2024-25 SEC Conference Preview
The No Ceilings crew kicks off their NCAA Conference Preview round tables for the 2024-25 season with the loaded SEC.
The college season is right about to kick into gear, and the NBA season has just gotten underway. While many of the rookies from the 2024 NBA Draft are starting to find their way, the 2024-2025 NCAA season will show prospect evaluators who might be the next young stars determining the NBA’s future.
Before the college season gets underway, we’ve gathered the No Ceilings collective for a roundtable to discuss some of the top prospects and players who might be primed to break out and establish themselves on the draft scene. Today, we kick off those conference previews, starting with the SEC.
1. Ignore “consensus” boards and Twitter groupthink. Who is the best NBA prospect in this conference?
Rucker: This one could go in a number of directions. Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina) and even Asa Newell (Georgia) could be a couple of names here. I’m going with Texas freshman Tre Johnson. The smooth shooting wing continues to be a name that I expect to start generating some buzz early on in the draft cycle. Johnson has the tools to explode and be a serious contender among the top half of this potentially heavy-hitting draft class. There will be questions that need to be answered early on, as expected with young wings who need to fill out their frame, but Johnson is oozing with upside as an offensive weapon.
Albert: I’m a Tre Johnson guy. I don’t know if I’m convinced that he’s going to have a huge freshman season, but I do believe he has the goods to one day become a dynamic offensive player on the next level. There will be some concerns with his finishing at the rim and lack of strength, but he’s got a good frame, and I expect him to put on mass. Tre should have some big scoring games, but the skill that’ll surprise people the most will be his passing ability. Tre is an underrated passer, and that passing ability could raise his ceiling as a potential number-one option one day.
Metcalf: This is very close for me between Collin Murray-Boyles and Tre Johnson, but I’m going to have to give a slight lean to Johnson. Every time I watch him, I’ve come away incredibly impressed. He’s a really smart player who can shoot the crap out of the ball, create for others, and make plays on defense. He needs to get stronger and he isn’t the most explosive athlete, but his combination of skill and IQ feels like it’s constantly getting slept on.
Corey: I have had beachfront property on Collin Murray-Boyles Island since the offseason before his freshman season at South Carolina when I became intrigued by his high school film at Wasatch Academy. One of my favorite things that happens when scouting a game is when you turn on the film for one prospect, and another prospect pops off the screen instead. That’s exactly what happened with CMB. Sure, he wasn’t in ideal shape, maybe he was a bit undersized, and his game was a little traditionally unorthodox. Turn on the tape, though, and you’d have seen that the dude could flat-out hoop. Fast forward a bit to his freshman season, and he was one of the guys I was most excited to watch; however, he came down with a bout of mono and missed the beginning of the season. I thought this would mostly keep him out of draft convos, but when he came back, the kid went to work and made people take notice. CMB flashed high feel decision-making, versatile defensive switchability, playmaking, and maybe a somewhat outdated but efficient offensive scoring package. He was an advanced stats monster whose play led to winning basketball. CMB still has legit questions about his frame and his ability to stretch the floor, questions he’ll have to answer if he wants to live up to his lofty expectations; however, I think that his ceiling could be something like a fun to play with Julius Randle, and for that, he’ll be a Top 10 prospect for me heading into the 2024-25 NBA Draft cycle.
Rowan: John Calipari’s coaching a different SEC team, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t assembled an Infinity Gauntlet of talented players at his disposal. In my mind, the most talented player, while also playing at the NBA’s most coveted position, is Karter Knox. Knox brings a unique blend of force and finesse with his offensive arsenal, pirouetting to the rim before slamming it down ferocity. He’s got the athleticism to affect offenses in the half-court, can hold his own on defense, and still could improve his shot and ball-handling to truly become an elite wing. While he’s a bit older, Knox is my highest-ranked prospect in the SEC to start the year.
Nick: I’m going to have to join the chorus here and go with Tre Johnson. I’m definitely still all the way in on Collin Murray-Boyles, but maybe not quite to the same extent as some of my colleagues. It’s hard for me to imagine a player with Johnson’s exceptionally high feel and shooting touch failing completely, even if his physical tools aren’t at the same level as some of the top prospects in the class. I’m looking forward to seeing what Johnson can do for the Longhorns this season.
