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Newcomers dont take long to impact college basketball -- not in this world of one-and-dones and transfers. Over the next two weeks, we will look at the top five newcomers in each of the 10 biggest conferences. First up is the SEC.Many pointed to the new wave of coaches added to the SEC in recent years as an indication that the leagues postseason recession would finally be over. A better barometer is how those coaches are starting to get the players who can upgrade the conference.Just to be clear, Kentucky is exempt from the conversation. The Wildcats havent had a problem restocking their talent from year to year. But now the rest of the league is beginning to prove it can keep up. Its not a typo if you see Mississippi States recruiting class lounging among the nations elite programs.Heres a look at five newcomers who will surely have the SECs attention next season.Bam Adebayo, Kentucky Wildcats The Wildcats frontcourt was, in a word, unreliable last season. Although Skal Labissiere possessed a gifted offensive skill set, he didnt respond well to the physicality needed on the blocks. Marcus Lee made his presence known defensively but was absent on offense. That allowed opponents to outperform the Wildcats in the frontcourt in a way that hadnt really been done under Calipari.Those times appear to be over. Adebayo, a 6-foot-9 power forward, has the potential to bring strong post play back to UK. He doesnt mind the physical play inside. He rebounds well, and the description thrown around a lot by those who have watched him play most is high motor.The Wildcats will need all of Adebayos energy, especially with Labissiere (NBA) and Lee (transfer) no longer on the roster. Adebayo will likely start immediately and be the teams No. 1 option in the post.Mustapha Heron, Auburn Tigers Auburn has not made the NCAA tournament since 2003, which is currently the longest absence among SEC teams. Auburn coach Bruce Pearl will continue to hear about it until the Tigers receive a bid or he is no longer employed at the school. Landing Heron is a big step toward ending the drought.Heron should be a perfect fit with the hectic style of play Pearl favors. Hes athletic and loves to attack the rim, and he has deep range on his jumper. Heron will get plenty of shots to help erase the 18.4 PPG scoring void left by Kareem Canty.Pearl has called Heron a program changer, and he has already reshaped the future without having played a game. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard was ranked No. 25 by RecruitingNation, which made him the highest-ranked recruit Pearl has signed. There always has to be a first before others begin to follow, and it appears others have already started following Herons lead. Pearl is off to a quick start in the class of 2017, including landing a commitment from Austin Wiley, a 6-foot-9 center from Birmingham, Alabama, who is ranked No. 19.Mario Kegler, Mississippi State Bulldogs Like Heron for Auburn, Keglers impact at Mississippi State expands beyond playing. Kegler marked the second class in a row that coach Ben Howland convinced the states best recruit to come home. Kegler, a native of Jackson, chose the Bulldogs despite offers from schools in every geographic direction after he played for prep power Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.Howland has compared Keglers skill set to another versatile small forward with big expectations whom he signed while at UCLA: Shabazz Muhammad. Kegler wasnt quite the coup that Howland pulled off by signing Malik Newman, who was the No. 10 player in 2015. But Keglers No. 47 ranking makes him the highest among a seven-man class ranked fourth nationally by RecruitingNation.Kegler wont get a chance to reunite with his former high school teammate from Jacksons Callaway High School after Newman transferred to Kansas. But the 6-foot-8 Kegler will get a chance to help immediately. The Bulldogs will be one of the youngest teams in the league and nation, with 11 freshmen and sophomores on the roster.DeAaron Fox, Kentucky Wildcats Even though he was only 5-foot-9, Tyler Ulis left a big hole at point guard in the Wildcats lineup. He was one of the most steady floor leaders in the country last season, and he presented a strong case that he was the best pure point guard Calipari has had at UK.The 6-foot-3 Fox is a different type of point. Hell bring size back to the position, but can he bring the stability that Ulis provided? That could be the difference between UK being simply a good team and UK being a special one capable of another Final Four run.Fox has the kind of speed with the ball that has drawn comparisons to John Wall, but Wall didnt have the athleticism that Fox possesses to finish on fast breaks. Fox will need to avoid the trap of playing at only one speed. If he can learn that nuance, the Cats have enough talent around him to shine.Braxton Key, Alabama Crimson Tide Avery Johnson initially made a recruiting splash by securing a commitment from Terrance Ferguson, the No. 11 player in the class of 2016. Fergusons decision to play professionally in Australia makes Key the highest-ranked recruit in Johnsons second season at the helm.Key was ranked No. 33 in the class and should help the Crimson Tide fill a serious need. The Tide had a rebounding problem last season. They were especially porous in preventing offensive rebounds, as their percentage ranked 322nd nationally, according to Ken Pomeroy.Johnson just got his major key to correct that. At 6-foot-8, 240-pounds, Key already has a physical presence that Bama sometimes lacked last season. He wont just be asked to rebound, though. Key is skilled around the basket and has some range and touch to step outside the paint and score.Key might not crack the starting lineup immediately, as Alabamas most experienced position is forward. But he should be a difference-maker, especially where the Tide need one most: on the boards. Hector Herrera Jersey . With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania 80-66 on Sunday. It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005. 