SEC Basketball: 5 biggest breakout players so far from 2021-22 season

By Matt Melton | Nov 25, 2021

UNCASVILLE, CT - NOVEMBER 21: Olivier Nkamhoua #13 of the Tennessee Volunteers shoots the ball over Armando Bacot #5 of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of a game at Mohegan Sun Arena on November 21, 2021 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) /

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SEC Basketball Jaemyn Brakefield Ole Miss Rebels (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

4. F Jaemyn Brakefield – Ole Miss Rebels

One of the popular breakout candidates in the SEC entering the 2021-22 season was Brakefield, a talented forward who transferred to Oxford from Duke in the offseason. A former Top 40 recruit, Brakefield has enjoyed a strong start to the season starting in four-of-five games so far for Ole Miss.

The sophomore ranks second for the Rebels in scoring with 10.6 PPG, as well as averaging 4.6 RPG on 50% shooting from the field, as well as an impressive 41.7% from three. Averaging the second-most minutes for Ole Miss so far this season, it appears that Brakefield is set to play a massive role for the Rebels in 2021-22, one in which the talented sophomore is one of Ole Miss’ top scorers.

3. G Eric Gaines – LSU Tigers

The LSU Tigers are off to an impressive 5-0 start to the season with a big reason for that success being Gaines. Averaging 9.2 PPG, Gaines has played a key role off the Tigers bench averaging 25.8 MPG, and is currently shooting 42.4% from the field and 93.8% (15-for-16) from the free throw line.

Not only is Gaines making an impact as a scoring guard off the LSU bench, but Gaines also ranks second on the Tigers with 4.8 APG, as well as also averaging 2.6 RPG and 2.4 SPG. After not seeing much scoring production with the Tigers a year ago, Gaines is doing a bit of everything off the LSU bench and appears to be a key piece for this 2021-22 Tigers team.

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