The Southeastern Conference (SEC) Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year is an umbrella name for two awards given to the most outstanding basketball player in his first year at a Southeastern Conference school. One award, voted on and presented by SEC coaches, is currently called Freshman of the Year, and is open only to freshmen (i.e., those who are in their first season of college play, which is usually but not always their first year of college). The other award, presented by the Associated Press, is called Newcomer of the Year, and is open to any player in his first season at an SEC school, including those who transferred to SEC schools. (The coaches' award was not always restricted to freshmen, but now is.)
Key †Co-Rookies of the Year*Awarded a Player of the Year award: the SEC Player of the Year Italics Player was not a freshman that season AAssociated Press selection CSEC coaches selection
Winners
SeasonPlayerSchoolPosition 1997–98† Georgia Power forward Tennessee Point guard 1998–99 Auburn Small forward 1999–2000 Arkansas Small forward 2000–01 Ole Miss Power forward 2001–02† C Georgia Power forward A Alabama Point guard 2002–03 Florida Point guard 2003–04† C LSU Power forward A Mississippi State Power forward 2004–05 LSU Center 2005–06 LSU Power forward 2006–07 Arkansas Point guard 2007–08† A Florida Point guard C Kentucky Power forward 2008–09 Ole Miss Point guard 2009–10 Kentucky Center 2010–11 Kentucky Power forward 2011–12* Kentucky Center 2012–13† C Kentucky Center A Ole Miss Shooting guard 2013–14 Kentucky Power forward 2014–15 Kentucky Center 2015–16 LSU Forward 2016–17 Kentucky Shooting guard 2017–18† C Kentucky Guard A, C Alabama Guard 2018–19† C Kentucky Forward A Kentucky Guard 2019–20 A Georgia Guard 2020–21 Arkansas Guard 2021–22 Auburn Forward 2022–23* Brandon Miller Alabama Forward 2023–24† Reed SheppardC Kentucky Guard Dalton KnechtA Tennessee Guard 2024–25 Tre Johnson Texas Guard 2025–26* Darius Acuff Jr. Arkansas Point guard
Winners by school School Winners YearsKentucky 12 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024Arkansas 4 2000, 2007, 2021, 2026LSU 4 2004, 2005, 2006, 2016Alabama 3 2002, 2018, 2023Georgia3 1998, 2002, 2020Ole Miss 3 2001, 2009, 2013Auburn 2 1999, 2022Florida2 2003, 2008Tennessee 2 1998, 2024Texas 1 2025Mississippi State1 2004Missouri 0 —Oklahoma 0 —South Carolina 0 —Texas A&M 0 —Vanderbilt 0 —
Footnotes Award is given to either a freshman or player in first season within the league. SEC Media guide provides the entire list on page 128
References