The SEC doesn't lack established stars.
Florida's Thomas Haugh enters the season as one of the leading national player of the year candidates. Vanderbilt's Tyler Tanner is coming off one of the best all-around seasons by any guard in college basketball. Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu and several other recognizable players already have significant national profiles.
This list is about somebody else.
It's about the players who could look substantially different by February than they do entering October. Some were productive freshmen whose roles should expand. Others changed schools and now have opportunities that better fit their skill sets. A few could become nationally recognizable players even if casual fans aren't discussing them yet.
Here are 10 SEC players with a chance to make significant jumps in 2026-27.
1. Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
Calling Thomas a breakout candidate almost feels unfair considering how productive he already was.
Thomas averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals as a freshman while shooting 41.6% from 3-point range. He also made 82 3-pointers, establishing himself as one of the SEC's most dangerous young perimeter scorers.
The breakout we're projecting isn't from role player to starter. It's from excellent young guard to potential All-American.
Thomas should have greater command of John Calipari's offense after experiencing SEC defenses for an entire season. If his playmaking improves without sacrificing shooting efficiency, Arkansas could have one of the best guards in America.
2. Malachi Moreno, Kentucky
Moreno's freshman statistics don't jump off the page in the same way Thomas' numbers do, but his impact was substantial.
He started 30 games, led Kentucky with 6.3 rebounds and 1.47 blocks per game and shot 58.2% from the field. Those are exactly the types of numbers that suggest a player understands how to impact games without requiring constant offensive touches.
His sophomore opportunity could be much larger.
Momcilovic's shooting should pull defenders away from the basket, potentially creating more operating space for Moreno inside. If his post scoring and passing take another step, Kentucky could have one of the SEC's best young centers.
3. Isaiah Johnson, Texas
Johnson arrives in the SEC after proving at Colorado that he can score at the college level.
He scored 24 points in his collegiate debut and eventually recorded nine 20-point games during his freshman season. That's meaningful because Texas isn't projecting its upside solely from recruiting rankings. Johnson has already produced against Division I competition.
Sean Miller's system should give him opportunities to attack from several areas of the floor. The Longhorns have enough surrounding talent that Johnson won't need to force shots simply to keep the offense alive.
If his efficiency improves while his usage remains high, Johnson could become Texas' leading scorer and one of the conference's fastest-rising names.
4. Milan Momcilovic, Kentucky
It's strange labeling somebody who made 136 3-pointers a breakout player.
Momcilovic is here because his move to Kentucky could take his national profile to another level.
He averaged 16.9 points last season at Iowa State and shot an astonishing 48.7% from 3-point range. Now he joins a Mark Pope offense that values spacing, ball movement and high-value shots.
Kentucky will put Momcilovic on one of college basketball's largest stages. If his shooting translates at anything close to last season's level, he'll become one of the SEC's most discussed players very quickly.
5. Jalen Haralson, Tennessee
Haralson enters Tennessee with an opportunity to become an important part of a reconstructed backcourt.
Rick Barnes doesn't need him to dominate possession immediately. Dai Dai Ames, Juke Harris and Terrence Hill Jr. give Tennessee several perimeter options, allowing Haralson to earn responsibility rather than being overwhelmed by it.
His size and versatility could be particularly valuable defensively, which matters because Barnes tends to reward players he can trust on that end of the floor.
If Haralson establishes himself defensively, his offensive opportunities should follow. By SEC play, he could be one of Tennessee's most important two-way players.
6. Juke Harris, Tennessee
Harris is another reason Tennessee's backcourt is so interesting.
The Volunteers have several players capable of becoming their leading perimeter scorer, but somebody has to establish himself as the player Barnes trusts when a possession breaks down.
Harris has the offensive ability to become that option.
The challenge is translating talent into efficient production against SEC defenses. Tennessee doesn't need reckless shot creation. It needs a guard capable of creating something useful when the first action doesn't work.
If Harris becomes that player while holding up defensively, his importance will rise quickly.
7. Marcus Spears Jr., Texas
Freshmen don't always qualify as traditional breakout candidates, but Spears could enter November somewhat overshadowed by Texas' enormous transfer class.
That may not last long.
The highly regarded forward joins a roster with Johnson, Matas Vokietaitis, David Punch, Elyjah Freeman and Mikey Lewis, which means Sean Miller doesn't have to force Spears into an oversized role immediately.
That's a healthy environment for a talented freshman. Spears can defend, rebound and attack favorable matchups while gradually expanding his responsibilities. If he adjusts quickly to SEC physicality, he could become one of the conference's most impactful newcomers.
8. David Punch, Texas
Punch's transfer from TCU may not have generated the same attention as some of the portal's biggest names, but his versatility could become extremely valuable for Texas.
Miller needs players capable of defending multiple frontcourt positions without destroying offensive spacing. Punch has an opportunity to fill that role.
His breakout doesn't need to mean averaging 18 points per game. It could mean becoming the player Texas uses to solve difficult matchups, guard multiple positions and finish efficiently around more ball-dominant teammates.
Those players become invaluable on contenders.
9. Kam Williams, Kentucky
Williams showed flashes last season despite missing 12 games because of a broken foot.
His most memorable performance demonstrated exactly what makes him intriguing. Williams tied Kentucky's single-game program record by making eight 3-pointers against Bellarmine.
Now Kentucky needs more consistency.
Momcilovic's arrival means Williams won't be asked to become the only floor spacer, which could actually help him. Defenses will have multiple shooters to track, creating cleaner opportunities throughout Pope's offense.
If Williams stays healthy and converts those opportunities consistently, Kentucky could have an extremely dangerous collection of perimeter shooting.
10. Jason Crowe Jr., Missouri
Crowe is the freshman wildcard.
Highly regarded prospects don't automatically become immediate SEC stars, particularly at guard, where the physical and mental transition can be unforgiving.
Crowe has the scoring ability to accelerate the process.
Missouri could use another dynamic creator, giving the freshman an opportunity to earn substantial offensive responsibility. There will likely be difficult nights, but the upside is obvious.
If Crowe translates quickly, he could become one of the SEC's most entertaining newcomers and substantially raise Missouri's ceiling.
The SEC's next stars are already here
The most interesting part of breakout predictions is how quickly they can become outdated.
By December, Thomas may no longer belong in any conversation about emerging players because he could already be recognized nationally as an established star. Moreno could become one of Kentucky's most important players, while Johnson may establish himself as the face of Miller's first Texas team.
Others will take longer.
That's the nature of development.
But in a conference with this much national exposure, opportunity won't be difficult to find. SEC teams will play major nonconference games, ranked opponents and one another throughout the winter.
Players who perform will be noticed.
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