When someone thinks of the SEC, they typically think about the gridiron or the diamond, as the conference has been nothing short of dominant in the two sports over the last 25 years, owning a majority of its national champions and producing the lion’s share of professional prospects. It wasn’t necessarily thought of as a basketball conference outside of Kentucky and Florida, with the occasional Arkansas or Missouri team that would show potential, though these flashes never seemed to sustain into anything long term.
But this year, the SEC has established itself as the best conference in collegiate basketball, sporting four of the top six teams in the AP Poll and nine teams in the Top 25 overall. Naturally, teams this talented are going to feature the best players available, from five-star recruits to developing prospects. These are athletes that can become major stars at the NBA level given the right situation. There are several names in this current iteration of the SEC that will be taken in the lottery and beyond, many of whom are helping lead their teams to success as underclassmen.
Here are some of those players.
*Note: Stats accurate as of February 5
Asa Newell, Power Forward, Georgia (Freshman)
Georgia power forward Asa Newell has been a force physically in the paint on both ends in his freshman campaign with Mike White’s Bulldogs, a true freak athlete that establishes his dominance by overpowering opposing forwards and centers. Newell had a high pedigree before even appearing at UGA, as he played for Montverde last season alongside names like Cooper Flagg (Duke), Liam McNeeley (UConn), Derik Queen (Maryland), and Robert Wright III (Baylor).
He leads his squad in both scoring and rebounding with 15.3 points and 6.9 boards per game, all while being a very disruptive force on the defensive end, averaging 2.3 stocks (steals + blocks) and using his athleticism to patrol the paint. While his outside shot needs work in order for him to become a true power forward prospect in the NBA, his other attributes are strong enough to guarantee him a high-lotto grade.
Draft Range: Picks 6-10
Tre Johnson, Shooting Guard, Texas (Freshman)
A true three-level scorer, Tre Johnson has shown off his ability to fill it up in a myriad of ways this season for the Texas Longhorns. Leading the SEC in points per game this year at 19.2, Johnson is a player that has a long lineage of dominant performances in his career, dating back to his sophomore year of high school at Lake Highlands in Dallas-Forth Worth; he scored 39 points against a Richardson High School back court of Cason Wallace (Oklahoma City Thunder, Kentucky) and Rylan Griffen (Kansas, Alabama).
While his efficiency has certainly taken a dip in conference play, it is important to note that his shot diet consists mostly of very difficult looks (fade-aways, contested shots) due to the way Rodney Terry’s offense relies upon him in isolations. Still, his scoring ability makes him another player who will likely go in the mid-lottery.
Draft Range: Picks 6-14
Jeremiah Fears, Point Guard, Oklahoma (Freshman)
After reclassifying from 2025 to 2024, Jeremiah Fears has been fantastic for the Oklahoma Sooners despite being on a team that has underperformed. Putting up 15.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, Fears has demonstrated a knack for attacking the basket and drawing fouls, averaging 5.8 free throw attempts per game and shooting 84.4% from the stripe. His ability to both distribute and score makes him a dangerous weapon, and a player that can contribute to an NBA team early on in his career, even if his defense is not a strength.
Draft Range: Picks 8-16
Collin Murray-Boyles, Power Forward, South Carolina (Sophomore)
An absolute defensive menace at the forward spot, South Carolina sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles was shockingly left off of the candidates list for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, an oversight that should be egregious to any watchers of the SEC. Murray-Boyles has expanded his scoring role in this offense, averaging 15.8 points and establishing himself as one the league’s top rebounders with 8.8 boards per game. His physicality and feel on the defensive end make him a high-value player that can contribute immediately in the NBA. Though it would behoove him immensely to attempt more shots from deep, his impact on offense could just be as a play finisher, though he is undersized for his position.
Draft Range: Picks 10-16
Boogie Fland, Point Guard, Arkansas (Freshman)
Despite an injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season, Boogie Fland proved most of what he needed to prove in order to be taken in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. A combination of elite shooting off of the bounce as well as ball handling and distribution make him a fun option in the mid-to-late 20s at the latest to go to an NBA team and energize an offense off the bench early in his career. He averaged 15.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game as the Razorbacks’ lead initiator this season, though his shooting percentage at the rim was problematic and could translate to issues driving the basket at the pro level.
Draft Range: Picks 16-24
Labaron Philon, Point Guard, Alabama (Freshman)
A teammate of Tre Johnson’s in high school at Link Prep, Philon has split lead guard duties with Crimson Tide veteran Mark Sears this season to great results. Though inconsistent, as he will occasionally have a lackluster impact over the course of a game, his highs scoring-wise and role as an advantage creator make him a player that can compete at the NBA level as a lead initiator. Averaging 10.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, his scoring might not be where it needs to be, but he has demonstrated his value in running an offense and can be a valuable piece on a good team later down the line.
Draft Range: 20-26
Johni Broome, Power Forward, Auburn (Senior)
One of two major favorites for the Naismith National Player of the Year Award, Auburn forward Johni Broome has been an absolute force for the Tigers this year and is a primary reason they are the unanimous number-one team in the nation at this point in the season. A physical presence on both ends of the floor, Broome is averaging 18.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 52% from the field. A very skilled interior scorer, Broome is the type of player that, when in position near the basket, can be nearly unstoppable given his post moves and touch. His 6-foot-10, 240-pound frame makes him a difficult guard for most college bigs, who tend towards the skinnier side.
Draft Range: 26-34
Honorable Mentions:
Tahaad Pettiford, Point Guard, Auburn (Freshman)
Adou Thiero, Combo Forward, Arkansas (Junior)
Jalon Moore, Combo Forward, Oklahoma (Senior)
Chaz Lanier, Shooting Guard, Tennessee (Junior)
Mark Sears, Point Guard, Alabama (Senior)
Koby Brea, Small Forward, Kentucky (Senior)