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PITTSBURGH -- Even with expanded September roster, Jacob Stallings found himself as the last player on Pittsburghs bench.The rookie came through with a pinch-hit single in the 11th inning that lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates over Washington 6-5 on Friday night.Pittsburgh loaded the bases with one out in the 11th against Yusmiero Petit (3-5) when Francisco Cervelli doubled, Andrew McCutchen was intentionally walked and Pedro Florimon walked. Sean Rodriguez struck out and Stallings, a son of University of Pittsburgh mens basketball coach Kevin Stallings, grounded a 3-2 pitch into left field.Pittsburghs seventh win in nine games kept it on the fringe of the NL wild-card race. Washington lost for the fifth time in six games.I kind of did the math in my head, Stallings said. Bases loaded, two outs was the only way I was going to come up that inning. (Bench coach Dave) Jauss came up and told me to be ready. I went down and hit on the tee before that inning. I knew I was the last guy, so I figured just in case.Rodriguezs two-out RBI double for the Pirates in the ninth off Mark Melancon tied the score 5-5. Melancon blew a save for the first time in 13 chances since he was acquired from Pittsburgh on July 30 in a trade for left-handed reliever Felipe Rivero and a minor leaguer.I know what Marks throwing just like any other pitcher, Rodriguez said. You just hope he throws it in a spot where you can do something where you can drive it a little bit and he gave me a pitch I was able to do that with.A brief video tribute was played on the scoreboard when Melancon entered the game.I didnt know they were going to put a montage up there, said Melancon, who an All-Star in three of his four seasons with the Pirates. It was classy. It was very cool to get a standing ovation. ... I wanted to tip my cap but I didnt because I didnt want to mess up my mojo. I should have tipped my cap.Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa homered for the Nationals. Bryce Harper had three hits and Ryan Zimmerman hit a pair of doubles.Zimmermans RBI double in the second inning opened the scoring and was the 1,500th hit of his 12-year big league career. Espinosa followed with 23rd homer for a 3-0 lead.Ramos led off a two-run sixth with his 22nd homer, a drive off Antonio Bastardo. Jayson Werth drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning as the Nationals went back ahead 5-3.dddddddddddddam Frazier had a sacrifice fly in the bottom of half.Wade LeBlanc (4-0) pitched one scoreless inning.Pirates left fielder Gregory Polanco left the game in the first inning when bruised the left side of his face when crashing into the fence while chasing a double by Harper.Both starters, Washington left-hander Gio Gonzalez and Pittsburgh rookie Jameson Taillon, allowed three runs in five innings.ROTATION SWITCHRookie right-hander Tyler Glasnow will start Sunday for the Pirates rather than rookie left-hander Steven Brault. Considered the organizations top prospect, Glasnow is 0-1 with a 4.11 ERA in five games, including two starts.MINOR HONORSFirst baseman/outfielder Josh Bell is the Pirates minor league player of the year and right-hander Mitch Keller their minor league pitcher of the year. Bell hit .295 with 14 home runs in 114 games for Triple-A Indianapolis before being promoted to the major leagues. Keller went a combined 9-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 24 starts at Class A with West Virginia and Bradenton.TRAINERS ROOMNationals: 2B Daniel Murphy did not start for a fifth game in a row after an MRI revealed a strained glute muscle. He will sit out the three-game series be reevaluated.Pirates: RHP A.J. Schugel (shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 60-day disabled list, opening a roster spot for LHP Phil Coke, who joined the team after being acquired Thursday from the New York Yankees. . LF Starling Marte (back) sat out after being removed from Thursday nights loss at Milwaukee in the third inning. He missed 15 games before pinch hitting against the Brewers on Wednesday night. . SS Jordy Mercer (right forearm tightness) missed his second straight game.UP NEXTNationals: RHP Joe Ross (7-5, 3.48 ERA) will start Saturday night, his second outing since missing 2 1/2 months with shoulder inflammation. He pitched three innings and gave up one run last Sunday against Atlanta in a no-decision.Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (12-7, 4.19) is 5-1 with a 2.93 ERA in nine starts since being acquired Aug. 1 from the New York Yankees in a trade. He took his first loss with the Pirates last Sunday, allowing five runs in three innings against Cincinnati. ' ' '