Continuing my conference award picks from earlier this week, the second Sam’s Section of the week will focus on who stands out to me in the Big 12 and the SEC.
Big 12
Player of the Year: Javon Small, G, West Virginia (18.2 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.1 rpg, 1.6 spg, 52.3 FG%, 35.4 3P%, 87.7 FT%)
I wrote out a blind resumé of five players I thought were in contention for Big 12 including Small, Kansas center Hunter Dickinson, Texas Tech center JT Toppin, BYU’s Richie Saunders and Houston guard LJ Cryer. I landed on Small because of his impact in his first season in Morgantown, W.Va. He ranks second in the conference in scoring, 11th in field goal percentage, second in free throw percentage, fourth in assists per game and is tied for 11th in steals per game (along with teammate Sencire Harris). He averages 20.2 points per 40 minutes, which ranks in the 92nd percentile in the country. His assist percentage (34.4%) ranks in the 98th percentile. Fun fact: Small played with UConn legend Tristen Newton during the 2021-22 season at East Carolina.
Defensive Player of the Year: Joseph Tugler, F, Houston
Three players from the Big 12 were named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. Along with Tugler, Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey and Arizona State forward Jayden Quaintance were listed. What stands out about Tugler is that he leads the Big 12 in Hakeem percentage at 15.9%. Hakeem percentage is the sum of a player’s block and steal percentage. 15.9% ranks in the 99th percentile nationally. He ranks third in the conference in blocks per game (2).
Newcomer of the Year: JT Toppin, F, Texas Tech (17.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1 apg, 1.2 bpg, 56 FG%, 34.1 3P%, 71.3 FT%)
Toppin was among the list of my contenders for Big 12 Player of the Year. After spending his freshman year at New Mexico, Toppin came to Lubbock, Texas, and put on a show for the Red Raiders. He ranks third in the Big 12 in scoring, second in offensive rebounds per game (3.1, 98th percentile), third in defensive rebounds per game (6.1, 97th percentile) and is tied for 11th in blocks per game. He averages 27.4 points per 40 minutes, ranking in the 99th percentile nationally. He is a beast in the paint, averaging 11.6 paint points per game (99th percentile).
Sixth Man of the Year: Curtis Jones, G, Iowa State (16.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.1 spg, 42.5 FG%, 36.8 3P%, 82.9 FT%)
Forget Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year, Jon Rothstein should name Jones the national Sixth Man of the Year on College Hoops Today. Jones would start for nearly every team in the country but comes off the bench for Iowa State. He leads the Cyclones in scoring and averages 22 points per 40 minutes (96th percentile). In his two seasons with the program, he has only started in nine games.
Coach of the Year: Kelvin Sampson, Houston
After losing star guard Jamal Shead last season, Sampson has brought the Cougars to back-to-back Big 12 regular season titles. Despite previously playing in a weaker American Athletic Conference (AAC), Houston did not need any time to transition. They are one of three teams on KenPom ranked in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. They are on pace to finish the season 19-1 and have already broken Big 12 records. Their only loss in Big 12 play this season came at home to Texas Tech.
SEC
Player and Defensive Player of the Year: Johni Broome, F, Auburn (18 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.4 bpg, 50.4 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 62.3 FT%)
Broome is a no-brainer pick for SEC Player of the Year. He is in a head-to-head battle for National Player of the Year along with Duke’s Cooper Flagg. In his third season at Auburn, Broome has led the Tigers to their best regular season under head coach Bruce Pearl. He is an absolute force in the paint, averaging 11.8 paint points per game. There is not much to say about Broome because he has been raved about all season long. Out of the players that are in contention for national Defensive Player of the Year, Broome holds the highest Hakeem percentage at 10% (94th percentile).
Freshman of the Year: Tre Johnson, G, Texas (20.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 44.8 FG%, 40.3 3P%, 87.6 FT%)
Johnson leads the SEC in scoring and ranks 10th in the country. The future NBA Draft lottery pick has been carrying the Longhorns all season long. His usage percentage (29.6%) ranks in the 97th percentile nationally. While he is not an elite defender, his offense is what makes him stand out as one of the top players in a loaded Southeastern Conference.
Sixth Man of the Year: Caleb Grill, G, Missouri (14.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.7 spg, 50 FG%, 42.6 3P%, 85.7 FT%)
Grill was also a no-brainer pick when he brought Missouri back to contention in their conference. He comes off the bench and is a microwave. After only playing nine games during the 2023-24 season, Grill has bounced back with the best season in his six-year collegiate career. He averages 22.7 points per 40 minutes and is effective from everywhere on the floor, with an effective field goal percentage of 65.8% (99th percentile).
Coach of the Year: Bruce Pearl, Auburn
The SEC has been amazing with how many coaches could contend for this award. However, Pearl has brought Auburn to maybe the program’s best regular season ever. The other two coaches in contention for this award were Florida’s Todd Golden and Missouri’s Dennis Gates. However, with how much the Tigers lost in the offseason and how high they exceeded expectations, Pearl deserves this award.