Conference tournaments are already underway with the First Round of the SEC Tournament set to kick off next week, starting on Wednesday, March 12. With the regular season officially at a close in the SEC, the window of opportunity for many NBA-level college athletes to improve (or hurt) their draft stock is also quickly closing.
But with the grueling SEC Tournament looming on the horizon, it can serve as a springboard for NBA Draft prospects to make a lasting impression. Here are five NBA Draft prospects who can either rise or fall in the upcoming SEC Tournament.
Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina Gamecocks
Collin Murray-Boyles has catapulted his name into the lottery discussion after an impressive individual regular season, averaging 16.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG and 2.4 APG on 58.5% shooting from the field.
While shooting isn’t his strength, the 6-foot-7, 245-pound forward has slowly but surely improved as a shooter. He has quietly molded into a three-level scorer, although his three-point shooting still lacks consistency and leaves much to be desired. Yet it's a promising start. And at 19 years old, these raw intangibles can be quickly developed at the NBA level.
What makes Murray-Boyles so unique is that he plays big for his size. He can get downhill and size up defenders. He’s a menace on the glass, can pass out of double teams, and has really good hands defensively.
Unfortunately for Murray-Boyles, his 12-19 (2-16) Gamecocks have had a turbulent season. But the Gamecocks have come painstakingly close against some of the nation’s top teams. If they can turn heads in the SEC tournament, Murray-Boyles can solidify himself as a top-ten-worthy pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma Sooners
Jeremiah Fears had a spectacular start to the 2024-25 season. However, Fears faced consistency struggles amongst the rigors of the SEC -- and so did his team. In spite of this, Fears finished strong throughout the final stretch of the regular season, continuing to make a name for himself as a potential First Round pick.
Fears have been the primary backcourt scorer on an Oklahoma team that stands firmly on the bubble. At only 18 years old, it’s impressive to see the numbers he has put up: 16.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.2 APG.
While Fears is only shooting 26.5% from three, the flashes Fears has shown with his deep range -- as well as his nifty passing and rebounding prowess -- show he’s capable of making the jump to the NBA next year. A strong showing in the SEC tournament can only solidify his case as among the top SEC players in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Johni Broome, Auburn Tigers
Prototypical “older” bigs like Johni Broome have questioned whether their age (and style of play) will translate at the NBA level.
But when you look at just how productive the future First Team All-American is, it’s increasingly hard to ignore the potential impact he can have at the professional level.
Broome, largely regarded as the top player in college basketball, is averaging a jaw-dropping 18.6 PPG and 10.6 RPG on 50% shooting on among the best teams in college basketball in less than 30 minutes per game. Impressive, right?
While Auburn has dropped its last two regular season games, the Tigers coasted to a No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament, but have their eyes set toward ever greater heights: cutting down the nets in April. However, as a fringe first-round pick, a superb showing in the SEC Tournament can help Broome solidify himself inside the top thirty come June.
Labaron Philon, Alabama Crimson Tide
Add another fringe first-round pick to the mix: Alabama’s Labaron Philon. The 6-foot-4 guard has had an impressive freshman season on a loaded Alabama squad, averaging 10.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG and 3.5 APG.
Last week, Philon had one of his best outings, scoring 19 points, five rebounds and four assists in Alabama’s 99-94 loss to Florida. Philon is ultra-quick and has been a key to Alabama’s vastly improved defense as a two-way versatile guard.
Alabama is in a similar spot as Auburn. The Crimson Tide will have plenty to play for after the SEC Tournament. Butwith the Crimson Tide still in play for the last No. 1 seed, a strong finish in the SEC Tournament can help cement Philon’s draft stock inside the top thirty and improve Alabama’s NCAA Tournament seeding. It’s a win-win for both.
Adou Thiero, Arkansas Razorbacks
I’ve been high on Adou Thiero’s draft stock for quite some time. Thiero has had a breakout season for the Razorbacks, averaging 15.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 2.0 APG on 54.8% shooting from the field.
While Thiero has been sidelined with a hyperextension injury since late February, it’s unknown whether the Razorbacks leading scorer will be available for Arkansas’ First Round matchup versus South Carolina in the SEC Tournament on Wednesday. But it's worth monitoring because Thiero and fellow sidelined-for-the-season guard Boogie Fland have the highest NBA Draft ceilings on the Razorbacks.
If Thiero returns for the SEC Tournament, it will be interesting to see if his elite explosiveness and high motor hold serve after the injury. If he doesn’t return, it will be interesting to monitor how serious his injury may be, which can inevitably hurt his draft stock. Either way, Thiero is an intriguing prospect to monitor with the upcoming SEC Tournament.