With the 2022 NCAA Tournament right around the corner, it's time
for conference tournaments to begin so teams can begin punching
their ticket to The Big Dance in March.
Mid-major tournaments have already gotten underway, on
Wednesday, five Power Five tournaments will have begun theirs to
join the club.
Since everyone will have their eyes on the best players in these
conferences over the next few weeks, BasketballNews.com has
highlighted each Power Five and its top 2022 NBA Draft
prospects.
Here are the names to look out for in the Southeastern
Conference.
Class: Freshman
Draft Day Age: 19.1
Nationality: USA
At 6-foot-10, Jabari Smith has the size and shooting stroke to
be an impactful stretch-4 at the NBA level. Added physical strength
will certainly propel his development, but his athleticism,
shooting and defensive abilities make him a high-level prospect. In
addition, considering the value of floor spacing in today's game,
Smith will likely generate significant interest from NBA teams. As
a result, Smith is in the mix to be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA
Draft.
Class: Freshman
Draft Day Age: 20.6
Nationality: USA
Although he has played primarily off the ball this season, TyTy
Washington still sets the tone for his team and provides value as
both a facilitator and scorer. Even when pushing the pace,
Washington plays under control and seldom makes poor decisions
leading to turnovers. He is only 6-foot-3 and lacks elite
athleticism, but he routinely gets his shot off from deep with
smooth mechanics and a quick release. As a result, Washington will
likely be the first point guard selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Class: Sophomore
Draft Day Age: 21.1
Nationality: USA
After transferring from Cincinnati, Tari Eason has had a
breakout season in Baton Rouge for LSU. He has positional size and
length, and plays with a great motor on both ends of the floor.
While Eason is still improving as a shooter, he excels at putting
the ball on the deck and attacking the rim. In addition, Eason is a
switchable defender and an all-around playmaker. If he keeps
performing at a high level, he will have an excellent chance to be
a first-round pick this summer.
Class: Freshman
Draft Day Age: 19.8
Nationality: USA
Although undersized, Tennessee’s Kennedy Chandler has incredible
speed. He might be the fastest player in the country with the ball
in his hands this season. In addition, Chandler is an excellent
game manager, a skilled passer and a developing outside shooter.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes has had success with smaller,
speedier guards in the past, as T.J. Ford won the Naismith Player
of the Year in 2003 while the two were both at Texas. Chandler will
likely be one of the first point guards selected in the 2022 NBA
Draft.
Class: Freshman
Draft Day Age: 19.7
Nationality: USA
An uber-athletic and explosive leaper, Alabama’s JD Davison
elevates seamlessly off one or two feet. He is also a tremendous
playmaker and facilitator off the dribble, and he continues to
improve as an outside shooter. Davison possesses a ton of upside
and, although coming off the bench for the Tide, is making a solid
case for the 2022 NBA Draft.
Class: Sophomore
Draft Day Age: 20.9
Nationality: USA
After transferring from North Carolina, Walker Kessler is
arguably the best shot-blocker in the country, continues to develop
as a short-roll passer, and has shown shooting flashes during this
season. He's still not a reliable floor-stretcher, but is
incredibly efficient around the rim on offense with a soft touch on
the block. Kessler's length, mobility and rim-protection give him a
unique skill set that makes him a viable option in the 2022 NBA
Draft.
Class: Senior
Draft Day Age: 22.5
Nationality: USA
After two seasons at Florida Southwestern State College, Keon
Ellis transferred to Alabama as one of the most coveted JUCO
prospects in the nation. He has displayed legitimate athleticism,
playmaking and shot-making that will likely translate well to the
next level. Ellis also can guard multiple positions thanks to his
length, mobility and motor. He has been terrific for the Crimson
Tide, and has played himself to be worthy of being drafted in the
2022 NBA Draft.
Class: Junior
Draft Day Age: 22.6
Nationality: Panama, USA
Iverson Molinar is a quick-twitch guard who can fill up a box
score at will. As a sophomore, he burst onto the scene and has
continued to be a reliable scorer this season. Molinar can be a bit
turnover-prone in spurts, but he excels out of the pick-and-roll
and as a spot-up shooter. He also has decent vision as a passer and
is a functional on-ball defender. Considering his athleticism and
scoring prowess, Molinar could be a strong option in the 2022 NBA
Draft as a score-first guard.
Class: Junior
Draft Day Age: 22.6
Nationality: DR Congo
After transferring from West Virginia, Oscar Tshiebwe has
brought a significant physical presence and energy to Kentucky's
roster. Standing 6-foot-9 and 255 pounds, Tshiebwe's strength and
motor are the two elements of his game that stand out the most. In
addition, he is probably the best rebounder in the country.
Although there are questions about how well his game translates to
the modern-day NBA that values floor-spacing, he must be taken
seriously as an NBA prospect.
Others worth
noting:
Colin Castleton | Florida
Kellan Grady | Kentucky
Scotty Pippen Jr. | Vanderbilt
Santiago Vescovi | Tennessee
Jaylin Williams | Arkansas
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