SEC Basketball 2011-12: The Best Player on Each Team in the Conference

The roll call of the elite players in this year’s SEC includes a lot of familiar jerseys—Terrence Jones at Kentucky, Erving Walker at Florida—but also one notable surprise. Frequent underdog Vanderbilt features one of the conference’s biggest names this season in SG John Jenkins.

Jenkins went from relative unknown to major star in 2010-11, leading the SEC in scoring. With a veteran team around him, he’s raising hopes in Nashville for a shot at the school’s first-ever Final Four appearance.

Herein, a look at Jenkins and the rest of the top stars on each of the SEC squads.

Alabama: JaMychal Green

Power forward is a crowded position in the SEC, but JaMychal Green is still going to make his presence felt. The 6’8”, 228-pounder led the Tide with 16 points and 7.8 rebounds a game last season.

Heading into his senior year, Green will have plenty of help from high-scoring Tony Mitchell and sophomore point guard Trevor Releford. Don’t be surprised if Alabama, a year removed from the NIT final, makes a deep run in that other postseason tourney in 2012.

Arkansas: Julysses Nobles

The Razorbacks suffered a heavy blow this offseason when leading scorer Rotnei Clarke transferred to Butler. Fortunately for new coach Mike Anderson, the squad still returns one terrific guard in junior Julysses Nobles.

Nobles led the team in assists (3.0) and steals (1.1) per game, two abilities that are at a high premium in Anderson’s up-tempo system. With Clarke gone, Nobles—a dangerous three-point shooter at 42 percent last season—will also need to provide more scoring from long range. 

Auburn: Earnest Ross

Auburn fans are used to seeing undersized players control the glass for the Tigers (see Barkley, Charles). Earnest Ross, however, takes that idea to a new level by doing it from the backcourt.

Ross, a 6’5” guard, led the team with 6.6 rebounds a game last season. Considering that he also paced the squad with 13.1 points a night, Auburn’s fortunes this season will once again rest heavily on Ross’ performance.

Florida: Erving Walker

After playing the distributor as a sophomore in 2009-10 (4.9 assists per game), Erving Walker stepped up his scoring as a junior. The 5’9” Walker led the Gators last season with 14.4 points a game.

With Walker and 6’2” Kenny Boynton, Florida returns a very small but very talented backcourt.

If Walker can keep putting points on the board while also creating opportunities for his mates, the Gators may be able to fight through the loss of all three starters up front and make another substantial NCAA tournament run.

Georgia: Gerald Robinson

Georgia suffered heavy NBA draft losses this spring, with Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie jumping early to the L.A. Clippers. With those two elite talents gone, the burden of leadership falls on senior point guard Gerald Robinson.

The Tennessee State transfer led the team with 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals a night last season. If the Bulldogs are going to avoid falling off the SEC map after last season’s NCAA tournament appearance, Robinson will have a lot to say about it.

Kentucky: Terrence Jones

Although sensational freshman Anthony Davis will be a crucial factor in Kentucky’s success, Terrence Jones will be the star of this year’s edition of the Wildcats.

One of the nation’s top power forwards as a freshman, Jones averaged 16.5 points and a an SEC-high 8.9 rebounds per game last year.

With freshmen Davis and Marquis Teague likely to play key roles, Jones will have to step up as a leader even though he’s only a sophomore himself. Jones’ tournament experience will be one important factor in favor of the (likely) prospect of Kentucky returning to the Final Four.

LSU: Storm Warren

There may be better players in the SEC, but few will have better names than LSU senior Storm Warren. Warren did a little of everything for the underperforming Tigers last season, including leading the squad with 5.7 rebounds a game.

The 6’7” forward also led the team in both steals and blocks, a feat he may well duplicate this season. With little help around him on offense or defense, though, Warren doesn’t have much hope of leading LSU to a winning record in 2011-12.

Mississippi State: Dee Bost

A close call over bruising power forward Renardo Sidney, Dee Bost played a sensational half-season in Starkville last year. The then-junior guard returned from suspension to lead the team with 6.2 assists per game while finishing second in scoring (15.3 points a night).

With leading scorer Ravern Johnson gone, the pressure will be on Bost to keep the Bulldogs offense humming. With Bost and Sidney leading the way, Mississippi State should challenge Alabama for the SEC West title.

Ole Miss: Reginald Buckner

Reginald Buckner doesn’t provide much scoring, but on the defensive end of the floor he’s as strong as anyone in the SEC. The 6’8” forward led the Rebels with 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game in 2010-11.

With star PG Chris Warren gone, Buckner would do well do pick up his disappointing 6.8-point scoring average if the Rebels hope to compete this season. Either way, opponents who enter the paint against Ole Miss had better have their eyes open for Buckner.

South Carolina: Bruce Ellington

A pleasant surprise for Gamecocks fans in a rough season, Bruce Ellington played a great deal bigger than his 5’9” frame. The freshman led the team with 12.8 points and 3.2 assists per game last year.

The young point guard, who is currently occupied playing wide receiver for South Carolina’s football team, will be without his best teammate from last year, forward Sam Muldrow.

Ellington will have a tall task keeping the Gamecocks even vaguely competitive without much help, but expect him to improve as an individual on what was already a solid debut season.

Tennessee: Cameron Tatum

With four of Tennessee’s five starters gone, the pressure will be high for the lone returnee. Cameron Tatum goes from third guard to main man in Knoxville as the team’s returning leader in basically every statistical category.

The 6’6” senior will likely be most valuable as a scorer after posting 8.8 points a game last season. New coach Cuonzo Martin will also benefit from Tatum’s experience and leadership on a very green roster.

Vanderbilt: John Jenkins

Vanderbilt has seen its share of talented scorers, but few have put up numbers to match John Jenkins. His 624 points last year was the fifth-highest total in school history, while his 19.5-point average was the SEC’s best in 2010-11.

With loads of talent returning around him—including point guard Brad Tinsley and shot-blocking center Festus Ezeli—Jenkins should be set up for an even bigger year as a junior. Expect the Commodores to challenge even mighty Kentucky for the SEC title.