50 Best Players in College Basketball for 14-15 (Multiple SEC Players)

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For the fourth summer in a row, we’re tackling the 50 best players in College Basketball. Here’s the list from 2011-2012, here’s the list from 2012-2013, and here’s the list from 2013-2014. Surely a name or two or 10 will outrage you. There’s a dozen or so players listed at the very bottom who “just missed the cut.” What constitutes “Best?” A combination of things: 1) How they’ve played in college or last year in high school, 2) How I project them as a player next year, 3) Individual skill and value to the team, 4) How I project them as a pro.

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4. Karl Towns, F, Kentucky. The Wildcats are loaded, and yet this 7-footer who can float to the perimeter might have the most talent of any player on Calipari’s roster. Would be a major stunner if this freshman wasn’t 1-and-done.

16. Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky. It’s going to be a real battle for minutes among all the bigs Calipari has, but WCS is the most athletic 7-footer in the country. Tied for 6th in the nation last year in blocks (106).

30. Chris Walker, F, Florida. Incredibly optimistic for a kid with a checkered background. But the talent is there, and if he stays out of trouble, he could be a double-double guy for Billy Donovan.

32. Aaron Harrison, G, Kentucky. Mr. Clutch beat Michigan and Wisconsin with last-second 3-pointers in the NCAA Tournament, propelling the Wildcats to the Final.

35. Trey Lyles, F, Kentucky. The freshman is very skilled, but also injured right now, and on a team with nine McDonald’s All-Americans, could take some time to climb in the rotation. When will he pass jumping jack Marcus Lee for playing time?

36. Michael Frazier, G, Florida. Ranked 22nd in the nation according to Ken Pom in True Shooting percentage. Frazier tied for 5th in college basketball last year with 118- made 3-pointers. A lot of talent left Gainesville, so Frazier won’t be as open on the perimeter.

40. Jordan Mickey, F, LSU. He’s the 6-foot-8 version of Willie Cauley-Stein, with slightly more offense. He averaged 12.7 ppg and 3.1 blocks per game, but was overshadowed by the play of star Johnny O’Bryant (now in the NBA).

50. Bobby Portis, C, Arkansas. Quietly one of the best big men in the SEC last year (12.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg) but the Razorbacks missed the tournament.

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Jonathan Holmes, F, Texas; Sam Thompson, G, Ohio State; Kaleb Tarczewski, C, Arizona; Dez Wells, F, Maryland; TJ McConnell, PG, Arizona; Kasey Hill, PG, Florida; Wayne Selden, F, Kansas; Jamari Traylor, F, Kansas; Rodney Purvis, G, UConn; Angel Rodriguez, PG, Miami; Siyani Chambers, PG, Harvard; Josh Scott, F, Colorado; Winston Shepard, G, San Diego State; Dwayne Polee, G/F, San Diego State; Kyle Wiltjer, F, Gonzaga; Malcolm Brogdon, G, Virginia; Ryan Arcidiacono, PG, Villanova; Andrew Harrison, G, Kentucky; Chasson Randle, G, Stanford; D’Angelo Russel, F, Ohio State; Justin Jackson, G/F, UNC; Yogi Ferrell, PG, Indiana; Amida Brimah, C, Connecticut; Dorian Finney-Smith, F, Florida;

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