Kentavious Caldwell-Pope of Georgia has been named the SEC Player of the Year, while Kentucky's Nerlens Noel won both Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Joining Caldwell-Pope and Noel on the First Team All-SEC are Alabama's Trevor Releford, Florida's Erik Murphy, LSU's Johnny O'Bryant, Missouri's Phil Pressey, Tennessee's Jordan McRae and Texas A&M's Elston Turner.

Billy Donovan was named Coach of the Year.

The SEC has become one college basketball's strongest conferences over the past decade as Kentucky has become a powerhouse again under John Calipari, while Billy Donovan has built a consistent winner at Florida with championships in 2006 and 2007.

But there has also been a trickle down effect.

Seven of the top 15 overall prospects in the Class of 2013 are SEC-bound: Andrew and Aaron Harrison and James Young to Kentucky, Kasey Hill and Chris Walker to Florida, Bobby Portis to Arkansas and Jarrell Martin to LSU.

Each of the five remaining top-15 prospects are considering at least one SEC school.

The SEC has 13 top-50 commits, which is more than double the amount from the ACC (6) and Big 12 (6).

Jarrell Martin verbally committed to LSU on Thursday.

Martin, a top-20 player in the 2013 class, chose the Tigers over UCLA, Alabama, Louisville, Oklahoma State, St. John’s and Texas A&M.

The 6-foot-9 Martin joins a Tigers recruiting class that includes Jordan Mickey, Tim Quarterman, John Odo and Deng Deng.

Jarrell Martin, a consensus top-20 player, has become LSU’s top priority for the 2013 class.

The 6-foot-9, 218-pound forward has narrowed his list to seven teams: LSU, Louisville, Alabama, Texas A&M, St. John's, Oklahoma State and UCLA.

"I want to take the time and look into each school and make sure I'm making the right decision," Martin said.

Martin said he will keep close tabs on the Tigers this season.

"I'm going to be looking at the style of play and see how guys play together," he said. "I'm eager to see the guys who play my position."

Tim Quarterman, a top-100 recruit in the 2013 class, verbally committed to LSU on Sunday.

The 6-foot-5 Quarterman chose the Tigers over Memphis and George Mason, among others.

Quarterman is a combo guard but he is expected to get a shot at playing point guard for the LSU.

Jordan Mickey committed to LSU after a home visit earlier this week from Tigers coach Johnny Jones.

"My relationship with Coach Jones is very good and that was important to me," Mickey said. "I've gotten very familiar with LSU and I love the atmosphere of the football games.

"Having a chance to play right away was a big factor for me. I wanted to be able to help a program as soon as I could."

Mickey, a 6-foot-8, 223-pound forward, chose the Tigers over offers from Ohio State, Oklahoma State and SMU.

Deng Deng, a JUCO forward out of Lee College in Baytown, Texas, has committed to play for LSU this upcoming season.

"It's a good school and it's in a great conference," Deng said. "I've been following LSU since I was young. I'm a big fan of Shaq O'Neal."

Lee's coach, Roy Champage, said LSU is getting a skilled forward who is suited for the SEC and LSU coach Johnny Jones' up-tempo style of play.

"He's a versatile player,” Champagne said. “He's got great passing kills, he can handle the ball and he can shoot. He's going to be asked to be a complete player here. He can do the things at all five positions that need to be done.”

Charles Carmouche has transferred from Memphis to LSU after being granted a fifth year of eligibility.

“We’re excited to have Charles as part of our LSU basketball program,” LSU coach Johnny Jones said in a release. “He has an ability to defend and a knack for scoring. With his experience, Charles brings a leadership and a presence to our team that we need heading into the start of preseason workouts.”

A Louisiana native, Carmouche played two seasons at New Orleans before transferring to Memphis, where he played the last two years.

Carmouche was granted a medical redshirt last season because of knee tendinitis.

Calvin Godfrey will not enroll at LSU for the fall semester after failing to meet the necessary academic requirements, the school announced on Monday.

Godfrey began his college career at Iowa State, where he was dismissed from the team following an arrest for marijuana possession.

Kendal Harris has committed to USC.

Harris is a 6-foot-5 point guard from Richardson Berkner in Texas.

“Coach KO, he seemed like he got a plan for me,” Harris said in a video announcement at Scout.com. “There's a wide-open spot at the point guard position. I can see myself doing big things, and they see myself doing big things also, so I like that.”

Harris visited USC while at the adidas Nations.

“It was nice,” Harris said in the video. “It was pretty much what I pictured. Nice weather, it's in LA, can't really go wrong with that. Campus was real nice. I loved it.”

Harris chose USC over Missouri, Oklahoma State, LSU and Creighton.