It’s hard to find a conference that has been better than the SEC, which has sent a combined 24 teams to the NCAA Tournament the last two years. That’s due to a near-perfect mix of five-star prospects, continuity with key returning players, and the transfer portal. In fact, four of the SEC’s top 10 individual scorers from last season came from the transfer portal.
Throughout the offseason, the SEC teams landed plenty of high-level scorers from other teams. Which of them will have the biggest overall impact? Here’s a look at the top 20 heading into the 2026-27 season.
1. Juke Harris, 6-foot-7 junior forward, Tennessee
2025-26 stats (Wake Forest): 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds
One of the biggest breakout stars in the entire country last season, Harris tripled his scoring production compared to his first year at Wake Forest. The combo forward had nine games of at least 25 points, including a 38-point outing against Boston College. Among the many newcomers Tennessee has in its portal class, Harris is set up to be the focal point of the offense as a dynamic scorer.
2. PJ Haggerty, 6-foot-3 senior guard, Texas A&M
2025-26 stats (Kansas State): 23.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists
Haggerty has been the sport’s most prolific scorer in the past three years, averaging 20-plus points per game at three different teams. He was fourth in that category last season, including five games of at least 30 points. That includes a 37-point outing against Mississippi State, a team Haggerty will face again as a member of Texas A&M. He should give the Aggies the kind of lead guard option they didn’t have in coach Bucky McMillian’s first year with the program.
3. Milan Momcilovic, 6-foot-8 senior forward, Kentucky
2025-26 stats (Iowa State): 16.9 points, 3.1 rebounds
The stretch forward started 101 games in three years at Iowa State, becoming the nation’s best three-point shooter statistically. Momcilovic shot 49 percent from three-point range on 7.5 attempts and led the country with 136 made three-pointers. The spacing that Kentucky will have with him on the roster will open things up for everyone on offense.
4. Isaiah Johnson, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard, Texas
2025-26 stats (Colorado): 16.9 points, 3.0 assists
Johnson was a standout Big 12 freshman, shooting 38 percent from three-point range while scoring 20-plus points on nine straight occasions. That includes a 28-point outing at home against Arizona. With all three key guards gone from last season, Texas will look to Johnson to provide similar production with a much better supporting cast surrounding him.
5. Jeremiah Wilkinson, 6-foot-1 junior guard, Arkansas
2025-26 stats (Georgia): 17.4 points, 1.7 assists
Wilkinson started 21 games last season at Georgia, leading the Bulldogs in scoring while shooting 36 percent from deep on 7.1 attempts a game. The veteran scoring guard had a trio of 30-plus outings, including 32 points in overtime against Ole Miss. Wilkinson is a proven SEC-caliber starter and gives a young Arkansas squad a veteran scorer to take pressure off of its class of five-star incoming freshmen.
6. David Punch, 6-foot-7 junior forward, Texas
2025-26 stats (TCU): 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds
The Texas native doubled his scoring production compared to his freshman year at TCU, shooting 50 percent from the field. Punch produced five double-doubles, including 24 points and 10 rebounds in the Big 12 Tournament loss to Kansas. He now moves to the SEC, set to pair with returning 7-foot junior center Matas Vokietatis (15.6 points per game) for one of the top starting frontcourts in the SEC.
7. Terrence Hill Jr., 6-foot-3 junior guard, Tennessee
2025-26 stats (VCU): 15 points, 2.8 assists
Hill was the breakout star in the A-10 last season, earning Most Improved and 6th Man of the Year honors. He shot 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range, including the notable 34-point outing in the comeback overtime win over North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. He could replicate the same role as Tennessee’s sixth man next season, giving the Vols a dynamic scoring option off the bench.
8. Alex Wilkins, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard, Kentucky
2025-26 stats (Furman): 17.8 points, 4.7 assists
Wilkins was one of the top mid-major freshmen in the country last season, leading the SoCon in both field goal makes and attempts. Wilkins, who also led the conference in total assists (165), had seven games of at least 25 points, including 34 in the conference tournament win over UNC Greensboro. He’s off to Kentucky as a likely starting guard, and while his usage will certainly dip, look for Wilkins’ efficiency to trend up.
9. Zoom Diallo, 6-foot-4 junior guard, Kentucky
2025-26 stats (Washington): 15.7 points, 4.5 assists
The former top-40 prospect out of high school started 51 games in two years at Washington, shooting an efficient 49 percent from the field. Diallo finished last season with four 20-plus point outings in his last five games, including 22 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds in a Big Ten Tournament win over USC. He’s set to pair with Wilkins as Kentucky’s starting backcourt, which has potential to be one of the best in the league.
