Player of the Week
JD Notae-G, Arkansas
Notae put up 28 points for the Razorbacks in their win over Pennsylvania. He shot 13-24 from the floor and also registered a team high 9 boards. While he missed all six of his threes, he was extremely effective from inside the arc (13-18). The 6’2 Junior transfer (Jacksonville) has been very impressive in the early part of the season averaging a Conference leading 19.5 ppg and 3.7 assists per game for the Razorbacks. He still needs to bring his FT (68.8) and 3 point (27.5) efficiency up some, but he’s proven to be a high volume scorer and an effective playmaker for Arkansas in his second season with the team.
Who’s Hot
Florida Gators
The Gators have played great to start the season, winning five of their first six games by double digits. Led by 6’11” senior Colin Castleton who is averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds. Castleton has three double doubles so far as well as two games with six blocks. Myreon Jones has been great as well. Jones has shot 40% from deep on five attempts per game and scored 18 in the Gator’s season opener. Florida has three other players averaging double digits and have been very impressive.
Oscar Tshiebwe-F, Kentucky
Oscar leads the conference, and nation, in rebounds per game and has been absolutely dominating. Averaging 16 rebounds per game, Tsheibwe has been putting up eye-popping numbers. He is also third in the conference in field goal percentage, shooting 61% from the field. Oscar has recorded a double-double in five of their six games played, with a season high of 24 points. He has improved defensively as well, averaging over 1.5 blocks per game. While his game still lacks some polish, Tshiebwe is a key player for Kentucky, as he is the arguably the best rebounder in the country, and has also been fairly consistent on offense.
Jaden Shackleford– Guard, Alabama
Jaden is currently second in the conference in scoring at over 18.5 per game. He is shooting 36% from deep on over nine attempts per game. Outside of his incredible shooting, he is also averaging a career high seven rebounds per game. Shackleford has a season high of 23, and has hit 20 in another game as well. In Alabama’s only loss so far, he recorded a double-double and dropped 19 points.
LSU
The Tigers are 7-0 to start the season, and have exceeded expectations so far. Their first game of the season, they beat UL Monroe 101-39! Darius Days has been their leading scorer, averaging over 16 points and 7 rebounds per game. Days is ranked in the top three in the conference in scoring and has been very efficient. Shooting 47% from the field and 44% from deep. Their two top wins were a five-point victory over Penn State, and a 14-point win over Wake Forest. Wake was 6-0 entering the game, so that is a very solid win.
Who’s Not
Georgia
The Bulldogs have really struggled this year, starting 2-4 on the season. They are only averaging 66 points per game which is not going to win you many ball games, especially while allowing 69 points per game.
Jabari Abdur Rahim– Guard, Georgia
The transfer from Virginia is playing about 19 minutes per game, but is shooting very poorly from the field. He is shooting 21% from the field and only 11% from deep. He has only played six games so the sample size is small, but if he doesn’t start shooting better, he’ll find himself out of the rotation on a team ranked at the bottom of the conference.
Rocket Watts– Guard, Mississippi State
The Michigan State transfer has really struggled this season. The former four-star recruit has never put it all together after showing some promise as a freshman. He has only attempted eight shots in four games, so the sample size isn’t much, but from the shots he’s taken, they are not falling.
Top Five Freshman
1. Jabari Smith– Forward, Auburn
Jabari was the number one recruit in the conference, and has shown why so far this season. He is averaging over 16 points per game while grabbing seven rebounds. He is shooting 46% from the field and has shown a solid shot from deep. He is shooting 43% on five attempts per game and has proven he can score from all three levels. Smith has been a pest on defense as well, averaging over 1 block and steal per game. Smith is a very good player and is one of the best in the conference.
2. TyTy Washington– Guard, Kentucky
TyTy has been a scoring machine for Kentucky. Averaging over 14 points per game and has rebounded really well grabbing five rebounds per game. Washington has been shooting pretty well from deep, hitting 35% of his attempts. Look for TyTy to become more of a facilitator and to put himself in the conversation as a legit point guard option in the draft. Washington will only get better as he learns from coach Cal, and I’m excited to watch it.
2. Kennedy Chandler– Guard, Tennessee
Kennedy has been incredible for Tennessee so far this year. Averaging 14 points per game on 48% shooting from the field. He has been very impressive shooting from deep, hitting 56% of his attempts. Chandler has been great as a facilitator as well, averaging almost five per game. Chandler can do it all and is probably the premier point guard in this class
4. Efton Reid– Center, LSU
The freshman center has been very solid for LSU. Through seven games, he is the team’s third leading scorer at 10 points per game. He is only averaging five rebounds per game, but that number should increase as he adjusts to the college game. Reid is very efficient, shooting 62% from the field. Look for Reid to continue to grow as he becomes more consistent scoring the ball.
5. Brandon Murray– Guard LSU
Murray has played well for LSU, and is playing big minutes. In 29 minutes per game, he is averaging nine points, three rebounds, and one assist per game. He is shooting efficiently, at 47% from the field and a red hot 40% from deep. The Freshman has hit three shots from the outside twice in seven games. As he grows throughout the year, look for him to continue to shoot it well from three.