AUBURN – With the college basketball season 2021-22 over, Auburn is already recharging. Can the Tigers build on a Southeastern Conference championship in the regular season?
For the recurring, there are unfinished business after Auburn (28-6) participated in the NCAA tournament as a No. 2 seed and then lost in the second round. List places are also open to newcomers. Bruce Pearl spent 12 of his maximum 13 scholarships this season. He loses his two best players.
Follow all movement out of season here.
Legacy departures
Jabari Smith, first-year striker: Auburn’s highest-rated recruit in the program’s history is a contender for the overall No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft after averaging 16.9 points on 42% 3-point shooting in his single college season.
Walker Kessler, sophomore center: With two triple-doubles and an individual blocking rate of 19.1% in Auburn, Kessler skyrocketed in the first round of projections after transfer from North Carolina. He was the defender of the year in Naismith.
Devan Cambridge, junior wing: “Bounceman” started in nonconference games but came off the bench after Allen Flanigan recovered from an Achilles injury. Cambridge moves to Arizona State and joins his brother.
Preston Cook, senior guard: Cook, who is alum from Auburn High School and former walk-on, was celebrated on senior day and entered the portal as a graduate transfer.
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Incoming beginners:
Yohan Traore, striker / center: The overall No. 15 in the 2022 class, Traore can play the four or five. He seems more likely to take Kessler’s place as an open starting center. Traore was released from LSU after Will Wade was fired in March.
Chance Westry, guard: Westry is the No. 5 recruit in Auburn’s history as No. 31 overall in the 2022 class. He is 6-foot-6, but can play any position from point guard to small forward.
Three Donaldson, guard: Donaldson is a multi-sport athlete who has also signed on to Bryan Harsin’s football program. In basketball, the 6-1 Tallahassee native will be a bench option at point guard.
Incoming transfers
Auburn has no inbound transfers at this time.
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Recurring
Zep Jasper, senior guard: Despite a lack of scoring production (5.1 points), Jasper Auburn’s starting point guard was thanks to just 1.36 revenue per game. 40 minutes. Pearl called him the SEC’s best perimeter defender. Jasper returns one more year while getting a master’s.
KD Johnson, sophomore guard: The Georgia transfer should improve on its 3-point shot after a season-high 29%, but Johnson still had an average of 12.3 points and 1.9 steals. He is an undersized guard, but a tough shooter in isolation.
Wendell Green Jr., sophomore guard: Auburn’s sixth man and closer fits perfectly into Pearl’s pick-and-roll offense. Green went back in his 3-point shooting (31.7%) where he has logo range, but he improved his defense.
Allen Flanigan, junior wing: When Flanigan returned in late December, he was never the same. His scoring average dropped by eight. He was subject to turnover. He earned starting minutes with his defense. Big wild card on next season’s list.
Jaylin Williams, junior forward: Williams was quietly effective for fewer minutes, and from early April he is the likely choice to replace Smith’s starting role. An enviable task, but Williams shot 4-for-5 on 3-points in March Madness.
Chris Moore, second striker: 6-7 Moore scored 1.7 points in 7.5 minutes per game. match. Will this be the year in which former Mr. Arkansas Basketball sees an increased role?
Dylan Cardwell, sophomore center: The fan favorite blocked 4.3 shots per game. 40 minutes, but Cardwell’s defense needs a lot of work. He averaged 11.5 minutes.
Babatunde “Stretch” Akingbola, X center: It was thought that Akingbola would have a more solid presence in Pearl’s deep lineup, but he only appeared in six matches.
This story will be updated as Auburn reviews any potential roster changes during high season.