SEC Basketball: Each team’s biggest recruiting needs for 2019-20
A few SEC Basketball teams have some holes to fill as they wrap up the 2019 recruiting class. See who has the biggest needs with the signing period approaching.
SEC Basketball was close to the national title this season, thanks to the Auburn Tigers, but they came up short, showing a few chinks in the armor in their loss. The recruiting trail is where teams can always improve and with a short window to fill needs, we take a look at schools with the most to gain from a strong finish on the trail.
The Kentucky Wildcats are the usual leader in top recruits. They have four players incoming in their 2019 class, including three five-star prospects and grad transfer Nate Sestina (Bucknell) but they’re not quite done on the recruiting trail just yet. They’re in the conversation for former Virginia Tech Hokies big man Kerry Blackshear Jr., whose final destination is up in the air.
Head coach Buzz Williams has brought along his own slew of recruits with him to the Texas A&M Aggies. Andre Gordon, Quenton Jackson, Cashius McNeilly and Yavuz Gultekin are all set to join Williams for the 2019-20 season.
The Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs have four players incoming each as well as they look to improve in the conference. The Gators have the seventh-ranked class in 2019 according to 247Sports with players coming for both the backcourt and the frontcourt in Scottie Lewis, Tre Mann, Omar Payne and Jason Jitoboh. Former Louisiana Tech forward Anthony Duruji will be a member of the 2020 class with two years left to play.
Year 2 for head coach Tom Crean should look drastically different after posting a 2-16 record in SEC play. Anthony Edwards and Christian Brown are just a few names expected to make an impact right away for the Bulldogs program.
The Auburn Tigers are another team that has covered all the bases with five players on the way, headlined by four-star wing Isaac Okoro. Jordan Bone, Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield are on their way out for the Tennessee Volunteers but Josiah Jordan-James is the next great prospect to take the reins for Rick Barnes and company.
The Ole Miss Rebels have four players headed in as well after a strong first year from head coach Kermit Davis. They’re not quite done yet, either as they’re in the running for a top junior college player in Khadim Sy. His addition would certainly bolster their depth.
The Arkansas Razorbacks have Justice Hill signed to their 2019 class and added grad transfer Jeantal Cylla (UNC-Wiliming) after hiring head coach Eric Musselman. He’ll have his hands full replacing Daniel Gafford, but will bring his own style of play to the table.
There are still quite a few teams with needs to fill as the 2019 recruiting period winds to a close. Here’s a look at the biggest recruiting needs in the SEC for 2019.