KD Johnson – Syndication Server

Aden Holloway enters the transfer portal

After two of Auburn’s guards announced their leave from the program, former five-star guard Aden Holloway does the same as he enters the portal.

Following Auburn basketball’s loss on March 22 to the Yale Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament, players are beginning to make their decisions on what their future with the team looks like for the 2024-25 season.

The Tigers have had a couple of players enter the transfer portal for next season, including the likes of guards [autotag]KD Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Tre Donaldson[/autotag].

Now, that list has been extended, as freshman and former five-star McDonald’s All-American [autotag]Aden Holloway[/autotag] announced his intent to enter the portal on Tuesday as well.

The high school phenom was ranked as the No. 18 player in the nation in the 2023 recruiting class according to the On3 industry ranking. He committed to Auburn in August 2022.

Holloway was a starter on the roster for most of the 2023-24 season. He played in all 35 games this season, averaging 20.2 minutes per game over the course of the year.

The freshman showed signs of being an early star in his college campaign, but also struggled mightily at moments as well. He saw his minutes decrease at the end of January and into the better part of February as his shooting struggles continued to mount.

Holloway finished his first season scoring 7.3 points per game. His highest-scoring performance this season came against the Indiana Hoosiers in Atlanta, where he scored 24 points. He hit seven buckets in that game, with five of them being from 3-point land.

He averaged 1.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists on the year, so while not ever being a player to crash the glass in games, he shared the ball a good amount. He reached his season-high of six assists in a game on four separate occasions, including in the Tiger’s first game against Baylor.

Holloway enters the portal as most likely a highly sought out player, but has not indicated any clues on where he might be headed.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Tyler on Twitter @traley34

Chad Baker-Mazara announces return to Auburn for 2024-25 season

Baker-Mazara was a vital piece to Bruce Pearl’s squad last season.

One of Auburn’s vital pieces is set to return to the team for next season.

In a social media post, Auburn basketball posted a video Wednesday of guard Chad Baker-Mazara saying “My work is not yet finished” in Spanish before ending the video with a hearty “War Eagle.”

Baker-Mazara’s return is important for Auburn, as he finished the 2023-24 season in the top three of several major categories including points per game, three-point percentage, free-throw percentage, and rebounds. It is easy to say that having a player of his caliber is valuable, which is why Baker-Mazara plans to stick around for another season.

The news comes hours after guard [autotag]Tre Donaldson[/autotag] announced his intent to enter the transfer portal after spending two seasons on the Plains. Donaldson is the second player to declare for the portal, following [autotag]KD Johnson[/autotag]’s announcement last week.

Baker-Mazara’s first season on the Plains ended in controversy. In Auburn’s round of 64 game with Yale, Baker-Mazara was issued a flagrant 2 foul from officials after it was shown that he threw an elbow at a Yale player just four minutes into the game. The Tigers ultimately lost the game, with some feeling that his absence ultimately led to defeat.

Following the game, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl defended Baker-Mazara and said that Auburn fans need to be sensitive when it comes to his athletes making mistakes.

“I’ll tell the Auburn family, while I know you’re disappointed, if someone was messing with your son, you’d stand up for him,” Pearl said. “Stop messing with my son, I’m calling you out. I’m not having it.”

Baker-Mazara ended the year with 10.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists with an average of 21.7 minutes played per game.

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Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

KD Johnson aims for increased minutes at new destination

Johnson hopes to make the most out of his final eligible season.

Last week, Auburn fans were disappointed that one of their favorite players announced that he would play his final eligible season elsewhere.

After three seasons on the Plains, guard [autotag]KD Johnson[/autotag] is searching for a new home. Auburn head coach [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] met with Johnson following the Tigers round of 64 loss to Yale last month, where he says that the postseason conversation was successful. However, it was determined that Johnson’s role would remain the same next season if he were to stay, which forced a tough decision.

For his final season of eligibility, Johnson will look for a program that will allow him to earn more starts, as well as provide him an increase in minutes played.

“We just talked about the fact that… would would the joy of the game be more if perhaps he was someplace else and had more of an opportunity to do more of what KD does?” Pearl said. “Our discussion was really good.”

After starting in 31 of Auburn’s 34 games during the 2021-22 season, Johnson has made just one start, which came in the Tigers’ loss to Mississippi State on Jan. 27. His minutes have decreased by 10 full minutes during his Auburn career, also. He averaged 21.9 minutes per game during the 2022-23 campaign, which was a six-minute decrease from the season prior. Last season, he averaged 17.1 minutes per contest.

Johnson’s Auburn career ends with 9.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game in 102 total games over three seasons. Pearl also mentions thatJohnson plans to earn an Auburn degree in the future.

Back in time: What happened the last time Auburn faced Yale on the hardwood?