10. Jalen Haralson, 6-foot-7 sophomore guard, Tennessee
2025-26 stats (Notre Dame): 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds
The former five-star prospect led the Irish in scoring, shooting 52 percent from the field. Despite making just five three-pointers, Haralson still showed he can be a quality scorer, including a 26-point outing against Syracuse. The versatile playmaker’s role with the Vols’ new roster isn’t as clear, but he’s more than talented enough to be an effective starter.
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11. Jamier Jones, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward, Missouri
2025-26 stats (Providence): 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds
Jones was a highly efficient freshman for the Friars, shooting 57 percent from the field and going through a stretch of 11 straight double-digit games. One of them was an 18-point, 11-rebound outing in a win over Creighton. Jones joins a fairly young crop of frontcourt players but will be a sophomore breakout candidate to watch.
12. Budd Clark, 5-foot-10 senior guard, Mississippi
2025-26 stats (Seton Hall): 12.7 points, 4.9 assists
Clark’s production understandably wasn’t as high as his days at Merrimack, but he still was an All-Big East performer who led the Pirates in scoring. Clark also averaged two steals a game and had a 31-point outing against Providence. Ole Miss struggled at the point guard position last season, but that shouldn’t be an issue with Clark taking over.
13. Drew Fielder, 6-foot-10 senior forward, Alabama
2025-26 stats (Boise State): 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds
Fielder doubled his production compared to his prior season at Georgetown and became one of the best stretch forwards in the nation. He shot 55 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range, including 10 games of at least 20 points. One of them was a 33-point, 9-rebound outing against San Diego State. Alabama’s frontcourt production was a weak spot last season, but Fielder and his floor spacing should benefit the offense overall as a likely starter.
14. Freddie Dilione V, 6-foot-5 senior guard, Georgia
2025-26 stats (Penn State): 14 points, 3.2 rebounds
Dilione produced career-high numbers across the board last season, leading the Nittany Lions in scoring. He had six games of at least 20 points, including 25 against both Purdue and Minnesota. As a proven high-major scorer, Dilione will provide quality backcourt depth for the Bulldogs as they replace their own lead scorer, Wilkinson.
15. Dai Dai Ames, 6-foot-1 senior guard, Tennessee
2025-26 stats (Cal): 16.9 points, 2.2 assists
Ames has 76 career starts between three different high-major programs, but Cal was where he broke out as a leading scorer. The All-ACC guard shot 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range, along with five outings of at least 25 points. Among the newcomer guards in the transfer portal for the Vols, Ames is the proven high-major performer who likely gets the nod as the lead guard to start out the season.
16. Tyler Lundblade, 6-foot-6 senior guard, Tennessee
2025-26 stats (Belmont): 15.6 points, 2.7 rebounds
Lundblade was the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year last season, shooting 41 percent from three-point range on over eight attempts a game, ranking 15th nationally with 115 made three-pointers. He also led the nation at 93 percent from the free throw line and enjoyed a 31-point outing against Northern Iowa. Lundblade has the size and shooting ability to make a big impact on the wings for Tennessee and will likely be a mainstay in the rotation.
17. Thomas Dowd, 6-foot-8 senior forward, Auburn
2025-26 stats (Troy): 14.4 points, 10.1 rebounds
A three-year starter at Troy, Dowd led the Sun Belt in rebounding, ranking 14th in the nation in that category. The veteran frontcourt player produced 17 double-doubles last season, including 25 points and 14 rebounds against San Diego State. Auburn lost its entire frontcourt this offseason, and Dowd, who also can stretch the floor, will have a big role inside.
18. Mikey Lewis, 6-foot-3 junior guard, Texas
2025-26 stats (Saint Mary’s): 13.9 points, 2.7 rebounds
Lewis went from the WCC Sixth Man of the Year as a freshman to an all-league performer as a sophomore starter, shooting 37 percent from three-point range. He had eight games with at least 20 points, including 31 at home against rival Gonzaga in a win. Lewis adds perimeter depth and a capable shooting threat.
19. Roman Siulepa, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward, Mississippi
2025-26 stats (Pitt): 10 points, 5.5 rebounds
The Australian forward started all 33 games for the Panthers, shooting 46 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range. Siulepa produced three straight double-doubles during ACC play and had 28 points in a win over Penn State. He’s a sophomore breakout candidate to watch at Ole Miss, possessing arguably the highest offensive upside of the frontcourt newcomers.
20. Kory Mincy, 6-foot-1 senior guard, South Carolina
2025-26 stats (George Mason): 14.3 points, 2.9 assists
Mincy led the Patriots in scoring last season, shooting 39 percent from three-point range on 5.3 attempts. He had seven games of at least 20 points, including 29 in a nonconference win over Winthrop. Mincy joins South Carolina as its projected lead guard, looking to replace the production from last year’s top scorer, 6-foot-2 guard Meechie Johnson Jr.
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