SEC Basketball: 5 key questions and storylines for 2021-22 season

2. Which non-five star freshman prospect (use 247sportsComposite) will end up as the biggest star in the SEC?

Hightower

Devin Carter is a guy that you should familiarize yourself with before the 2021-22 season gets underway because he could easily be the biggest freshman star in the SEC this season. Frank Martin raved about the four-star guard to the media during the offseason and he honestly had every reason to, considering that Carter brings a lot to South Carolina’s program.

On top of being a lethal on- and off-ball threat at 6’4” who can maneuver around defenders at a steady pace, Carter is an explosive athlete in transition who is typically already on his way down to the hardwood before his opponents are able to challenge his layup/dunk attempts at the rim.

If Carter manages to flourish in whatever role Frank Martin elects to give him this year, I strongly believe that he’ll be the freshman that receives the most recognition at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.

Beard

Manny Obaseki is the main guy that jumps out at me. Not just because he is the highest-ranked four star but the opportunity that he has coming into this season is unlike any other four-star player. Texas A&M is going to be searching for players that fill the void of losing Emanuel Miller, Savion Flagg, and Jay Jay Chandler who made up over 50% of their scoring from last season. Obaseki is an outstanding athlete, has a great jump shot, and just an amazing feel for the game.

Melton

Ole Miss has had its fair share of star guards in recent years, and another one on campus this year in freshman Daeshun Ruffin. A McDonald’s All-American, Ruffin scored 2,000+ points and averaged 25.4 PPG in high school earning All-State honors in all four seasons as one of the most accomplished high school players to ever come from the state of Mississippi.

A few other freshmen who could also end up as massive stars in the SEC include Kentucky forward Bryce Hopkins, LSU forward Alex Fudge, Alabama forward’s Charles Bediako and Jusaun Holt, Florida guard Kowacie Reeves, Texas A&M guard Manny Obaseki, and Tennessee center Jonas Aidoo.

Zacher

Texas A&M is in desperate need of some starpower, and Manny Obaseki fits the bill.  A four-star who is right on the cusp of being a five-star, Obaseki is the third-highest commit in program history, coming in at 33rd nationally, sixth among shooting guards, and third in the state of Texas.

At 6-4, Obaseki averaged 12.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in his last campaign at Allen High School – and, with leading scorer Emanuel Miller’s transferring to TCU, Obaseki is the perfect player to step into the limelight and contribute from the get-go for the Aggies.