2. Admittedly, one of the most satisfying parts of analyzing the draft is being able to look back and say “psh, about time you guys took notice of him. I’ve been hyping him up for ages.” Who is the prospect that you are irrationally high on?
Rucker: Mark Sears. The dude is an absolute gamer, and I’m excited for him to be in the running for the annual edition of “are we going to overthink this guy?” Look, Sears is a smaller guard and, yes, he’s older; however, he’s an efficient machine who knows how to run the show. At some point, we need to stop doing this to ourselves each year and just respect the dudes who can hoop. I’m also very interested to see if we get a little leap from his teammate, Jarin Stevenson, this year.
Albert: Miles Kelly would be my choice. After a strong couple of years for Georgia Tech, Kelly is walking into a good situation where he should be able to show off more of his scoring ability both off the catch and off the dribble. Kelly didn’t have the season that he wanted last year, but he’s walking into a great situation that should really help his skillset shine. Kelly is a good athlete, can shoot the cover off the ball, and is an underrated passer. Playing next to Johni Broome and Tahaad Pettiford, he could be just what he needs to play at the level we know he can.
Metcalf: I can’t quit Mark Sears. He was so good last year and was someone I had a late first round grade on. That’s the part where I get weird looks from everyone else. There’s no doubt that Sears can play, but he’s very small. Another awesome year for him would do wonders in making me not look crazy for loving a point guard with his measurements.
Corey: The first time that I saw Tahaad Pettiford was at a New Jersey tournament called the Hustle and Heart Classic during his high school junior season, where a couple of Overtime Elite teams took on local North East tri-state area players. He blew me away. Here was a barely six foot nothing, shifty, Brandon Jennings-esque, lefty guard who was absolutely cooking an OTE team that was headlined by Alex Sarr, Izan Almansa, Jazian Gortman, and Kanaan Carlyle. I’ve been waiting for him to get to the college game for a minute, and Auburn is the absolute perfect spot for him. Bruce Pearl loves dynamic guard play, and Pettiford is dy-freaking-namic. The elevator pitch for Pettiford is that he’s an elite athlete with an elite handle and elite shot-making ability who can score in bunches and cause chaos for opposing defenses. Pettiford isn’t without questions. For as fun as Pettiford’s game is, he is still a small guard, and small guards have a very uphill battle when it comes to NBA projections. If Pettiford is going to pop up on the NBA Draft radar as a freshman, he is going to have to overcome the odds and prove that he can score as efficiently and fit as seamlessly into a team structure that a guy like Rob Dillingham did last year—and that is before we bring up any defensive concerns. Still, I think the kid’s talent is off the charts and his game was tailored for the pros. He has the potential to explode onto the draft radar.
Rowan: I started to catch some of Igor Milicic’s games last year when he was balling out for Charlotte, primarily due to the statistical noise he was making on Synergy and BartTorvik. After watching the tape, I became a big fan of Milicic’s versatile game on both ends of the floor. He’s a high-level power forward athlete vertically and horizontally, has a great touch with his shots, and shows a keen sense of timing with his rim protection. It’ll be fascinating to see how many of the shots Dalton Knecht took last year get redistributed to Milicic. Still, he has the type of shot-making chops to demand attention and opportunities, even if he hasn’t gotten much of the former yet.
Nick: I was intrigued by some of what I saw from Adou Thiero in his limited playing time at Kentucky during his freshman season; while there were some bumps in the road in his sophomore season, I still came away very impressed by what the bouncy 6’6” guard can do around the basket at both ends of the floor. He certainly has a ton of competition on a loaded Razorbacks roster, but his size relative to the rest of their guard group gives him a solid chance to earn minutes on the wing. This is, in some ways, a make-or-break year for him at Arkansas; however, I’ll continue to buy Thiero stock for as long as people are selling it.
Subscribe to the No Ceilings YouTube
3. Unfortunately, there are two sides to that coin, and they do not have equal probabilities. Which prospect do you like but think has the most likely chance of failing to meet expectations?
Rucker: This one’s a bit tricky for me because I actually like this prospect. Look, I’m a big Boogie Fland fan. I think there’s some seriously fun potential for him as a talent. I’m not sure if I’m buying (yet) him as a potential one-and-done type of prospect. Boogie is lightning in a bottle and has some awesome weaponry to his game. He’s either going to hit the ground running or be a player that looks like a potential talent who could explode during his sophomore campaign. I’m in wait-and-see mode with Boogie, but I continue to be a big supporter of the upside.
