SEC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2021-22 season

By Matt Melton | Apr 13, 2021

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 12: Juwan Gary #4 and Jahvon Quinerly #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate connecting on a alley oop dunk as head coach Ben Howland of the Mississippi State Bulldogs calls a timeout during the first half of their quarterfinal game in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

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SEC Basketball Jarkel Joiner Ole Miss Rebels (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

No. 6 – Ole Miss Rebels

The Rebels came up just short of a trip to the NCAA Tournament last season, but will return will a talented roster looking to make the Big Dance once again.

Ole Miss finished 6th in the SEC a year ago but will lose notable players including leading scorer Devontae Shuler, Romello White, and KJ Buffen who transferred to UAB. The Rebels will have to replace 35.1 PPG combined between these three players, but you don’t have to look far as to how they will do it.

Headlining the returning Rebels is rising senior guard Jarkel Joiner, who was the team’s second-leading scorer at 12 PPG this season. Joining Joiner will be notable contributors from a year ago in Luis Rodriguez, Matthew Murrell, Robert Allen, Austin Crowley, and Sammy Hunter.

Ole Miss will also bring in the #4 ranked recruiting class in the SEC headlined by 4-star point guard and Top 50 player Daeshun Ruffin. Joining Ruffin will be 3-star guards James White and Grant Slatten, as well as 3-star forward Eric Van Der Heijden. The Rebels also added Georgia transfer Tye Fagan, who should be an immediate impact player next season.

Even despite three notable losses, the talent will still be there for head coach Kermit Davis and the Rebels. While this team may not be the best in the SEC, Ole Miss should be a consistent team throughout next season as a team that should be in contention to make the NCAA Tournament in 2021-22.

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