Auburn and Yale have played each other in basketball just once in history. Here’s how it played out.

Auburn will begin its journey for a national championship this week against Yale. The meeting between the Tigers and the Bulldogs will be the second all-time, and the first meeting took place not long ago.

Auburn hosted Yale for a regular season contest at then-Auburn Arena on December 4, 2021, and won convincingly, 86-64. The win pushed Auburn to 7-1 on the season and was part of a 19-game win streak that Auburn built during the 2021-22 season.

Five players reached double figures in points, led by [autotag]KD Johnson[/autotag]’s 19-point showing. Jabari Smith was next in line with 17 points while [autotag]Zep Jasper[/autotag], [autotag]Devan Cambridge[/autotag], and [autotag]Dylan Cardwell[/autotag] each added 10 points.

Future first-round pick [autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] recorded zero points in just eight minutes of action but managed to lead the team in blocks with four. The Tigers recorded 14 total blocks in the game. [autotag]Dylan Cardwell[/autotag], [autotag]Stretch Akingbola[/autotag], and [autotag]Chris Moore[/autotag] joined Kessler by recording multiple blocks.

Check out the best images from Auburn’s 2021 victory over Yale on the Plains below.

Photos: Auburn smashes South Carolina to advance to SEC Tournament semifinals

The No. 4-seed Auburn Tigers cruise to an SEC Tournament victory by taking down No. 5-seed South Carolina, 86-55.

Auburn had zero issues with South Carolina on Friday at the SEC Tournament. Turns out, they were the only top-seeded team to escape with a quarterfinal victory.

Auburn followed up its 40-point Valentine’s Day win over the Gamecocks by defeating them again on Friday by 31 points, 86-55. [autotag]Chaney Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]KD Johnson[/autotag] reached double-figures off the bench while [autotag]Johni Broome[/autotag] recorded another double-double by scoring 18 points and rebounding 10.

Auburn advances to face Mississippi State on Saturday for a chance to play for the tournament championship on Sunday against either Texas A&M or Florida.

Here are the best images from Auburn’s quarterfinal win over South Carolina.

Auburn at Arkansas: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for Saturday’s game in Fayetteville

The Auburn Tigers kick off the SEC campaign on Saturday night at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The Auburn Tigers play the Arkansas Razorbacks in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Saturday, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

Auburn (11-2) closed their nonconference slate with a bang on Tuesday by defeating Penn, 88-68 for its sixth-straight victory. During the stretch, Auburn has won every game by at least 16 points and each game by a margin of 24 points.

The Tigers will look to continue its hot streak on Saturday by making the trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (9-4) to kick off the SEC campaign at 1 p.m. CT.

Over the six-game win streak, Auburn has relied heavily on forwards [autotag]Johni Broome[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaylin Williams[/autotag], as well as bench players [autotag]Chad Baker-Mazara[/autotag], [autotag]Dylan Cardwell[/autotag], and [autotag]KD Johnson[/autotag].

Now that it is time to flip over to the SEC portion of the schedule, head coach [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] wants to see his players compete at the highest level they can achieve.

“What happens is when you get into conference play and you play against your best teams, typically your best players have to play their best games. That’s what has to happen. In conference play, our best players have to play their best games. We have balance and depth, and it helps us in foul trouble or God forbid an injury. Now that we’re at where we are at in conference play, our best players have to be there for us to win, they just do.”

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Below, you will find key information for Saturday’s game between Auburn and Arkansas in Fayetteville such as a broadcast guide, projected starters, and an injury report.

What Bruce Pearl, Auburn’s players said after beating Penn

Bruce Pearl, Denver Jones and Johni Broome had plenty to say after Tuesday’s win over Penn.

For the sixth straight time, the Auburn Tigers have won a basketball time by double-digits. This time, taking down Penn 88-68 Tuesday night in a packed Neville Arena.

Auburn once again showcased its depth with four different players scoring in double figures. [autotag]Johni Broome[/autotag] led the way with 24 points while [autotag]Chad Baker-Mazara[/autotag] scored 16 off the bench.

The Tigers had a commanding 51-32 lead at halftime after they went 10-of-19 from 3-point range to start the game. Penn mounted a comeback after the break but [autotag]KD Johnson[/autotag] scored back-to-back baskets to end the threat.

Here is what Pearl, Broome and [autotag]Denver Jones[/autotag] said after Tuesday’s night win.

How Auburn’s win over Alabama State affects its KenPom ranking

Does Auburn remain a top-10 team in the KenPom after its blowout victory over Alabama State?

The wins keep rolling in for the Auburn Tigers.

The Tigers earned its fourth-straight win on Friday evening by blasting Alabama State, 82-62, at Neville Arena. Auburn got off to a slow start, as Alabama State stayed within 10 points of the Tigers through the first 13 minutes of the contest.

