Creg Stephenson, photo by AP
15 greatest SEC basketball players of last 50 years
The 2015 SEC basketball tournament begins tonight, so what better time than a countdown of the 15 greatest players of the last 50 years. We chose 15 because it was impossible to trim the list to 10, and we chose 50 because the SEC has chosen a conference player of the year since 1965. Click through for our choices, and let the debate begin.
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Creg Stephenson, photo by LSUSports.net
15. Glen Davis, LSU (2005-07)
The 6-foot-9 forward known as "Big Baby" was the SEC Player of the Year in 2006, when he helped LSU reach the Final Four for the first time in 20 years. He averaged a double-double as a junior in 2007 (17.7 points, 10.4 rebounds per game), then turned pro.
Creg Stephenson, photo by Newsweek.com
14. Johnny Neumann, Ole Miss (1970-71)
Neumann is largely forgetten these days because he came on the scene just as the even more dynamic Pete Maravich was leaving, and also because he played just one varsity season for the Rebels. Neumann averaged 40.1 points per game as a sophomore, then became the first basketball player to turn pro early (entering the ABA) due to financial hardship.
Creg Stephenson, photos by AP
13. Anthony Davis/John Wall, Kentucky (2012/2010)
This is a bit of a cop-out, but the "one and done" era needed to be addressed at some point. Wall was SEC Player of the Year and a first-team All-American in his lone season at Kentucky, while Davis was both SEC Player of the Year and the consensus national player of the year. Davis also led the Wildcats to the national title and like Wall was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft.
Creg Stephenson, photo by Spokeo.com
12. Dominique Wilkins, Georgia (1980-82)
Before he became the "Human Highlight Film" in the NBA, Wilkins was an electriying player for the Bulldogs in the early 1980s. The 6-foot-7 Wilkins averaged 21.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in his career at Georgia, earning SEC Player of the Year and All-America honors as a sophomore in 1981.
Creg Stephenson, photo by BigBlueHistory.net
11. Kyle Macy, Kentucky (1978-80)
Macy transferred to Kentucky after a year at Purdue, and was a three-time All-SEC pick and three-time All-American. He helped the Wildcats to the national title as a sophomore in 1978 and was SEC Player of the Year as a senior in 1980. Macy averaged 14.3 points per game in his career and is one of the college game's all-time greatest free-throw shooters at 88.3 percent.
Creg Stephenson, photo by Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
10. Dale Ellis, Tennessee (1980-83)
Ellis dominated during a time when the SEC was loaded with future NBA talent, averaging better than 20 points per game. The 6-foot-7 Ellis was SEC Player of the Year and a consenus All-American in both 1982 and 1983. The college game did not have the 3-pointer in Ellis' day, but he is widely regarded as one of the greatest long-range shooters in NBA history.
Creg Stephenson, photo by Tennessee athletics
9. Ernie Grunfeld, Tennessee (1974-77)
One half of Tennessee's "Ernie and Bernie Show," Grunfeld was one of the better pure scorers in SEC history. Grunfeld was SEC Player of the Year as a senior in 1977 and finished his college career with a then-school record 2,249 points, averaging 22.3 points per game. He then embarked on a long career as an NBA player and executive.
Creg Stephenson, photo by Alabama athletics
8. Reggie King, Alabama (1976-79)
Known as "Mule," the 6-foot-6 King was a two-way standout for the Crimson Tide in the late 1970s. He averaged better than 21 points per game in his junior and senior seasons, in both of which he was named SEC Player of the Year. He averaged an astounding 13.3 rebounds per game his junior year, and 10.8 boards for his career.
Creg Stephenson, photo by AP
7. Corliss Williamson, Arkansas (1993-95)
"Big Nasty" was a force for one of the greatest teams in SEC history, the early 1990s Arkansas Razorbacks. Williamson was SEC Player of the Year and a consensus All-American in both 1994 and 1995, averaging 19.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He helped the Hogs win the national championship in 1994, then return to the title game (falling to UCLA) the following year.
Creg Stephenson, photo by BigBlueHistory.net
6. Kenny Walker, Kentucky (1983-86)
"Sky" Walker was a disappointment as an NBA player, but his career at Kentucky was as decorated as anyone's who ever suited up in the blue and white. He was a three-time All-SEC pick and two-time All-American, ending his career in 1986 with 2,080 points and 942 rebounds. He also helped Kentucky to three SEC regular-season championships and a pair of tournament titles.
Creg Stephenson, photo by Sports Action Shots
5. Charles Barkley, Auburn (1982-84)
Barkley earned one of his many nicknames, "The Round Mound of Rebound," while Auburn, and it was no misnomer. Sir Charles led the SEC in rebounding three consecutive years — averaging better than nine boards per game each time — which is quite a feat for a man who is only 6-foot-4. Barkley was SEC Player of the Year as a junior in 1984.
Creg Stephenson, photo by LSUSports.net
4. Chris Jackson, LSU (1989-90)
Jackson — now known as Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf — stayed just two seasons in Baton Rouge, but will go down as one of the great scorers the college game has ever known. He averaged 30.2 points per game as a freshman, the most recent player to top 30 per game in the league. Jackson was a two-time All-American and two-time SEC Player of the Year before turning pro.
Creg Stephenson, photo by Tennessee athletics
3. Bernard King, Tennessee (1975-77)
The other half of the "Ernie and Bernie Show" averaged 25.8 points per game in his college career, earning SEC Player of the Year and All-America honors in both 1976 and 1977. He also led the SEC in scoring and rebounding twice each, averaging 25.8 points and 14.3 rebounds per game his junior year before leaving for the NBA.
Creg Stephenson, photo by John W. McDonough
2. Shaquille O'Neal, LSU (1990-92)
There's likely never been a more imposing force on an SEC court than O'Neal, a 7-foot-1, 325-pound menace for the Tigers in the early 1990s. He averaged 21.6 points and 13.5 rebounds per game in his three years in Baton Rouge, picking up a pair of SEC Player of the Year awards and twice being named a first-team All-American.
Creg Stephenson, photo by LSU athletics
1. Pete Maravich, LSU (1968-70)
Maravich played in an all-white, pre-integration SEC, but his numbers remain staggering. His career scoring average of 44.2 points per game and point total of 3,667 are still NCAA records, despite the fact he played only three seasons at LSU. "Pistol Pete" was a two-time consensus national player of the year, a three-time All-American and the only three-time SEC player of the year in league history.
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