2020 NBA Mock Draft: 12 SEC players in the top 40 in early ESPN projections

(Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire)

While the 2019 NBA Draft just took place, there are many people in the basketball world that are already turning their attention to the next installment of the draft.

There were 12 SEC players selected in this year’s draft, and that number could increase heading into next year’s festivities.

ESPN has put together an early look at how things could unfold in the 2020 NBA Draft, and lots of SEC players are among the current group of talent expected to be picked.

Four SEC players are projected in the lottery, with eight players considered first round picks.

Here’s the full list of players from the conference in the early 2020 mock draft:

First Round

  • No. 2 Anthony Edwards (Georgia)
  • No. 9 Scottie Lewis (Florida)
  • No. 12 Tyrese Maxey (Kentucky)
  • No. 14 Trendon Watford (LSU)
  • No. 19 Kahlil Whitney (Kentucky)
  • No. 20 Josiah James (Tennessee)
  • No. 27 AJ Lawson (South Carolina)
  • No. 30 Ashton Hagans (Kentucky)

Second Round

  • No. 32 Aaron Nesmith (Vanderbilt)
  • No. 34 Kira Lewis (Alabama)
  • No. 37 Isaiah Joe (Arkansas)
  • No. 39 Reggie Perry (Mississippi State)
  • No. 56 Rashaun Hammonds (Georgia)

The SEC should once again be among the nation’s top conferences, with seven teams making the NCAA Tournament a season ago.

For more SEC basketball coverage, follow me on Twitter @theblakelovell.