Albert: I’m looking at the Arkansas guards. What if the trio of guys they brought in just can’t mesh at all? With Boogie Fland, DJ Wagner, and Johnell Davis coming on board, I think there’s a real chance the trio of guards will end up playing below their capabilities. Wagner did not have the high-level freshman season he thought he would have for Coach Cal last season, and I’m not sure he will be that much better in year two. Johnell Davis is coming in to be a high-level scorer for them, who’ll see a lot of the ball. Boogie Fland was a McDonald’s All-American and will also be coming in with high expectations. If the trio can figure it out, Arkansas will have a strong season; I’m just not sure the trio will make a ton of sense together. Coach Cal’s history with guards has been pretty damn good; I just don’t know if this is the right trio.
Metcalf: Jaxson Robinson. He’s a heck of a shooter, and there is a very realistic path where he makes me look foolish, but I’m not convinced that I see it. This Kentucky team should be very good defensively, but they have a lot of offensive question marks. If Robinson has to carry the load in terms of offensive production and creation, he’ll have had to have taken a massive leap in his handle, wiggle, and playmaking to sustain it.
Corey: I can actually see a world in which Tre Johnson takes a tumble down draft boards. To be clear, I’m a fan of Johnson’s game, and have him in the lottery entering the cycle. I like his size, he’s got a slick handle to create space, and he can shoot the bejesus out of the ball. *Stephen A. Smith voice* Howevahhh…he was a really bad rim finisher in high school. He isn’t super bursty and he struggles to get up in tight spaces, which ultimately made things difficult for him at times. He has shown some flashes of ambidexterity and some touch finishes that don’t have me jumping off the bandwagon entirely, but if his rim finishing doesn’t improve, then I think there’s a chance that evaluators move him down their boards.
Rowan: I do like Collin Murray-Boyles as a draft prospect, having ranked him #17 on my Ouija Board, but he also comes in with some real concerns. As a returner, CMB’s game will be more heavily scrutinized this year than last year, and unless he shores up some of his weaknesses, teams could rightfully wonder whether he’s stagnated as a player. The shot is the biggest thing for Murray-Boyles, as it opens up so much of his positive impact around the rim. Improving his range, or even taking outside shots, is a crucial part of his draft stock. Similarly, the height and size concerns could rear their head more aggressively if Murray-Boyles can’t establish a game that suits what NBA evaluators expect out of a player his height.
Nick: I would love to be wrong, but I’m having trouble buying into DJ Wagner at this point in his draft process. He was given plenty of chances at Kentucky, but he was more disappointing to me than any of their guards who got major playing time. A change of environment and (hopefully) less pressure in Year Two should do wonders for him, but I’m going to remain skeptical until he shows serious growth as a playmaker–especially if he continues to struggle to knock down shots from distance.
4. The shiny new thing is always the most enticing to go after, but there is always a ton of value in older prospects. Based on their previous college seasons, which returning player are you most excited to watch and has the best NBA potential?
Rucker: Pretty easily South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles for me. CMB was becoming a popular “party crasher” during the 2024 NBA Draft cycle, due to his awesome defensive versatility and youth. I thought he could have been a Top 20 pick last year, despite the questions about his outside shot. Given that, CMB has a lot of buzz heading into this season. If the shot looks to be coming around, this is a talent that has the tools to find himself in the mix for a Top 10 selection throughout the year, even in a stacked class. But…can that shot come around? We’re about to find out.
Albert: I don’t know if he has the best NBA potential, but I’m going with Koby Brea. Kentucky’s new squad under Coach Mark Pope is jam-packed with a ton of fun names, but my favorite is Brea. Brea shot just under 50% from three last season for Dayton on over six attempts per game; that’s insane. I know he doesn’t offer much outside of the shooting, but that level of shooting is unreal and will be a weapon for the Wildcats this season. With the veteran guards they’ve brought on as well, Brea should get a healthy dose of open looks from the outside. Kentucky may be missing star power this season under a new regime. They’re hoping the sum of their parts will make up for it, and I think a guy like Koby Brea will be a crucial factor in their success.
