The highest 10 girls’s basketball gamers within the SEC, ranked

For the previous three girls’s school basketball seasons, the tip of every season featured a crew from the SEC holding up the nationwide championship trophy. Of these titles, two went to Daybreak Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks and one to LSU.

Now, within the 2024-25 season, the convention is as aggressive as its been with seven groups within the prime 25 and colleges loaded with prime athletes within the nation, all hoping to reflect South Carolina’s success.

Listed here are the highest 10 gamers within the convention, together with two transfers profiting from new conditions, the graduate senior main the Gamecocks repeat championship run and extra:

Photograph by Dylan Buell/Getty Photos

10. Teonni Key | Kentucky

24-25 Stats: 11.5 factors, 9.7 rebounds, 2.9 blocks

When new Kentucky Wildcats head coach Kenny Brooks left the ACC for the Bluegrass State, it included bringing his Virginia Tech level guard Georgia Amoore, however she wasn’t the one ACC participant to affix him.

Ahead Teonni Key left the North Carolina Tar Heels and is prospering with the Wildcats. The 6-foot-3 combo guard/ahead has velocity and midrange taking pictures to meet the wants of a guard and size and agility to play contained in the paint. Watch the ahead play across the basket and she or he’s affected person sufficient to let defenders chew and hit layups, averaging a profession excessive in factors and rebounds.

After beginning one sport with the Tar Heels in two seasons, Brooks has an on a regular basis starter to play alongside Clara Strack within the paint and pull defenders away from the rim.

Defensively, Key leads the convention with 29 blocks, averaging 2.9 per sport. It exhibits the junior’s timing on either side of the ball.

Photograph by Sean Rayford/Getty Photos

9. Te-Hina Paopao | South Carolina

24-25 Stats: 11.6 factors, 2.6 assists, 50% discipline purpose share

After shedding Aaliyah Boston earlier than the 23-24 season, and Kamilla Cardoso following the 24-25 undefeated title run, the fear for the Gamecocks was the dearth of a foreboding inside participant.

South Carolina’s Chloe Kitts is working to fill that function, however the particular person permitting everybody to search out their locations on the Gamecocks roster is graduate senior Te-Hina Paopao. The previous Oregon Duck transferred to Columbia earlier than final season, however this 12 months has established herself even additional as a crew chief.

Paopao’s offensive figures are down this 12 months, however one other decrease stat that speaks volumes in regards to the guard is giving up a profession low 0.8 turnovers per sport, giving South Carolina further possessions.

She additionally nonetheless exhibits the dynamic playmaking that she had within the Pacific Northwest, however would not should with teammates like Kitts and freshman Joyce Edwards on the court docket. Paopao brings the crew calm and consistency it must proceed battling on the prime of the SEC.

Photograph by Sarah Stier/Getty Photos

8. Talaysia Cooper | Tennessee

24-25 Stats: 20.3 factors, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists

Talaysia Cooper is a participant who couldn’t discover sufficient enjoying time at South Carolina her freshman 12 months, however discovered a house with the Tennessee Volunteers.

Cooper joined head coach Kim Caldwell’s high-powered offense within the offseason and is one among 5 gamers within the convention scoring not less than 20 factors per sport. The sophomore delivers blistering strikes to the paint and goes via opponents to get baskets, nevertheless it’s not solely offense the place the guard’s impacting video games.

The South Carolina native leads Tennessee in rebounds and steals, holding onto the very best plus/minus within the SEC general and each offensively and defensively.

Photograph by Ian Maule/Getty Photos

7. Raegan Beers | Oklahoma

24-25 Stats: 17.7 factors, 9.5 assists, 72.5% discipline purpose share

Raegan Beers was a part of the exodus away from the few Pac-12 colleges that opted to remain within the convention. Many noticed Beers because the switch goal of the summer time and she or he landed with the Sooners of their first 12 months within the SEC.

The previous Oregon State star introduced together with her dimension and physicality within the paint, with correct and environment friendly taking pictures making her an almost automated basket for Oklahoma. The Third Staff AP All-American and two-time All-Pac-12 choice is performing higher with a stronger forged round her, averaging a profession excessive 17.7 factors regardless of taking pictures much less per sport.

The ahead leads the NCAA with an astounding 72.5 % discipline purpose share, leaping up barely to 73.5 when solely accounting for pictures taken contained in the arc. With guard Payton Verhulst connecting with Beers and inflicting defenders to decide on between who they should double-team, Beers and the Sooners may very well be close to the highest of the SEC convention of their inaugural season.

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6. Rori Harmon | Texas

24-25 Stats: 9.5 factors, 6.5 assists, 2.7 steals

Texas guard Rori Harmon doesn’t have statistics that leap off a stat sheet like some gamers on this listing however has one other degree that others can’t declare.

The explanation for the drop is twofold. First, Harmon is getting back from an ACL tear that took the guard out final season after 11 video games. These accidents usually require practically a 12 months earlier than returning and Harmon is already on the market making an affect. The second purpose is Harmon doesn’t should do all of the scoring for the Longhorns with a stronger supporting forged.

That degree is massive sport moments. Harmon’s already proven it this 12 months when Texas traveled to South Bend, Indiana for the SEC-ACC Problem. Regardless of shedding to the Notre Dame Preventing Irish, it took extra time and Harmon taking the sport over within the last minute.

After hitting a midrange jumper to tug forward, and the Irish answering again with what regarded just like the game-winning shot, Harmon earned a foul with mere seconds remaining, hitting the free throws to ship it to extra time.

Mix Harmon with Madison Booker (extra on her later) and it’s no shock that Texas was voted second within the convention within the SEC preseason ballot.

