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SEC Basketball: Preseason predictions for 2022-23 season

By Matt Melton

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - FEBRUARY 26: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Kentucky Wildcats points to the bench during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on February 26, 2022 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Wildcats 75-73. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - FEBRUARY 26: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Kentucky Wildcats points to the bench during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on February 26, 2022 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Wildcats 75-73. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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SEC Basketball
Florida Gators forward Colin Castleton (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

First Team All-SEC

  • Brandon Miller, Alabama
  • Nick Smith, Arkansas
  • Wendell Green Jr, Auburn
  • Colin Castleton, Florida
  • Kario Oquendo, Georgia
  • Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
  • Kobe Brown, Missouri
  • Santiago Vescovi, Tennessee

When predicting which players will be selected First Team All-SEC this season, it feels likely that there are two locks in that conversation in Tshiebwe and Castleton, with Brown as the only other forward I predict will receive those honors in 2022-23. If there are two freshmen that could receive First Team All-SEC honors, Miller and Smith are arguably the likeliest to happen, while a few other guards such as Green, Oquendo, and Vescovi could each easily have strong seasons.

Second Team All-SEC

  • Jahvon Quinerly, Alabama
  • KD Johnson, Auburn
  • Sahvir Wheeler, Kentucky
  • KJ Williams, LSU
  • Tolu Smith, Mississippi State
  • Matthew Murrell, Ole Miss
  • Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
  • Henry Coleman III, Texas A&M

As for the Second Team All-SEC prediction, there are a few players here such as Quinerly, Wheeler, and Zeigler that could very easily end up making the First Team instead. Other guards such as Johnson and Murrell could also be names to watch for, while the same can be said for Williams, Smith, and Coleman in the frontcourt.

All-Freshman Team

  • Brandon Miller, Alabama
  • Anthony Black, Arkansas
  • Jordan Walsh, Arkansas
  • Nick Smith, Arkansas
  • Yohan Traore, Auburn
  • Cason Wallace, Kentucky
  • GG Jackson, South Carolina
  • Julian Phillips, Tennessee

The All-Freshman Team could be one of the most difficult to narrow down a list of names as a few others such as Alabama’s Jaden Bradley and Kentucky’s Chris Livingston could also appear on this list at seasons end. Also, I know what you’re probably thinking, and no, that is not a typo. Arkansas could very easily land three players on this list in Black, Walsh, and Smith.

All-Defensive Team

  • Johni Broome, Auburn
  • Colin Castleton, Florida
  • Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
  • Jayveous McKinnis, Ole Miss
  • Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee

Two members of this group made the All-Defensive Team a year ago in Tshiebwe and Zeigler, with both having a strong chance to be selected once again. Both Castleton and Broome should each be among SEC Basketball’s top interior defenders this season, while McKinnis is a name to watch for in particular as the Ole Miss senior transferred from Jackson State during the offseason where he was a three-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Year.

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