SEC Basketball: Top 15 players entering 2020-21 season

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 21: Keyontae Johnson #11, Tre Mann #1, and Scottie Lewis #23 of the Florida Gators look on against the Utah State Aggies during the second half of the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic at BB&T Center on December 21, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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Sharife Cooper SEC Basketball Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images /

9. G Sharife Cooper, Auburn

There are a lot of talented freshmen joining the SEC this season. That has allowed Sharife Cooper to slip under the radar, at least nationally.

That being said, the point guard joins Bruce Pearl’s Auburn Tigers with a big role waiting for him. He’s the No. 24 ranked recruit in the class according to 247 Sports and he’s a big reason why Auburn finished with a top ten class nationally.

While Cooper is a good scorer, his best skill is his passing and he’s highly proficient at finding ways to get the ball to his teammates. Nevertheless, he’s going to need to score for an Auburn team returning very little from a year ago.

None of the returning players from last year’s squad averaged even five points per game. No upperclassmen are expected to be in the starting lineup and Cooper is very unlikely to be the only freshman starting on opening night. While that brings a lot of scrutiny, it can also bring a lot of opportunity for Cooper.

Auburn has finished with a winning record in each of the last four seasons under Pearl. The only way they’re extending that streak in a competitive SEC this year is if Cooper lives up to expectations from the jump.

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