Tag: bruce pearl

Georgia guard transfer K.D. Johnson commits to Auburn

Georgia guard transfer K.D. Johnson announced his commitment to Auburn on Wednesday afternoon.

Auburn has landed a transfer from a rival.

On Wednesday, Georgia guard transfer K.D. Johnson announced that he’s committed to play for the Tigers in the upcoming season.

Johnson is no stranger to Bruce Pearl and company as he was highly recruited by the Tigers in 2020 as a top-100 player in the class. He ended up committing to Tom Crean and the Bulldogs where, as a freshman last season, he averaged 13.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 38.7 percent from the three-point line.

 

Auburn basketball rises in latest preseason Top 25 by The Athletic

With the addition of a few key transfers, Auburn has gone from just making the cut of the top 25 to being square in the middle.

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Auburn just made the cut at No. 25 the last time The Athletic put out a preseason top 25 for the 2021-22 college basketball season.

This time, the Tigers had plenty of room to spare.

In the latest top 25 by the publication, Bruce Pearl’s team jumped up nine spots to No. 16. The reason? The transfer portal.

Skinny: The Tigers have added three really good transfers since my previous ranking, including arguably the best player in the portal in 7-1 sophomore forward Walker Kessler, who averaged 8.2 points to go along with 5.3 rebounds over the last 10 games at North Carolina. Sophomore point guard Wendell Green averaged 15.8 points and 5.0 assists at Eastern Kentucky, and 6-1 senior guard Desi Sills averaged 7.5 points off the bench at Arkansas. Bruce Pearl is bringing back two of his top four scorers from last season and is adding 6-10 freshman forward Jabari Smith, a top-five high school recruit.

With Auburn Arena likely at full capacity once again, this is going to be a fun basketball season on the Plains.

ESPN ranks Walker Kessler as second-best offseason transfer

Auburn received a big gift in the form of five-star center Walker Kessler, a transfer from UNC, who will play for the Tigers in 2021.

Auburn got some good news in April when former five-star recruit Walker Kessler, a center from the University of North Carolina, announced that he will be playing for the Tigers in 2021.

How big is it? According to ESPN, Kessler is the second-best pickup in the nation during the offseason.

“A former five-star prospect, Kessler really showed flashes of his ability toward the end of the season. He had a four-game stretch in February when he scored in double-figures in each one, and he posted 16 points, 12 boards and eight blocks against Notre Dame in the ACC tournament.”

Ranked behind just Remy Martin, who has yet to announce his destination, Kessler will be the starting center for Auburn when the season begins and gives the Tigers plenty of size with his 7-foot-1, 245-pound frame.

Auburn basketball signs ‘proven winner’ Desi Sills

Auburn has officially signed Arkansas transfer guard Desi Sills.

Desi Sills is trading in Arkansas red for Auburn orange and blue.

The former Razorbacks guard officially signed with the Tigers on Wednesday and is expected to be a huge producer for Bruce Pearl’s team this upcoming season.

Desi is a proven winner,” Pearl said. “He’s a fierce competitor and a tough, physical defender. He’s got the ability to create for himself as well as others. Playing in our up-tempo system should bring out the best of him. If he plays as well against others as he did against us, we hit the jackpot.”

The guard averaged 7.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists for Arkansas last year, playing 20.8 minutes per game as the Razorbacks reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.

Updated look at 2021-22 Auburn basketball potential starting lineup

Auburn’s roster has undergone a major makeover with key departures and incoming stars. Here’s a look at a potential starting lineup.

It’s been a couple of weeks since we took a look at what Auburn’s basketball roster could look like next season and, boy, it has been busy days for Bruce Pearl and company.

Vaunted guard signee Trey Alexander decided to reopen his commitment and said he won’t be playing with the Tigers now while the future of JT Thor in an Auburn uniform looks shaky as ever.

The NCAA transfer portal has been helpful for the Tigers, though, as they have signed some quality players in North Carolina center Walker Kessler, College of Charleston guard Zep Jasper, Eastern Kentucky guard Wendell Green Jr. and Arkansas guard Desi Sills.

With those additions along with the departures of Sharife Cooper, Justin Powell, Jamal Johnson and Javon Franklin, here’s an updated look at what the lineup could look like along with some key contributors.

Eastern Kentucky transfer Wendell Green Jr. officially signs with Auburn

Auburn has officially signed Eastern Kentucky transfer guard Wendell Green Jr.

Auburn has gained another guard for the 2021-22 season.

On Thursday, Wendell Green Jr., a transfer from Eastern Kentucky, officially signed with the Tigers.

“Auburn basketball has a history of doing special things with very special undersized point guards,” Bruce Pearl said. “Wendell Green has won at every level, but has always had to prove himself to people. He’s won at La Lumiere School in Indiana, Detroit Country Day in Michigan and last season at Eastern Kentucky. He’s a fierce competitor and he makes everyone he plays with on the floor better.”

As a freshman for the Colonels last season, Green averaged 15.8 points, 5.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. He has four years of eligibility left and is expected to compete with fellow transfer Zep Jasper for the starting point guard position.

Report: Tony Barbee to be hired as next head coach at MAC school

Former Auburn head coach and Kentucky assistant Tony Barbee is reported to become the next head coach at Central Michigan.

Heads up, golf courses in the Mount Pleasant, Michigan area. Tony Barbee is on his way.

Per Pete Thamel, the former Auburn coach is expected to be named the head coach at Central Michigan after spending the past seven seasons as an assistant at Kentucky under John Calipari.

Hired from UTEP in 2010 by Auburn, Barbee never lived up to the hype as the Tigers went 49-75 (18-50 SEC) in his four years on the Plains.

The Chippewas have made the NCAA Tournament just four times in program history, the last coming in 2003.

Auburn lands key transfer guard Desi Sills from Arkansas

Auburn picked up yet another important transfer in Arkansas’ Desi Sills

Bruce Pearl has landed yet another key piece to the 2021-22 Auburn team.

On Tuesday, Arkansas transfer guard Desi Sills announced he is transferring to play for the Tigers.

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I feel like the Plains is going to be the best fit for me,” Sills said, per 247Sports.

This story will be updated.

LOOK: Auburn signee Jabari Smith receives Mr. Georgia Basketball plaque

Auburn signee and five-star recruit Jabari Smith received his plaque for winning 2021 Mr. Georgia Basketball.

Bruce Pearl has a knack for signing some of the top talent in the state of Georgia. Jabari Smith is the next in-line for Auburn fans to cheer for.

The Tigers signee won the illustrious Mr. Georgia Basketball award for 2021 which goes to the best high school basketball player in the Peach State each season.

On Monday, he received his plaque commemorating the award.

The highest-ranked player to ever sign with Auburn, Smith is the No. 2 power forward and No. 5 overall player in the 2021 signing class.

4-star point guard TyTy Washington names final six schools

Four-star point guard TyTy Washington has listed his final six schools and Auburn is not among them.

One of the most coveted point guards in the 2021 signing class has released his final six schools.

On Saturday, TyTy Washington out of Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona posted the schools that have made his list and, unfortunately, Auburn wasn’t among them.

Ranked the No. 3 point guard in the 2021 class, the four-star Washington was a high target for Bruce Pearl and his coaching staff.

With the news that Washington won’t be playing on the Plains, it will now be a mix of Zep Jasper and Wendell Green, both incoming transfers, to fill the shoes of Sharife Cooper.