With the transfer portal playing such a huge role in how college basketball rosters are built these days it is more difficult than ever to know the different rosters in your league. For that reason we will be breaking down the transfer portal classes of every single team in the SEC with a multiple part series. If you haven’t yet read part three, you can do so here. Here is part four:

 

Tennessee

Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Maryland)
Jaylen Carey (Vanderbilt)
Amaree Abram (Louisiana Tech)

 

Tennessee didn’t have to add a ton through the portal this season so they were able to focus in on a few top targets.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie is someone that Florida’s staff has always liked, including before last season when he was available from Belmont before ultimately going to Maryland. He averaged 14.7 points while shooting 41% from deep last season and is instant offense whenever he’s got the ball in his hands, and could be one of the most fun scorers in the SEC this season.

Jaylen Carey is a thick 6’8” forward who has been a part of a few successful teams after being a big part of the excellent James Madison team two years ago and then being a big part of the Vanderbilt turnaround last season.

Wrapping up the transfer class is a perimeter piece in Amaree Abram, an active 6’4” off-guard who can guard a number of different positions and will bring the on-ball toughness that Rick Barnes demands from his wings.

 

Georgia

Jordan Ross (St. Mary’s)
Marcus Millender (UTSA)
Kanon Catchings (BYU)
Justin Bailey (Wofford)
Jeremiah Wilkinson (California)

 

Jordan Ross started every game for St. Mary’s last year at guard and is a very sound defensive player who hasn’t yet been able to bring much scoring punch.

Marcus Millender has been a potent scorer at South Alabama and then UTSA, and he’s now ready to see if he can prove his abilities in college basketball’s best league. He shot 44% from three last season, and if he can do that again he’ll be a huge help to Georgia’s offense.

Kanon Catchings was a huge recruit at BYU last season who helped usher in the new era of Cougars basketball under Kevin Young. He had a solid freshman season and you would have expected he’d be retained, but he chose to head to Georgia where he could be set for a huge breakout campaign.

Justin Bailey is another mid-major guard who shot the three incredibly, having gone 46% from deep last year. He isn’t the most dynamic in other areas, but for a Georgia team desperate to improve their shooting it was a risk they were willing to take.

Georgia’s most proven player is Jeremiah Wilkinson who averaged 15.1 points per game for California. Wilkinson stands at just 6’0” tall and was inefficient, but there aren’t many 15.1 point per game freshmen at the high-major level and Georgia is banking on some big years from Wilkinson.

 

Mississippi State

Jayden Epps (Georgetown)
Achor Achor (Kansas State)
Amier Ali (Arizona State)
Ja’Borri McGhee (UAB)
Quincy Ballard (Wichita State)

 

It is clear looking at Chris Jans’ haul at Mississippi State that he was valuing as much experience in good league as possible, and didn’t care as much about getting flashy stats or scoring numbers.

Jayden Epps has been a strong producer for years now at the high-major level, having been productive at Illinois before putting up strong numbers at Georgetown. Epps hasn’t always been the most efficient player, but he puts points on the board.

Achor Achor was a big part of Samford’s success two years ago which earned him the high-major opportunity at Kansas State, though he had his season ended after just 7 games due to injury and he remains a high-upside but unknown forward.

Ja’Borri McGhee had the chance to be a leader at the JUCO level before jumping to UAB where he was immediately solid. McGhee is short but extremely strong and stocky, and it will be interesting to see just how his game looks in the SEC.

Quincy Ballard has had a lengthy career that has been extended by injuries and redshirt years and he’ll now be in his sixth season of college basketball. At 6’11” and 240 pounds he has high-major size, but his lack of offensive touch and mobility on the defensive end has limited his game some. Still, he ended up being productive his last year at Wichita State and he should be serviceable for Mississippi State.