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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Trendon Watford SEC Basketball Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images /

4. F Trendon Watford, LSU

Trendon Watford turned 19 years old just a few days ago. He’ll still be a teenager at the end of the season, but he’ll be a teenager with an All-SEC First Team accolade to his name.

As a freshman, Watford quickly emerged as Will Wade’s next star for the Tigers, averaging 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, earning a spot on the conference’s All-Freshman Team. The forward did all of that while being very efficient from the field, finishing sixth in the SEC with a 48.9 field goal percentage.

Watford was far from perfect as a freshman, though. He struggled immensely with turnovers, coughing the ball up 82 times over the course of the season. He also hit just 26.9 percent of his three-pointers, which is a problem when he launched 2.2 three-pointers per game – that’s not going to work again this season.

If Watford can improve upon those two problems, he’ll be arguably the best player in the conference. He already experienced a high usage last season and now there will be even more opportunities for him to make a name for himself in Baton Rouge. As he goes, the Tigers will follow; he and Smart should create a top tandem in the league.

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