The scare quickly went away, as a [autotag]Johni Broome[/autotag] free throw pushed Auburn’s lead to 26-16 with 7:21 remaining in the first half. The Tigers’ lead would not dip below double-digits for the remainder of the contest. Auburn would lead by as many as 31 points in the game before cruising to a 20-point victory.

Three players reached double-figures in Friday’s win. Two of those, [autotag]Jaylin Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]KD Johnson[/autotag], each scored their 1,000th career point during the game.

Auburn ended the game with a higher field goal and three-point percentage than Alabama State, and scored 19 points off of 18 Hornet turnovers.

How much of an impact did Auburn’s win over Alabama State have on their KenPom ranking? Here’s a look at where the Tigers stand according to Saturday morning’s KenPom update.

Tigers of the Game: Williams, Johnson join elite club

Auburn’s monster win over Alabama State is capped off with a pair of Tigers reaching incredible milestones.

Friday night was special inside Neville Arena.

Not only did Auburn knock off in-state foe Alabama State, 82-62, to earn its fourth consecutive victory, but two of the most beloved members of the roster reached incredible milestones in the process.

In Friday’s win, senior guard [autotag]KD Johnson[/autotag] and senior forward [autotag]Jaylin Williams[/autotag] each eclipsed 1,000 points scored in their college careers. Williams reached the mark in five seasons with the Tigers while Johnson is in his fourth season, his second at Auburn.

Williams’ 20-point performance, as well as Johnson’s 13-point effort, were impressive in the eyes of head coach Bruce Pearl.

“Congratulations to Jaylin Williams. What a great game he had on both ends of the floor. He has been tremendously consistent over the last couple weeks. It was also great to see K.D. – that ball going in for him. I thought K.D. brought great energy into his rotation at the start of the first half where it really kind of ignited our defense.”

Following the game, Auburn Wire writers, as well as Auburn fans, shared their takes on who made the biggest impact in Auburn’s win over Alabama State. Here is a look at which players were voted “Tigers of the Game.”

A look at Auburn Basketball’s 2023-24 roster

Get to know the 2023-24 Auburn Tigers before they begin the season!

The Auburn Tigers are set to officially begin the 2023-24 season on Tuesday, Nov. 7 against the No. 17 Baylor Bears at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

This season’s team features a healthy mix of veteran leadership, exciting transfers, and a five-star freshman. As head coach [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] prepares to begin his 10th season as the Tigers’ leading man, he says that he is excited about the parity that his roster brings to the table.

“I’ve not been asked by one player,” Pearl said during his time on the podium at SEC Media Days regarding the set starting lineup. “We’ve got so much parity, so much competition in each position, I’m not sure they want to know, which I think is a good thing.”

This year’s veterans are [autotag]Jaylin Williams[/autotag], [autotag]KD Johnson[/autotag], and [autotag]Chris Moore[/autotag], who have collectively logged a total of 255 games in an Auburn uniform.

The main attraction as far as returners go is center [autotag]Johni Broome[/autotag]. Broome joined the Tigers roster last season after spending the first two seasons of his college career at Morehead State. He was great as advertised, as he scored 14.2 points and pulled down 8.4 rebounds per game. He also recorded 10 double-doubles last season and had a stretch of recording a double-double in four straight games to open SEC play. He is expected to replicate those stats this season, as he was named preseason All-SEC.

A plethora of bench options return to the roster this season as well. Broome will be complemented by [autotag]Dylan Cardwell[/autotag] at the five spot while [autotag]Lior Berman[/autotag] and [autotag]Tre Donaldson[/autotag] will provide relief to the Tigers’ backcourt.

This season’s roster features plenty of recognizable names, but there are also a few names to familiarize yourself with. Auburn landed two big names from the transfer portal, as well as a few junior college players to beef up its rotation.

Auburn added guard [autotag]Denver Jones[/autotag], who was a first-team All-CUSA selection after scoring 20 points per game last season at FIU. [autotag]Chaney Johnson[/autotag], a 1,000-point scorer, also joins the roster after spending three seasons at Alabama-Huntsville. He dropped 15.3 points per game last season, en route to earning the Gulf South Conference Player of the Year award. JUCO transfers [autotag]Addarin Scott[/autotag] and [autotag]Chad Baker-Mazara[/autotag] are also expected to contribute heavily this season.

The most notable addition to the program, however, has to be freshman [autotag]Aden Holloway[/autotag]. Holloway was the No. 16 overall prospect of the 2023 class and was the No. 3 point guard of the cycle. The Athletic recently listed him as one of the top freshmen to watch this season and he is expected to run the point for the Tigers, taking over for [autotag]Wendell Green Jr[/autotag].

Before the season starts, get to know the 2023-24 Auburn Tigers by checking out the full roster, plus their accomplishments as Auburn players, below.