The Best of the Rest: A Look at SEC standouts Not Selected to All-SEC Preseason Teams
Posted by Brian Joyce on October 25th, 2011SEC and national media members selected their All-SEC and POY selections Monday morning. Their choices were as follows:
- JaMychal Green, Alabama – F, 6-8, 228, Sr., Montgomery, Ala.
- Terrence Jones, Kentucky – F, 6-9, 252, So., Portland, Ore.
- Dee Bost, Mississippi State – G, 6-2, 176, Sr. , Concord, N.C.
- John Jenkins, Vanderbilt – G, 6-4, 220, Jr., Hendersonville, Tenn.
- Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt – G/F, 6-7, 225, Sr., Norrkoping, Sweden
- Anthony Davis, Kentucky – F, 6-10, 220, Fr., Chicago, Ill.
- Doron Lamb, Kentucky – G, 6-4, 210, So., Queens, N.Y.
- Darius Miller, Kentucky – G, 6-8, 235, Sr., Maysville, Ky.
- Kenny Boynton, Florida – G, 6-2, 189, Jr., Pompano Beach, Fla.
- Erving Walker, Florida – G, 5-8, 177, Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y.
- Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt – C, 6-11, 255, Sr., Benin City, Nigeria
Terrence Jones of Kentucky is the Preseason SEC Player of the Year
No arguments here as all the players chosen are extremely well-deserving. This post is not a list of the so called “snubs,” rather a highlight of the other outstanding SEC players who didn’t make an All-SEC First or Second Team. I did not include newcomers to the SEC in my list, as it is hard to determine inclusion when I do not have SEC statistics to back them up. Besides, the media obviously did not favor transfers or freshmen in their selections (only one made the list — freshman Anthony Davis of Kentucky). This is a look at the best of the rest.
The five returning SEC players who could have standout years and make a huge impact in the league are:
Tony Mitchell, Alabama – F, 6’6″, 210, Jr., Swainsboro, GA
- 2010-11 Statistics: 15.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG
- 2011-12 Outlook: Tony Mitchell was named to the second team All-SEC last year as a sophomore. Mitchell scored at least 20 points in seven of his last 16 games of the season. Teammate JaMychal Green will see most of the double teams from opposing defenses freeing Mitchell up to be an offensive force for the Crimson Tide. Mitchell is a high-flying dunker with a chance to elevate his game this year after a solid 2010-11 year. Not only can Mitchell jump out of the gym, but he’s a 52.2% field goal shooter too.
Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State – F, 6’10”, 270???, Jr., Jackson, MS
- 2010-11 Statistics: 14.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG
- 2011-12 Outlook: Y’all know my feelings on Sidney. He is a mess, but a talented mess nonetheless. Work ethic and attitude aside, Sidney will still put up big numbers. His numbers just won’t be as big as if he completely devoted himself to conditioning and improving his game. Expect Sidney to carry the Bulldogs on his large frame regardless of his commitment to his teammates or himself.
- 2010-11 Statistics: 3.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG
- 2011-12 Outlook: Patric Young is returning to a front court that has been depleted, and the Gators desperately need his rebounding and low post scoring. Young has added 10 pounds of muscle during the offseason. He led Florida in blocked shots last year, and Billy Donovan fully expects big numbers from the 6’9″ power forward. Early indications from practice reports out of Gainesville are that Young is playing well and progressing into the low post force the Gators need this year.
- 2010-11 Statistics: 9.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG
- 2011-12 Outlook: Terrance Henry is poised for a breakout year for the Ole Miss Rebels. Somebody has to replace Chris Warren’s scoring from a year ago, and it could be Henry inside who picks up the slack. Henry has shown he can be dominant down low for the Rebels. He put up two straight double-double games in the SEC Tournament, and the Rebels hope the senior can do that more consistently.
- 2010-11 Statistics: 10.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG
- 2011-12 Outlook: Marshawn Powell is fully recovered from foot surgery that limited his production in his sophomore year. During his freshman year, Powell averaged 14.9 PPG and 6.7 RPG, however his production fell to 10.8 PPG and 4.5 RPG after his injury last year. Expect Powell to return to stardom under Mike Anderson, as long as he remains healthy.
These five players may not rack up preseason accolades, but each will be crucial to their teams. They are poised for a breakout year, and may just end up with the postseason accolades that accompany stardom.
Brian Joyce is an advanced metrics enthusiast, college hoops junkie, and writer for the SEC basketball microsite for Rush the Court.
