No conference has taken quite the leap on the basketball court like the Southeastern Conference has over the past few years. With new, high-profile head coaches manning the ship for the league, along with the recent influx of talent, the conference hasn’t seen this much promise in decades. Kentucky is Kentucky, but Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, LSU, and the rest of the schools are starting to make things interesting on the hardwood.

In the coming days, we will look at the top incoming freshmen for each program with the SEC confines. We will not highlight the most touted 2015 class member, but the guy that will mean the most to the squad’s success and also have the opportunity to leave the largest fingerprint on the program at hand.

ALABAMA

Since taking the job at Alabama, first-year head coach Avery Johnson has injected a new sense of excitement and charisma into the Crimson Tide fanbase. Things are changing on the recruiting trail, too. While it is disappointing that Kobie Eubanks was not admitted to school, Alabama still has a solid class that Johnson retained from Anthony Grant.

Dazon Ingram and Donta Hall have received a lot of attention since their commitments and will be expected to play big minutes, but the one guy many Alabama fans are forgetting about is Carver-Montgomery shooting guard Brandon Austin. The Tide has lacked a consistent shot-maker in the past, and that is exactly what Austin brings to the table. He is a viable threat from behind the arc with his shooting ability. Add great size and athleticism and he has some tools that Johnson and his staff can work with during the season. I have been told by several sources that Austin has been the surprise guy for Alabama since school started. The hope is that he continues to makes strides with his game and gives the Tide someone that can put the ball in the hoop from a variety of places on the floor.

ARKANSAS

Mike Anderson and Arkansas will have a challenge this season, as they lost several key pieces from last year’s squad. Bobby Portis and Michael Qualls made the jump to the NBA, while JaCorey Williams was dismissed from the team. The Razorbacks have a small class, but they will be relied on early and often during their freshman campaigns.

Jimmy Whitt committed to the Hogs last August and signed in November. Many people in Fayettville are excited about what he can bring to the table as a freshman for Arkansas. They also got a late pickup from Lorenzo Jenkins, a standout shooter who shined at HoopSeen events during the spring with Team Speights.

Whitt, a 6-foot-2 combo guard, will definitely be the impact guy for Anderson and crew this year. He is a solid, all-around guard that does a variety of things on the floor. However, the most impressive aspect of Whitt’s game is his shooting ability. He has a lot of range on his shot, and they will allow him to be an impact guy from day 1. The Columbia, Missouri native can play on and off the ball, so his versatility will be of value, too. Whitt’s high IQ and ability to take care of the basketball will allow the coaches to lean on him in different situations this year.

AUBURN

Auburn broke through during the SEC Tournament last year, as they made a run to the semi-finals, where they ultimately fell to Kentucky. Nevertheless, it was a monumental run for Bruce Pearl’s Tigers. The 2015 recruiting class, Pearl’s first full recruiting cycle while on the Plains, was also a big statement for the program.

Horace Spencer, Danjel Purifoy, New Williams, Bryce Brown, and JUCO transfer TJ Dunans will all be contributors for the Tigers this year. Pearl and his staff are beginning to filter in the guys that fit with how they want to play. Spencer will be a big boost down low, but I think the impact guy here is definitely Danjel Purifoy.

Purifoy, a 6-foot-6 forward, is the epitome of a Pearl-type player. He is a tough, physical specimen with a high motor that will set the tone for the Tigers from the jump. His versatility and athleticism will allow him to play multiple positions on the floor, impacting many different facets of the game. Purifoy’s ability to score in a variety of ways will also make him a focal point of Auburn’s offense.