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5. Georgia Amoore | Kentucky

24-25 Stats: 15.6 factors, 7.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds

At Virginia Tech, level guard Georgia Amoore was a part of a longtime crew, and a partnership with ahead Elizabeth Kitley, that took the Hokies all the best way to the 2023 Last 4. Amoore was the primary Hokie to get a triple-double and holds the varsity document for assists, organising a legacy that VT followers gained’t overlook. However what Amoore is doing in Kentucky is perhaps extra spectacular.

Transferring to the SEC quickly after Brooks took the top teaching place, Amoore is now not within the snug confines of a program constructed over years of Brooks management. Now Amoore is at first of build up a crew, with all new gamers round her.

Even so, Amoore leads the SEC with 7.2 assists per sport, and tied with Harmon with 72 general. These passes are going to all new teammates, with three of her 4 beginning teammates transferring into Kentucky alongside Amoore.

Amoore performs the sector common level guard function and referred to as Brooks’ “mini me” by the coach himself. When it’s wanted she additionally activates taking pictures means that frustrates opponents together with her tenacity and hitting consecutive pictures to tug the air out of opponent’s defensive effort.

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4. Aneesah Morrow | LSU

24-25 Stats: 17.8 factors, 13.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals

Just like the Gamecocks, LSU misplaced a giant within the paint that’s laborious to switch in now-WNBA star Angel Reese. With Reese gone, Morrow is again to what the ahead was doing with DePaul that made her a two-time AP-All American.

Morrow has 10 double-doubles in 12 video games this 12 months for the Tigers. Now, there’s an argument to be made concerning the energy of LSU’s schedule, however within the lone ranked sport of the season for head coach Kim Mulkey’s facet, in opposition to then No. 20 NC State, Morrow 20 factors and 15 rebounds, one among her prime video games of the season.

Taking part in at DePaul made the Chicago, IL native barely out of the nationwide highlight however has the sport to shine in it this season as the first paint goal for LSU. Morrow is powerful within the paint, takes contact however can even step again and hit midrange pictures with frequency and now has extra to take with Reese away.

In 12 video games, Morrow has a profession excessive 51.9 % taking pictures share from the ground, and is scoring extra this season than final. The ahead’s partnered nicely with the following participant on the listing.

Photograph by Reagan Cotten/LSU/College Photos by way of Getty Photos

3. Flau’jae Johnson | LSU

24-25 Stats: 21.1 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists

Junior guard Flau’jae Johnson’s benefited probably the most from the additional pictures wanted for LSU. Johnson averages 6.2 extra factors per sport this season than final 12 months, however what Johnson supplies is greater than offense or protection.

Johnson is the chief of the Tigers on the court docket. Look no additional than their extra time win over the Stanford Cardinal. Regardless of fouling out within the further interval, Johnson was up on the bench, motivating her teammates, giving suggestions and serving to shut the sport out regardless of not stepping on the court docket.

Alongside Morrow, the tandem are top-of-the-line duos within the nation. Regardless of shedding Reese, Johnson’s 3.1 assists is a profession excessive, discovering the likes of Morrow and sophomore Mikaylah Williams.

LSU has wins over the aforementioned NC State Wolfpack but in addition victories over energy convention colleges just like the Washington Huskies and Stanford Cardinal. How Johnson leads the crew via SEC play is a narrative to look at because the stakes get larger.

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2. Khamil Pierre | Vanderbilt

24-25 Stats: 22.9 factors, 11.8 rebounds, 4.0 steals

Coming in at No. 2 is arguably the shock participant of the 12 months, no matter convention. Khamil Pierre and the Vanderbilt Commodores sit exterior of the highest 25, with a lone loss coming in opposition to undefeated Michigan State of the Massive Ten, however they’re near grabbing nationwide consideration.

That’s thanks partly to Pierre.

In 12 video games this season, the sophomore who made the SEC All-Freshman crew scoring 8.9 factors per sport jumped that up 12 factors per sport regardless of solely enjoying eight extra minutes per sport.

Pierre is a 6-foot-2 ahead who performs like a guard. The sophomore patrols the court docket and grabs steals on the highest clip within the convention (4.0 per sport). Towards Evansville, Pierre scored a program-high 42 factors and had eight steals. Pierre did near the identical factor in opposition to the Arizona Wildcats of the Massive 12 with 25 factors and 7 steals.

The ahead additionally does what’s anticipated of a ahead — rebounding. Pierre is one among solely two gamers within the convention averaging a double-double.

Vanderbilt is off to a 10-1 begin to the season because of play from Pierre, who has two SEC Participant of the Week awards to her identify after six weeks.

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1. Madison Booker | Texas

24-25 Stats: 17.9 factors, 6.2 rebounds, 54.0% discipline purpose share

If the WNBA allowed gamers to go away school earlier, Texas ahead Madison Booker could be able to go, and a prime lottery choose.

Since Harmon went out final season, Booker’s stepped as much as be a catalyst for the Longhorns. Booker performs like an expert ahead and infrequently can a crew cease the AP All-American. Booker elevated her scoring this season by virtually two factors per sport and is grabbing extra rebounds.

The one dip in Booker’s sport is a considerable drop in assists however that’s primarily because of Harmon’s return from harm. What Booker’s misplaced in facilitating, she’s made up for with deep taking pictures. Making an unattainable to defend ahead much more troublesome to tackle is Booker’s elevated effectivity from deep, hitting 54.5 % of her possibilities past the arc, taking 2.2 pictures per sport.

Booker isn’t going to guide the SEC in scoring or rebounding, however her means to excel in a number of sides of the sport makes her probably the most harmful participant within the convention. There’s a purpose Booker is the primary freshman to win Massive 12 Participant of the 12 months. Might Booker win one other POY within the SEC?