Every year, new players highlight the SEC. A few years ago, it was the Florida five. Last year, Marcus Thornton was the star in the SEC. Some of the greatest point guards of all time of come out of the SEC. Which rising stars should you look out for this year?
5. Ronald Steele, SR, Alabama
As a freshman in 2004-2005, Steele showed great promise to be a leader by his senior year. He 7.9 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds per game. He averaged about 35 minutes a game. In his freshman year, he led the Crimson Tide to a 24-8 record and a berth in the NCAA tournament as the fifth seed before being upset by Wisconsin Milwaukee and current Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl. In his sophomore year, Steele raised his NBA draft profile in averaging 14.3 points a game, which was second on the team to former tide player Chuck Davis. Steele did have his assists drop in his sophomore year, but his three point percentage rose to 41%. He, along with Davis, led the Crimson Tide to the NCAA tournament for a second straight year where they were defeated in the second round by eventual runner up UCLA. The Crimson Tide had high hopes entering the 2006-2007 season. So did the media. The Crimson Tide received a top ten preseason ranking by many of the polls. The Crimson Tide lived up to the hype and started the season 13-1. However, midway through Steele's junior year, he was injured. Steele's averaged dropped to 8 points a game in his junior year, partly due to the injury. The Tide finished 20-11 overall and 7-9 in conference. They missed the NCAA tournament but were invited to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost to Massachusetts in the first round. Shortly before the Steele's senior season, he elected to get surgery on his knee and redshirt his senior year. Steele entered his name into the 2008 NBA draft but withdrew it and decided to return for his senior year. The Crimson Tide coaching staff has said that Steele has recovered and is ready to lead the Crimson Tide back to the NCAA tournament.
4. Scotty Hopson, FR, Tennessee
Hopson is one of the best freshman entering the SEC this season and was even ranked in Rivals 150's top fifteen recruits. He was highly recruited by schools such as Florida and Kentucky. He originally committed to Mississippi State in the fall of 2007. However, he chose to come to Tennessee, the powerhouse in the SEC the past few years. Hopson is quite tall for a PG at 6-7, but that did not stop him in high school as he averaged 24.3 Points, 11.3 rebounds, 3 blocks, and three assists in leading University Heights, located in Hopkinsville KY, to a 30-5 record last season. He led the Blazers to the Sweet sixteen of the Kentucky state tournament. Hopson was a Mcdonalds all American selection, scoring ten points for the West squad and placed third in the Dunk contest. He is expected to be one of the best freshman in the country next year and I do not see him disappointing.
3. Devan Downey, JR, SC
In his first year in Columbia, Downey emerged as a star. H improved in every single category after sitting out a year and gave himself a possible chance to be drafted in another year or two. He made major jumps in scoring, assists, and steals. His scoring jump showed that he was no longer an average college point guard. No, instead, he was a star. There were only four games in which he did not score double digits. He broke out for his career high against Penn State, scoring 30 of the Gamecocks 74 that night. His only bad game was against Tennessee where the Gamecocks were torn apart on Chris Lofton's senior night 89-56. Although Devan Downey was not on a very good team in his first year in South Carolina (14-18), he did receive the great news that the Athletic Director had found a great replacement, Darrin Horn, who will be able to help Downey realize his full potential.
2. Chris Warren, SO, Ole Miss
Warren was the biggest surprise in the SEC last year, and I believe he should have gotten Co Freshman of the year with Patrick Patterson. After not even being ranked in his recruiting class, Warren emerged as a star point guard and led his team in scoring with 15.3 points a game. He led his team to a 13-0 start before the team fell apart late in the season. Even then Warren shined, scoring 19 in a NIT game against Ohio State. Warren scored his career high of 25 against Auburn on January 19 and came back to match it two more times that season(Kentucky, Alabama). Once the Rebels fell apart, they could not rebound back. Many considered them one of the major teams on the bubble heading into selection Sunday weekend. As it turns out, they were, Warren had to settle for the NIT freshman year and he averaged 18.8 points a game in his four games in the NIT. I think that he will get Andy Kennedy to his first ever NCAA this year.
1. Nick Calathes, FR, UF
Calathes is at the top of this list for many reasons. First of all, he led his team in scoring and assists as a freshman. He also led them to an 18-3 start before finishing 24-12. He even got this team back into the Top 25 where much of the media thought they would not even amass twenty wins after losing their entire starting lineup that won them two consecutive national championships. Calathes was the one who stepped up and led the Gators to what was almost a twenty five win season. Many thought there was no way this could would be NBA ready until his junior or senior season. However, he developed into a great player in his freshman year. With one more year of college, this kid could go pro.
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