SEC Prospect Preview: 2024-'25
Who are the 2025 NBA Draft Prospects to know in the SEC?
We’re now a full week into college basketball action and several prospects featured in our ACC, BIG10, and Big 12 previews have had the opportunity to put their talents on display. Now, to round out our major conference previews, it’s finally time to talk about the SEC’s top 2025 NBA Draft prospects.
The Conference: Early News & Two Major Additions
The Big 12 was shaken up in a big way this season with the departure of two long-time members—the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma—along with the addition of four schools coming from the Pac-12. It just so happens that both of those Big 12 departers are now both making their way to the SEC this season, where they’ll be joining a conference that will otherwise remain somewhat unchanged. In fact, the Longhorns and Sooners represent the only two teams joining the conference, while all other teams in the conference are staying put.
As of Monday, November 11, both Alabama and Auburn sit in the top ten of the AP Top 25 Rankings, while the Tennessee Volunteers are sitting directly outside looking in at #11 overall, and Arkansas, Kentucky, Florida, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss round out the bottom fifth of the list. Alabama, Auburn, and Tennessee have undoubtedly been the most consistent SEC teams over the past several seasons, and unless chemistry issues emerge, Alabama’s level of talent alone should place the team on a trajectory for a deep tournament run.
Now, while there aren’t as many conference shake-ups to discuss compared to the Big 12, the SEC is marked by more teams in somewhat precarious or awkward transitional periods. Namely, as Florida is still looking to return to the top of the conference after former head coach Mike White’s unexpected exit, it was recently revealed that current head coach Todd Golden had a Title IX complaint filed against him, which now hangs over the team despite their 2-0 start. Meanwhile, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt all have new head coaches at the helm, with John Calipari’s move to Arkansas after 15 seasons at Kentucky being one of the biggest headlines of the summer. Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas are, in my eyes, three of the bigger wildcards in the conference who aren’t the deepest of teams in the conference but bring young, NBA-level talents who could really pop if featured in meaningful roles. Mississippi State and South Carolina similarly strike me as wildcards because of some interesting returning players we’ll be discussing shortly.
The Freshmen: The SEC’s One-and-Done Candidates
Now that you have a bit of context when it comes to the landscape of the conference, like in our most recent Big 12 Preview, it’s now time to dive into the actual players NBA evaluators should be keeping tabs on. And in comparison to the Big 12—particularly when it comes to depth of freshman talent—the SEC may be even more loaded with NBA players by the end of the draft cycle.
Tre Johnson - Guard, Texas
The preseason buzz coming out of Austin about freshman guard Tre Johnson was consistently outstanding leading up to the beginning of the college basketball season, and through a pair of games, it’s very clear why that was the case. He’s averaged 28.5 points through two games, including against a good, albeit unranked Ohio State team, and his time playing out of position at point guard at lower levels seems to be doing him some good in the way of playmaking early on. Him being as potent as he’s been on offense will immediately help evaluators take him seriously moving forward, but it will be how he projects as a defender, his ability to finish at the rim with consistency, and physicality (or lack thereof) that will determine if he can maintain his current top-ten trajectory.
Boogie Fland - Guard, Arkansas
For being an undersized guard, similar to Johnson, the amount of hype Arkansas freshman guard Boogie Fland was getting from evaluators I trust leading up to the regular season was too positive to ignore. Putting up averages of 17 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds through two games, his versatility on offense has popped early and often. But his debut in the Razorbacks’ preseason charity exhibition against #1-ranked Kansas in the preseason not only represents his best offensive showing, but also his upside as a pesky off-ball defender who wreaks havoc in passing lanes. At his size, his shooting efficiency will be most impactful on his draft stock, but him continuing to display his defensive tenacity, motor, and any flashes of advanced finishing will also give him a boost going into the summer. Arkansas’ roster is stacked with potential draft candidates—especially when accounting for sophomores and upperclassmen—but his freshman teammates Karter Knox and Billy Richmond could be names to watch later on if they see the court more.
Asa Newell - Forward/Center, Georgia
When accounting for a current resume at lower levels that features really high highs (like his performances with Team USA) and some underwhelming lows (on a crowded Montverde roster), Georgia freshman Asa Newell is the definition of a boom-or-bust prospect and is arguably Georgia’s most highly-touted prospect since Anthony Edwards. Newell’s combination of size (at roughly 6’10” to 6’11”), fluidity, and sheer aggression pop off the screen, and his history of making winning plays—particularly as a defender—should make coaches very happy. If Newell can prove that he’s an effective rim protector, his combination of skills and athleticism should give him a decent floor in the context of the draft. If he shows any semblance of consistent three-point shooting along with all of the above, his value could skyrocket into the top half of the lottery.