Metcalf: I would’ve seriously considered Collin Murray-Boyles in the Top 10 last season, and that’s without him shooting at all. If there is any sort of growth in the shot this year, I may be getting into some dangerous waters with him. His combination of defense, rebounding, and passing is so fun. Add in any sort of away from the rim scoring, and you’re looking at a Top 10 prospect in a very good draft.
Corey: I’m a big believer in Cameron Carr at Tennessee. Carr didn’t get much run last year during Dalton Knecht’s reign of terror over college basketball, but I loved what I saw from him in high school at Link Academy playing off Ja’Kobe Walter and Eliot Cadeau. Carr isn’t an offensive engine type of player; instead, he is the ultimate gap filler, serving as a gravity-inducing floor spacer who can play both fast and slow. The kid is a dynamite athlete who loves to run the floor and play with pace, and at 6’6”, he uses his reported 7’1” wingspan to cause chaos on the defensive side of the floor. If Carr gets some runway, and knocks down shots at a clip he’s capable of reaching, it shouldn’t be surprising to see him pop up on draft boards.
Rowan: Sometimes a player can fly under the radar due to their consistent, but not flashy, play on both ends. That’s where I feel Johni Broome exists right now, as he isn’t as hot a commodity in draft conversations as he should be. Broome has excellent size as a center, uses his length and strength well to protect the rim, and is a consistent finisher at the bucket. That’s all good if Broome just wanted to be a traditional center, but he’s shown enough improvement in the past two years as a shooter and passer that he can’t be looked at as a rim-running big man. Broome’s a year older and wiser in Bruce Pearl’s system, which could be the difference between flying under the radar and making a major blip in his fifth year in college.
Nick: I might have taken Tre Johnson first in terms of SEC prospects I’m most excited about this coming season, but Collin Murray-Boyles is a close second for me. He absolutely lit up opponents over the last few months of the college season, and he should be the primary option for South Carolina from Day One this year. He was in first round consideration for me last season, and he’ll start this season just outside of my lottery; even still, I could easily see a world where having him at #15 looks foolish by December.
5. Whether it’s Anthony Edwards dropping 37 points against Michigan State, or Austin Rivers ripping the heart out of UNC fans, or De’Aaron Fox vs. Lonzo Ball, fans are provided with mesmerizing matchups and performances every season. Which matchup, whether team vs. team, player vs. player, or player vs. team, are you most looking forward to watching?
Rucker: I’m going to get a little weird here. I want to see Georgia vs South Carolina on Jan 28th. Give me Asa Newell going toe-to-toe with Collin Murray-Boyles. I have high hopes for both for different reasons, let’s see what we got.
Albert: January 7th, Auburn vs. Texas. I’m hoping by then that the two freshman guards, Tre Johnson and Tahaad Pettiford, are fully acclimated to the college game and lock horns. I’m looking for an offensive duel between the two guys. I want some version of Dion Waiters vs Tim Hardaway Jr. in the 2014 Rising Stars game.
Metcalf: Alabama vs South Carolina on January 8th. Really, any Alabama game is must watch given their playstyle, talent, and they have a ton of really fun matchups all season. I’m excited to see how Murray-Boyles matches up against them and how Alabama deals with him.
Corey: I’m most looking forward to seeing how Collin Murray-Boyles and South Carolina take on the size and athleticism of Georgia’s frontcourt duo of Somto Cyril and Asa Newell. Add in some other intriguing guys like Silas Demary Jr. and Savo Drezgic and it becomes an underrated prospect matchup.
Rowan: Given the talent, it’s hard to pick against watching a John Calipari team’s games, so I won’t fight the feeling with my matchup. In particular, Arkansas vs. Georgia is a game that I’ll tune into, given it will feature seven players currently in the top 100 on my Ouija Board. The obvious names like Karter Knox, Boogie Fland, and Asa Newell stand out, given their chance to earn their stripes early as freshman stars, but I’m just as excited about the sleepers. Johnell Davis, Silas Demary Jr., and Savo Drezgic are all exciting guards to watch work their magic, while Trevon Brazile is still a consistent power forward force in the SEC. This matchup may not be the flashiest, but I already have circled for future appointment viewing.
Nick: Arkansas vs. Georgia is the one for me. Between Asa Newell and Somto Cyril taking on the Arkansas frontcourt and the loaded Razorbacks guard rotation trying to fight their way to the basket, this should be a great matchup for prospect viewing and simply fun basketball alike.