SEC Basketball: Ranking of top 25 players entering 2023-24 season

16. Matthew Murrell – Mississippi

Things will be a little different for Ole Miss this season, but getting Murrell back as a senior was certainly an offseason win. Not only has he been an important presence in the Rebels’ backcourt, but his game has improved with each passing season. He’s coming off a junior year where he put up 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, albeit with weaker shooting numbers from outside the arc.

Now a senior, Murrell is looking to take another step forward under new head coach Chris Beard. A double-digit scorer the last two seasons, the Rebels are hoping not only for Murrell to continue to shine on the offensive end, but that he’ll develop into a more consistent and complete player. Expect Murrell to lead the Rebels in points for a third straight season, though there’s potential here for another breakthrough campaign.

15. Tyrin Lawrence – Vanderbilt

Even though he briefly saw the court as a freshman, Lawrence has picked up plenty of experience at Vanderbilt and now returns for his fourth season with the Commodores. He flirted with exiting Vanderbilt last season, but opted to forgo professional ball and the Transfer Portal. It was a wise consideration, as Lawrence is coming off a breakout season, averaging 13.1 points and 4.4 rebounds while hitting 36% of his 3-pointers.

Those numbers were considerably higher than his time as an underclassman, and his role for the Commodores will be just as important this year. Not only is he Vanderbilt’s leading returning scorer, but his experience in Jerry Stackhouse’s system is very important, especially surrounded by a few new faces in this lineup. Lawrence should have plenty of chances to score and improve his own stock for the future.