Jeremiah Fears - Guard, Oklahoma
Oklahoma freshman guard Jeremiah Fears was originally slated to be featured here as a freshman sleeper, but after two very impressive games to start his college career, I’m not sure calling him a sleeper would be appropriate anymore. After decommitting from Illinois, Fears reclassified to the 2024 class and committed to a very depleted Sooners team that lost multiple starters to the portal in the offseason. This has allowed the 18-year-old guard to shine as a featured sixth man with upperclassmen guards Kobe Elvis and Duke Miles commanding starting minutes. He’s a shifty, borderline flashy ball-handler, confident pull-up shooter, and natural playmaker who has the requisite length to defend both guard positions in the NBA. Like Fland, Fears’ versatility is his main draw, but at his size and age, if his current production holds steady or increases, I can see a Bub Carrington-like rise in his future.
Quick Hit Freshmen Sleepers
LaBaron Philon (Guard) & Derrion Reid (Forward) - Alabama
You’ll notice a theme with the majority of the SEC’s freshman sleepers that their draft value will largely hinge on their roles on their respective teams, and that’s certainly true of both LaBaron Philon and Derrion Reid being that Alabama’s roster in particular is bursting at the seams with high-level talent. In the early going, Philon has gotten more minutes on the floor and has popped as a crafty ball-handler with a relentless motor. While he’s my early pick to quickly rise from “sleeper” status, though, do-it-all forward Derrion Reid shouldn’t be counted out either, particularly if he shoots the ball well.
Annor Boateng (Wing) & Trent Burns (Big) - Missouri
In stark contrast to Alabama, Missouri is projected to land toward the bottom of the SEC this season as head coach Dennis Gates goes into his second season with the program. Annor Boateng and Trent Burns—both 4-star prospects—strike me as the freshmen who stand the best chance of having an early impact. Both players are physically imposing at their positions, Boateng because of his strength and athleticism and Burns because of his sheer size at 7’5”. Again, though, opportunity and playing time on a roster otherwise filled with upperclassmen and a few notable transfers will be key for both players.
Tahaad Pettiford - Guard, Auburn
Auburn freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford had the best game of any of the “sleepers” listed here, putting up 21 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds against a very defensively talented (and #4 ranked) Houston Cougars team. Listed at a generous 6’1”, Pettiford will have to shoot the ball well and/or prove to be a meaningful outlier on defense to maintain a decent floor in the draft. But his shooting acumen from lower levels of play and his speed with the ball lend him a path to get there.
The Returners: Big 12 Sophomores & Upperclassmen
Like in our Big 12 Preview, we’re going to rattle off names of sophomore and upperclassmen prospects by team because, again, there are tons of players worthy of a mention.
The Alabama Crimson Tide debatably has the most loaded team in college basketball, especially if we’re speaking strictly in terms of college talent. Mark Sears is their headline returner in my eyes even as a small guard, as his production alone over the past several seasons is too impressive for me not to label him as an NBA-level talent. But Jarin Stevenson, Grant Nelson, and Clifford Omoruyi could all easily sneak onto draft boards along with him.
Arkansas is likely the most under-discussed team in terms of how loaded they are with potential NBA draft picks, but figuring out how they all fit together and maximizing each player’s skill sets could prove to be a challenge for Coach Cal. Third-year, uber-athletic forward Adou Thiero has undoubtedly been the most productive player on the team in their first pair of games, having put up a stat-sheet-stuffing 24-point, 6-rebound, 2-assist, 3-stock performance against #8 ranked Baylor. But DJ Wagner, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Trevon Brazile all also stand a chance to make a significant impact as well.
While stuck on a team that likely won’t be making much noise, South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles was getting real lottery buzz in the 2024 NBA Draft cycle and will likely have a good chance of flirting with the lottery in the 2025 draft as well. Despite being a hesitant, if not reluctant shooter, Murray-Boyles was a bit of an advanced stats darling this past season whose hyper-versatile defense and efficient interior scoring help to negate his lack of outside shooting. Even if the shooting doesn’t come along, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where a team in the first round doesn’t bet on him solely based on what he already brings to the court.
Kentucky is flying a bit under the radar so far in Mark Pope’s first season as head coach, but Koby Brea has been one of the most impressive upperclassmen in all of college basketball to start the season, averaging 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists through a pair of games while shooting 74% from the floor and 83% from beyond the arc. That kind of efficiency isn’t sustainable, but it’s certainly gotten evaluators’ attention, especially after an already elite shooting profile in his final season at Dayton. Alongside Brea, teammates Otega Oweh, Jaxson Robinson, and Kerr Kriisa should all receive some attention despite slow starts from the latter two.
Lastly, to rapid-fire some names that can be considered honorable mentions, Mississippi State’s pairing of Josh Hubbard and Florida transfer Riley Kugel both present realistic NBA upside, Auburn’s Johni Broome remains one of my personal favorite unconventional bigs in draft conversations, Ole Miss senior Matthew Murrell’s athleticism should still interest NBA decision-makers on some level, Tennessee’s system could breathe new life into Igor Milicic Jr, and Florida’s three-man group of Walter Clayton Jr, Will Richard, and Alex Condon could turn some heads if Florida pushes for an SEC title run.