NCAA Basketball SEC Basketball

Top 10 Players In SEC Entering 2014-15 College Basketball Season

Top 10 Players In SEC Entering 2014-15 College Basketball Season

John Calipari
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The 2014-15 SEC Basketball season is quickly approaching. Kentucky and Florida are heavily favored, but several other teams stand a chance of making the 2015 NCAA Tournament and making waves. Here are the 10 best players in the SEC going into next season.

10. Kentucky’s Freshmen

Kentucky Freshmen basketball
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10. Kentucky’s Freshmen

Kentucky Freshmen
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Kentucky Wildcats’ incoming recruiting class contains several future NBA players who will make an immediate impact for the team. Trey Lyles, Karl Towns, Tyler Ulis and Devin Booker are going to be some of the scariest young players in all of college basketball next season.

9. Rashad Madden – Arkansas

Rashad Madden
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

9. Rashad Madden – Arkansas

Rashad Madden
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Madden led the Razorbacks in scoring last season and will benefit from teams doubling up on Bobby Portis this year. Expect Madden to have a few 25-plus point performances before the start of the tournament.

8. Michael Frazier II – Florida

Michael Frazier
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

8. Michael Frazier II – Florida

Michael Frazier
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Averaging over 12 points per game last season, Frazier also has boasted over a 44 percent three-point shooting every season he’s been with the Gators. With Florida losing several key players, it looks like it will be up to him to keep the Gators in games against elite opposition.

7. Jarvis Summers – Ole Miss

Jarvis Summers
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

7. Jarvis Summers – Ole Miss

Jarvis Summers
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

With Marshall Henderson gone, the Rebels need a go-to scorer, and they already have one in senior guard Jarvis Summers. Summers averaged over 17 points per game last season with four assists, and he should increase both of those numbers due to the team's necessity for outside-inside scoring and the development of the big men underneath.

6. Bobby Portis – Arkansas

Bobby Portis
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

6. Bobby Portis – Arkansas

Bobby Portis
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Portis was one of the most exciting freshmen in college basketball last season. He was a major part of Arkansas’ two wins over the Kentucky Wildcats and averaged over 12 points and six rebounds throughout the year.

5. KT Harrell – Auburn

KT Harrell
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

5. KT Harrell – Auburn

KT Harrell
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Harrell may be one of the top 15 or so pure-scorers in the country. When he gets a hot hand, it’s like he can’t miss. With Auburn lacking at a lot of key positions this season, expect Harrell to see a lot of time on the ball.

4. Dorian Finney-Smith – Florida

Dorian Finney Smith
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

4. Dorian Finney-Smith – Florida

Dorian Finney Smith
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Last season’s SEC Sixth Man of the Year, Finney-Smith averaged around nine points and seven rebounds a year ago. He should be poised to up those totals this season.

3. Josh Richardson – Tennessee

Josh Richardson
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

3. Josh Richardson – Tennessee

Josh Richardson
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Arguably the best one-on-one defender in college basketball last season, Richardson takes a leadership role under new head coach Donnie Tyndall. If Richardson can get some momentum early, he could end up being one of the best scorers in college basketball this season.

2. Jordan Mickey – LSU Tigers

Jordan Mickey
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

2. Jordan Mickey – LSU Tigers

Jordan Mickey
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps the best freshman you didn’t hear about from last season, Mickey averaged around eight rebounds and 13 points per game on a team in which he wasn’t even the marquee player. With Johnny O’Bryant III and Shavon Coleman gone, it will be Mickey’s year to shine.

1. Kentucky’s Returners

Kentucky Basketball
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

1. Kentucky’s Returners

Kentucky basketball
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress, Dekari Johnson and Marcus Lee could all make this list. The Wildcats could win a game or two in the NBA with this roster.

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