Broomes return streamlines management transfer needs

[aubiefifty 16,807]

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Broomes return streamlines Auburns roster management transfer needs

Nathan King

16–20 minutes

Broome's decision was, undoubtedly, the biggest offseason domino for Bruce Pearl and the Tigers

With two words, a laundry list of offseason questions for Auburn basketball vanished: "Four's back."

Johni Broome announced his return to the program Wednesday evening, as the All-America center will exercise his final year of college eligibility and play his third season as a Tiger, looking to improve upon what was already one of the best campaigns by a big man in college basketball last season. 

Broome's decision was, undoubtedly, the biggest offseason domino for head coach Bruce Pearl and the Tigers; keeping Broome in the fold and running it back with the team's centerpiece is more valuable than any sort of addition Auburn could have gained through the transfer portal. Broome's numbers, dominance and steady presence as an ultra-consistent center for Auburn last season is one thing, but perhaps even more important is keeping a large chunk of the Tigers' core intact from a team that won 27 games and an SEC Tournament title.

If Broome had opted to parlay his huge season into the beginning of his professional career, Auburn would have jumped head-first into the transfer portal, searching for a big-time player at center for the third time in the last four years. Auburn's pitch to the best available big men in the country would have been better than most, considering all Pearl has done is turn his last two transfer centers into All-Americans. 

But the Tigers didn't have to do that and have had the luxury of narrowing their transfer focus to other positions on the roster. Pearl said after the season that he wasn't going to rush Broome, though he did need to know in a decently timely manner so that the Tigers could pursue a transfer if need be.

"I want to let the guys make these decisions when they and their families are comfortable making these decisions," Pearl said. "Obviously, the sooner they make them, the better for both I think them and the program moving forward."

But that transfer interest never came from Auburn. The Tigers have been linked to dozens of potential transfers in the past few weeks, but few, if any, have been centers. Even last season, when Broome kept his name in the draft late into the process, Auburn found itself some backup options and kept in contact with a handful of transfer centers. The fact that Auburn wasn't pressing those types of players this time around was a great sign for Broome's return.

Even relative to the April 27 draft deadline, Broome could have mulled the decision even longer, but there's a reason those around the program felt positive about the situation for the past few weeks. It didn't take long after the season for it to become apparent that Broome was strongly considering a return to Auburn, and that the NBA draft was the more difficult decision this time around.

And that makes a lot of sense for Broome's situation. He was on the fence about leaving last season, yes, when he tore up the NBA combine and was getting looks in the late second round. Then he only got better this past season — a lot better. 

But in addition to NIL — which was always going to play a major factor here with Broome, considering how much better he'd be paid at Auburn another year than as an undrafted NBA player — the prospect of another season with even more eyeballs and attention on Broome's game and his strong skill set was alluring. Broome evolved last season with more of a face-up game — still a traditional center at heart, but now with proven skills as a 3-point shooter, passer and defender on the perimeter. 

That's not to mention the impact on Auburn's team and its aspirations for another stellar season. Not many teams get an All-American back for a second season.

Walker Kessler was a complete defensive eraser the likes of which may not be seen at Auburn for decades to come, and he's obviously one of the most NBA-ready players to ever wear the orange and blue. Imagine the type of hype and expectations if Kessler had come back for another year? Well, by and large, Broome was a more impactful player across the board than Kessler was for the Tigers in 2021-22.

Broome's return means Auburn gets three of its top four scorers back next season — the only exception being Jaylin Williams, who's out of eligibility and whose roster spot is being addressed through the portal. And we haven't even mentioned that Broome's running mate at center, Dylan Cardwell, will be back for his fifth year, too.

Let's reset Auburn's current scholarship outlook for next season with Broome officially back. Wing Chris Moore is the last remaining player with a fifth year of eligibility to exercise, and for now, we'll assume he follows Broome and Cardwell's course and is back with the team next season.

The portal closes for non-grad transfers May 1, after which Auburn can take its time assessing options and adding pieces.

1. PG JP Pegues

2. PG/SG Tahaad Pettiford

3. SG Denver Jones

4. SF Chad Baker-Mazara

5. SF Chris Moore

6. SF Jahki Howard

7. PF Chaney Johnson

8. C Johni Broome

9. C Dylan Cardwell

10. C Addarin Scott

11. Vacant (transfer guard)

12. Vacant (transfer forward)

13. Vacant 

What to do at guard: Without Broome, Auburn would have been scrambling a bit more to find high-level playmakers to help offset a massive loss of production. But instead, the Tigers can rely on their wealth of returning scoring — and the fact that they landed their top point guard target, Pegues. Auburn simply needs another guard at this point from a numbers perspective to avoid only three players — Pegues, Pettiford and Jones — across two positions. Pettiford's flexibility here is key, as he's signed with the Tigers as the No. 1 point guard recruit in the country, but Pearl has been adamant that he won't be pigeon-holed into that spot at Auburn and could play more off the ball early in his career, if that's what will get him on the floor more often. 

That means Auburn can keep its options open to simply grab the best-fitting guard it can in the portal — whether that's a true backup to Pegues, or more of a 2-guard who will allow Pettiford to log more minutes at point. At the moment — based on the chatter inside Auburn's building, in addition to the players that have been targeted — the Tigers might be learning more toward another point guard through the portal. 

What to do at forward: Auburn may need to be a bit more delicate at this spot, considering Johnson's emergence and consistency late last season. The last thing the Tigers want to do is scare him off before what they believe can be a big season for the former Division-II transfer in taking over Williams' spot in the starting lineup. Still, Johnson is the only true power forward on the entire roster, and Auburn still wants a capable and physically adept player to fill that void in the rotation. TCU's JaKobe Coles and Clemson's RJ Godfrey have buzzed as potential transfer targets over the past week or so.

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[aubiefifty 16,807]

Not many teams get an All-American back for a second season . . .good job Bruce! and nil............

[autan 737]

College basketball is totally different than it was a few years ago. No way were Jacobi and Walker going to pass up the opportunity of going pro. I doubt if CBP even tried to recruit them to stay.robably advised them to go.  It seems like a generation ago, but Broome and Kessler were in the same HS class.

[keeperoftheplains 133]

Kessler is being wasted in Utah. I don't know what Will Hardy is trying to do with that roster.  It's just all over the place.

[aubaseball 2,625]

Kessler and Smith were sure fire first round picks.   Smith was considered by some to be the 1st pick.   Not bagging on Broome because I think he is a good college player, but he isn’t close to those two.   

[arktiger1975 518]

Really good nucleus retuning for next season. We should be right in the thick of the SEC race once again.