re: Tide Hoops | Recruiting

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BREAKING: The #1 ranked point guard from the 2022 class Dior Johnson (@3Diorjohnson) will announce his decision on June 25th.

His final options:
- Kentucky
- Oregon
- Washington
- NBL (Pro)

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Alabama and Arkansas finished 1-2 in the conference last season, and both reached the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. Which program's blueprint best lends itself to staying power at the top of the SEC, and nationally?
Borzello: I don't see either program falling off much as long as Nate Oats and Eric Musselman are in charge in Tuscaloosa and Fayetteville, respectively, but I think Musselman will be able to rebuild consistently via the transfer portal every spring. He might not have a leg up on the rest of the country now that everyone in college basketball is hitting the transfer portal pretty heavily, but he's shown a tremendous ability to mesh newcomers with returnees and churn his roster without missing a beat.

Since arriving in Arkansas, Musselman has also hit the high school circuit a bit more aggressively, keeping four ESPN 100 prospects in the state in the 2020 class and landing another top-100 recruit in 2021. The SEC has become an arms race this spring when it comes to stockpiling talent, and Musselman has proven he can keep up in that department.

Gasaway: Oats is on the record as admitting that Alabama's defense was far better than the coach expected before the season and, yes, part of that was good fortune. (The SEC's unlikely to make less than 26% of its 3s against the Crimson Tide again in 2021-22.) Nevertheless, this was also a defense that excelled at limiting the number of 3-pointers attempted while also forcing misses in the paint.

Meanwhile, Bama was pushing the tempo and burying opponents under a blizzard of made 3s. Strong D matched with perimeter prowess won Baylor a national title, so it would seem to be a pretty fair blueprint. Still, a major salute is in order for Eric Musselman's (near-) zero-turnover brand of ball in Fayetteville, as well. The future of the league is bright.

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Nor did I get that email and I have been ticket holder for 40 years.

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All-SEC Teams

First-Team All-SEC

Jaden Shackelford, Alabama
JD Davison, Alabama
Jabari Smith, Auburn
Colin Castleton, Florida
Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
TyTy Washington, Kentucky
Iverson Molinar, Mississippi State
Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee

While highly-touted freshman and transfers may take the league by storm in 2021-22, don’t forget about Alabama’s Jaden Shackelford and Florida’s Colin Castleton, both of whom were Second-Team All-SEC last season. Also expect a big year from Iverson Molinar, as Mississippi State’s leading scorer returns for what should be an improved Bulldogs’ team.

Don’t forget about Vanderbilt’s Scotty Pippen Jr either. If Pippen returns to the Commodores next season, he will 100% join this group.

Second-Team All-SEC

Jahvon Quinerly, Alabama
JD Notae, Arkansas
Allen Flanigan, Auburn
Kellan Grady, Kentucky
Xavier Pinson, LSU
Daeshun Ruffin, Ole Miss
AJ Lawson, South Carolina
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, Tennessee

While there are numerous candidates to fill these spots, these eight are currently the most likely. South Carolina’s AJ Lawson returns after a Second-Team All-SEC season in 2020-21, as well as defending SEC Sixth-Man of the Year in Arkansas’ JD Notae.

As mentioned previously with Pippen however, one player in particular that could join this group if he returns to school is Alabama’s Joshua Primo.

All-Freshman Team

JD Davison, Alabama
Jabari Smith, Auburn
Daimion Collins, Kentucky
TyTy Washington, Kentucky
Efton Reid, LSU
Daeshun Ruffin, Ole Miss
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, Tennessee
Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee

The 2021-22 incoming freshman class in the SEC can compete against any other conference in the country. Each of these players is among the Top 50 recruits nationally, as well as seven 5-star prospects.

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SEC Basketball Players of the Year

Player of the Year: JD Davison, Alabama

The 5-star point guard comes to Tuscaloosa as the third highest-rated recruit in Alabama history. Already one of the top point guards in the country before he has even played a college basketball game, Davison can do-it-all from highlight-reel dunks and ball-handling to outstanding passing and a strong jump shot.

Alabama will be the favorite in the SEC this season, and when Davison is given the keys to Nate Oats’ offense this coming season, is it too crazy to say that Davison will average 20/5/5, if not more? Plain and simple, if you had to pick one player in the SEC to label “must-see” this season, it’s hard to find a better choice than Davison.

Coach of the Year: Nate Oats, Alabama

Is it possible to go back-to-back years winning SEC Coach of the Year? That is something that is a possibility for Nate Oats at Alabama this season.

The Crimson Tide, despite losing multiple prominent players, will arguably be even better in 2021-22, and if Alabama wins the SEC once again, Oats will once again be a favorite.

Other names including Eric Musselman, John Calipari, Rick Barnes, and Bruce Pearl will be candidates as well, but one name to watch in particular is Ben Howland. Mississippi State has emerged as a dark horse team in the SEC after a phenomenal offseason, meaning Howland’s Bulldogs’ could be set for a big 2021-22 season.

Freshman of the Year: JD Davison, Alabama

As mentioned previously, Davison has the potential to be special this season at Alabama. If Davison is good enough to win the SEC Player of the Year, the SEC Freshman of the Year should be considered a near-100% lock.

Sixth-Man of the Year: Justin Powell, Tennessee

There are numerous way-too-early choices to win Sixth-Man of the Year, but one that sticks out, in particular, is Powell. The Auburn transfer averaged 11/6/4 in 10 games last season, but might not even start for the Volunteers considering Tennessee has a deep backcourt headlined by Kennedy Chandler and Santiago Vescovi.

If Powell comes off the bench for the Volunteers, he has the potential to be one of the better bench options in the SEC.

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Michigan with a major target visiting officially starting this afternoon as one of the nation’s top-rated guards, Jaden Bradley, begins his official visit in Ann Arbor today. His next official visit after that?

June 11th in Tuscaloosa. Will also trip to UNC and Arizona.

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Wishing nothing but the best for our guy JT as he has decided to take his game to the next level.


Sounds like JT Thor is staying in the draft.

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