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Watch: Grant Williams ranks 11th on Andy Katz’s returning players list

By Billy Williford

KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 21: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to the basket against Deaundrae Ballard #24 of the Florida Gators in the second half of a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 21, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 62-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 21: Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to the basket against Deaundrae Ballard #24 of the Florida Gators in the second half of a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 21, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 62-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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We knew Tennessee basketball would get more love and respect this upcoming season. At least one expert believes in one Vol for the 2018-19 season.

Tennessee basketball fans know first hand the impact Grant Williams had on the team last season. Without him, Tennessee doesn’t sweep Kentucky, they aren’t SEC regular season co-champs with the Auburn Tigers, and they don’t receive a three seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Now, I’m not suggesting Williams didn’t have help because he did. And, during these next couple of weeks, we are going to recap the best five games from each player on the 2017-18 basketball team. Check out Lamonte Turner’s best five games here.

However, Williams was the clear leader, and without him, the Vols wouldn’t have been the same. The SEC Player of the Year did a little bit of everything for Tennessee, plus the future looks just as bright as last season. And, we aren’t the only people that think so.

NCAA.com correspondent, Andy Katz, is doing a countdown on Twitter ranking the Top 20 returning players in college hoops. Vols star, Grant Williams, almost cracks the top 10 coming in at 11th on the list. Take a look below at what Katz has to say about Williams.

Williams averaged a team-high 15.2 points per game which was good enough for 11th in the SEC. He also added six rebounds per game while dishing out two assists per contest as well.

This upcoming season the Vols will have a target on their backs. Last season, the “experts” projected the Vols to finished 13th in the SEC. This season Tennessee should be ranked preseason top 13 in the nation. No coach is going to let their teams overlook or take the Vols for granted like last season.

Next: Vols Top 10 memorable games this century

So it is even more necessary for Williams to be the leader Tennessee needs to make a run at a National Championship. That is undoubtedly doable considering Williams is one of the best players in the nation.

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