact for their teams. They are:
Jordan McRae, Tennessee Volunteers– McRae is a tall, athletic lean scoring machine who can take it inside or step back and hit the three. He is the best scorer on the Vols by far. NBA players similar to McRae from the SEC include Prince and Brewer McRae would fit in nicely for a team in need of offense.
Kentavius Caldwell-Pope, Georgia Bulldogs– KCP is the SEC Player of the Year for good reason. He can fill it up. This Bulldog great is a born scorer but he is not just a chucker. He plays well within the offense and makes sure his teammates stay involved. Similar SEC players to KCP include, Beal, Harris and Kidd-Gilchrist.
Phil Pressey, Missouri Tigers– He is one of the SEC’s best point guards. Pressey is an assist man who can also score when needed. His father Phil Pressey was the long time point guard for the Milwaukee Bucks. Similar SEC players include Wall, Eric Bledsoe, and Knight.
Elston Turner, Texas A&M Aggies– Elston is a shooting guard with some size to him. He can go inside as well as shoot the jumper, although he prefers to shoot. He scored 40 points on Kentucky at Rupp Arena which any SEC player can attest, that is quite a feat. Similar players would be Parsons,. Person, Horry, Miller.
Nerlens Noel, Kentucky Wildcats– A shot blocker and rebounder with the potential to become a great offensive center. He is raw but very talented. Similar players include Davis and Noah.
Erik Murphy, Florida Gators– A big man who can stretch the defense with his three point shot or take it inside. Similar players include Miller, Parsons and Matt Bonner.
Marshall Henderson, Ole Miss Rebels– A flat out shooter from the outside. He can really light it up if he is open and can get his feet set. Similar players include Meeks, Horry and John Jenkins.
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky Wildcats– A big man who can rebound and block shots. Not much of an offensive game as of yet, bu the potential is there. Similar players include Davis, Noah and Cousins.
Laurence Bowers, Missouri Tigers– He is a power forward with offensive skills and rebounding size. Similar players include Barkley, Horford, Lee, Patterson. and G. Davis.
Patric Young, Florida Gators– An absolute beast on the inside. Great strength and size. Similar players include Barkley, Cousins, Patterson, Noah, Glen Davis and Lee.
So those are ten players to watch for from the SEC in the coming NBA season. A few of them may stay in school another year but they’ll be in the draft soon.
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