I love top ten lists. Opposing fans send me more hate emails for my list posts than anything else I do, so let’s get to it.

Just missing the cut: Terrence Woodbury (Georgia), Jodie Meeks (Kentucky), Korvotney Barber (Auburn), JP Prince (Tennessee) and Chris Johnson (LSU). I’d put Meeks on there based on potential because Coach Gillispie is so high on him, but I need to see it during the season first.

10. Alonzo Gee (Alabama)

Gee is one of the biggest active UK killers in college ball today. I was shocked last season when Joe Crawford was able to render him completely ineffective. That was the first time in five games that anybody in blue had been able to stop Gee. The man is built like a tight end, but can move like a guard. He has tremendous strength for his size, and when his shot is on, he can’t be stopped. The only things preventing him from being higher on this list are his handle and his coach.

9. Jarvis Varnado (Mississippi State)

I have fans in the Mississippi State Internet universe in the same way that David Duke has fans in Harlem. I can’t stand Jarvis Varnado because he’s so good on defense. He’s so good on defense that he makes this list despite being a complete liability on offense. You all remember the triple double against Kentucky, but he also recorded 10 blocks against Clemson and Miami. And the scary thing is that unless he develops an offensive game, we’ll have to see him for two more years. That means he’ll win two more SEC Defensive Player of the Year awards.

8. AJ Ogilvy (Vanderbilt)

The big Australian blew up last summer in international competition, then started the season extremely strong before tapering off at the end of the year, just like Vanderbilt did. Still, AJ has plenty of skills for the next level. I don’t think he’s quite on the level of former #1 overall pick Andrew Bogut (you had best bet I’m comparing Australian big men – you have to), but he’ll definitely play in the NBA. He has a soft touch for a big man, but this year will be the test for the big sophomore. With Shan(e) Foster gone, Ogilvy will have to carry the load for the young Vandy squad. I’d say that the success of the team depends on the success of Ogilvy, but I think Kevin Stallings is better than that.

7. Ronald Steele (Alabama)

Ronald Steele is so old, he committed to Wimp Sanderson. Fun fact: Do you know the school Ron Steele would have chosen had he not gone to Alabama? It was Kentucky. UK got Rajon Rondo instead, so it isn’t like I can complain much. Steele would already be in the NBA if not for Mark Gottfried playing him 40 minutes a game in 2007 on an injured leg. I was surprised to see Steele on the Bama roster because I never realized he had withdrawn his name from the draft. Steele should have a good year because he doesn’t have to carry as much of a scoring load with Gee and Jamychal Green in the lineup.

6. Tasmin Mitchell (LSU)

A controversial selection, to be sure, because he missed last season with injuries, but I don’t care. Mitchell is one of the smoothest wing players in the country, and here’s the kicker: He (or anybody else on LSU) doesn’t have John Brady and his horrific coaching holding him back. Not that Trent Johnson is a coaching wizard by any stretch, but he’s a remarkable upgrade from Brady. Mitchell can do pretty much everything on the court, and with two years left in his college career, I can definitely see this guy in the NBA if he improves like he did his first two.

5. Chris Warren (Ole Miss)

Man, this guy is good. Remember the Kentucky game from last season? Who knew Chris Warren could hit contested three after contested three? I know I didn’t – until the second half of that game. The SEC had some outstanding freshmen last season, but nobody really talked much about Warren until Ole Miss got off to such a hot start, then people took notice. In my opinion, Warren was the third best freshman in the conference last season, which says a lot because his supporting cast wasn’t on the same level of a Tennessee or Vanderbilt. It’s a credit to Warren and Andy Kennedy for making the most out of the 2008 season, despite the NIT finish. Now that Dwayne Curtis is gone, the offense will run through Warren and he should look to score more.

4. Nick Calathes (Florida)

I’ll give Nick a hard time for looking like Butt-Head from “Adventures of Beavis and Butt-Head,” and I’ll hate his guts as a fan for the time when he shoved Ramel Bradley to the ground after a dead ball and no foul was called, but you can’t deny his skill. The kid just knows how to make plays. He’s really shifty with the ball and uses that shiftiness to get to the FT line. His shot was a bit inconsistent last season, but that happens to a lot of freshmen. Most importantly, of all the returning players on Florida’s team, Calathes appears to be the only one who isn’t completely soft. He has the kind of mental toughness that Florida’s championship teams had. If he can make that attitude contagious, Florida will be a force in 2009.

3. Tyler Smith (Tennessee)

I haven’t seen any preseason magazines yet, but I’d imagine most of them have Smith as their preseason POY in the conference. It’s a safe pick, considering he’s the best returning player on last year’s best team, but it probably isn’t too far off. Smith is by far the most versatile Tennessee player, and in Bruce Pearl’s system, he can play multiple positions. The sky is the limit for the Iowa transfer, and a lot of people think he’s going to be good enough this season to go pro. I certainly wouldn’t put it past him, but he needs to play small forward to get it done. I realize Tennessee has needed him at the 4 because of his toughness inside, but he’s a natural 3.

2. Devan Downey (South Carolina)

Devan Downey is the best player under six feet in college basketball, and if you don’t think so, you’re no friend of mine. South Carolina was bad last year because they didn’t have enough quality talent and depth around Downey. It certainly wasn’t Downey’s fault. In fact, in a lot of the Gamecocks’ close losses, Downey was the best player on the court. He can put a scare on a good team like no other player in the league because he’s so doggone fast. There used to be a Negro League baseball player called Cool Papa Bell, who was allegedly so fast he could flip the light switch and be in bed before the room got dark. Downey is faster than that, plus he’s a good shooter. Cincinnati might have made the Dance last season with Downey running the show. He’s that good.

1. Patrick Patterson (Kentucky)

You were expecting maybe the Addams Family? Of course, it’s Patrick Patterson, and if you asked anybody objectively (except Jarvis Varnado), they’d probably tell you the same thing. I’d go into details, but I already wrote about him in my roster preview this summer, so go find it and tell me where I’m wrong. Maybe I’m just being shortsighted, but until I pick up a copy of the Sporting News preseason magazine, I don’t think I can come up with a better pure power forward in the game than Patterson. Don’t give me Tyler Hansbrough because he’s more of a center in that offense, and I think Patterson is better anyway. I know he’ll make a better pro, much to the dismay of Jeff Goodman. And besides, who are you to doubt that afro?

I’m Seth Stogsdill, eagerly anticipating the hate in the comment section