Player of the Week
Colin Castleton– Forward, Florida- The senior has had a sensational three game stretch. He has scored 20+ points, while also grabbing 8 rebounds or more in all three games. Colin did this against three of the top teams in the conference: Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. Despite losing two of the three games, Castleton deserves the recognition because he did everything he could.
Freshman of the Week- Cason Wallace– Guard, Kentucky- The freshman guards play has picked up as of late. He had 20 points in both of his games this week. After a posting 14-point, 6 rebounds, 5 assist, and 5 steals against Kansas, Wallace scored 20 points on 7-10 shooting against Florida. He also blocked three shots in this game. In his final game of the week, Wallace scored 24 points while dishing out 5 assists and recording 3 steals. Wallace showed his value on both sides of the court all week, and despite Kentucky losing 2 of their last three games, it has not been due to Wallace’s performance.
Who’s Hot
Johni Broome Forward, Auburn- Johni has been playing at a very high level despite his team struggling as of late. Auburn has lost four of their last five games, but Johni has scored 15 or more points in four of them with two double-doubles. He grabbed 18 rebounds against Georgia in yet another dominant performance. Broome has been great in his first season as a Tiger.
Alabama- The Crimson Tide are still undefeated in conference at 11-0. After an embarrassing loss to Oklahoma, where they struggled on both sides of the court, they have bounced back well winning three straight. Alabama scored 100 points in a 57-point victory over Vanderbilt. Double digit wins over LSU and Florida this week have the tide rolling again going into a huge matchup against their in-state rival Auburn.
Who’s Not
Matthew Murrell– Guard, Ole Miss- Murrell has shot terribly over his last three games. In his two games this week, he shot a combined 6-26 from the field. While he is not the most efficient scorer (37% shooter), this stretch is still out of character for him.
LSU- The losing streak is now up to 11 games, and the Tigers have really fell apart this year. They have lost by double digits in 3 straight games, and four of their last five overall. LSU has three winnable games coming up over the next few weeks, so look for them to try to build up some momentum for the final stretch.
Tyrell Ward– Forward, LSU- The freshman found himself seeing action in three games this week. In those games he really struggled, shooting 4-15 overall. His struggles have been mainly from inside the three-point line. Three of his four baskets have come from deep, while he has hit only one of his seven shots from inside the three-point line.
South Carolina- South Carolina is tied for last place in the conference and they have lost 8 straight games at this time. It has been very ugly for them this year as they are 1-10 in the SEC, and have lost most of these games uncompetitively.
Midseason Top Five Prospects
1. Brandon Miller– Forward, Alabama- The 6’9” freshman has been sensational to start his college career. He has been averaging 19 points and 8 rebounds per game on 45/44/82 shooting splits. Miller has done it all for the Tide so far. He is a three-level scorer who can get to his spots with ease. Miller has shown to be a very solid rebounder despite lacking some size. He should only keep improving in that department though, as he continues to add strength and bulk up.
2. Anthony Black– Guard, Arkansas- Black has been great this season for Arkansas. While his role has grown due to Nick Smith Jr. missing extended time, Black has stepped right up. In two games this week, Black did a little bit of everything. Against South Carolina, Black scored 13 points to go with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. He also blocked 2 shots in this game. Against Kentucky, he was even better, scoring 19 points while grabbing 4 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists. He also had 5 steals in this game and was just everywhere. With Smith poised to return, Black could lose some minutes, but after playing almost 40 minutes a game lately, that shouldn’t be a huge issue for him.
3. Nick Smith Jr.– Guard, Arkansas- The number one recruit in the country has not had the start that everybody hoped he would. Unfortunately, he has only played in five of Arkansas 24 games so far due to injuries. If healthy, Smith should be almost guaranteed to be a lottery selection, but knee issues could affect his stock. In the five games he played, he has averaged just under 13 points per game. In his debut, he was injured after 5 minutes so he has only played real minutes in four games so far. In those four games, he scored 20 in two of them and 16 in the others. He has shown he knows how to put the ball the basket, while flashing as a passer as well.
4. Gregory Jackson– Forward, South Carolina- Jackson has been a bright spot on a bad South Carolina team. The freshman forward is averaging 16 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. While his efficiency has not been great (39% from the field), Jackson has been their leading scorer and rebounder all year. At 6’9”, he can step outside and hit a three. And while he went to social media to complain recently, which was perceived as immature by some, his frustration, desire to win and be featured is admirable.
5. Noah Clowney– Center, Alabama- Clowney has proven to be an impact player for the Tide so far. He has played in 23 of 24 games this season and is averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds per game on 49% shooting from the field. Despite being 6’10”, Clowney can step outside and hit shots with excellent form. While he currently is no marksman from deep, it is a facet of his game that should only keep improving. Clowney can also block shots and provide great help defense at and around the rim. Alabama is a very deep team this year, but Clowney should play a huge role on this team down the stretch, as teams start to sell out to slow down Brandon Miller.
Honorable Mention:
Cason Wallace– Guard, Kentucky- Wallace is a sensational defender whose offensive game has continued to grow as the season goes on. He has a knack for causing turnovers by using his length and active hands to force steals and block shots. Every game against him is tough for the opposition as he is not afraid of any matchup. His averages for the season so far are 12.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2 steals per game. Wallace is shooting 48% from the field and 40% from deep. Wallace is definitely a player who will get a chance at the next level due to his size, skill set, and potential. At 6’4”, he can play both on and off ball. His shot is only improving as he continues to grow. The freshman has more than held his own at this level after being a highly sought-after recruit.