Andy Katz of NCAA.com is releasing his top 25 players for the 2019-20 college basketball season, and Kentucky guard Ashton Hagans and Florida guard Andrew Nembhard are among the group.
Katz started with his rankings by running through the No. 21 to No. 25 players on his list, with Hagans coming in at No. 23 while Nembhard landed at No. 24.
Gonzaga forward Killian Tillie (No. 21), Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu (No. 22), and Washington forward Isaiah Stewart (No. 25) joined the SEC duo.
This week, @TheAndyKatz is releasing his Top 25 College Basketball Players for 2019-20! ?
Let’s get it started:
25. Isaiah Stewart, @UW_MBB
24. Andrew Nembhard, @GatorsMBK
23. Ashton Hagans, @KentuckyMBB
22. Ayo Dosunmu, @IlliniMBB
21. Killian Tillie, @ZagMBB pic.twitter.com/2Asm4bTie6— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) July 8, 2019
Hagans averaged 7.7 points and 4.3 assists in his freshman season with the Wildcats and ultimately decided to return to school for his sophomore year after speculation that he could enter the NBA draft.
Nembhard had similar numbers in averaging 8.0 points and 5.0 assists in an impressive first season with the Gators.
Lovell’s Analysis
These types of rankings are always fun to discuss, even their mostly opinion-based.
But it’s easy to understand why Ashton Hagans and Andrew Nembhard are both considered two of the top 25 players in the country, as they are two versatile guards that have will have an opportunity to make an impact at the pro level.
Hagans will bring a year of experience to an always young Kentucky team, while Nembhard will be the driving force for one of the best backcourts in the nation.
They are two All-SEC caliber players who should have some fun battles against each other this season, with the Wildcats and Gators being the frontrunners to win the conference.
For more SEC basketball coverage, follow me on Twitter @theblakelovell.