Why the transfer portal was ‘not an option’ for Auburn basketball star Johni Broome

AUBURN — Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl has a process at the end of every season.

Pearl likes to sit down with his players, talk to them about their options and outline the best paths for them to take, both for their personal careers and for the team’s future.

With someone such as senior guard KD Johnson, Pearl admitted his role wasn’t going to be a big one if he stayed at Auburn for his fifth and final year of eligibility next season. As a result, Johnson elected to hop in the transfer portal and eventually commit to George Mason.

When talking to All-American center Johni Broome, Pearl laid out three paths: A return to the Plains, an entrance into the portal or a declaration for the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft.

Broome assured Pearl one of those choices wasn’t under consideration.

ONE MORE: What does Bruce Pearl want in a transfer guard? Inside Auburn’s effort for ‘last piece’

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“He said, ‘Coach, the transfer portal is not an option for me. So, really there are only two options.’ (And) the NBA option was not an option that he wanted to explore right now,” Pearl said of Broome on Monday. “… As far as being in the transfer portal, that just wasn’t an option for him or his family. They just wanted to be able to be treated fairly, and I think that the (NIL) collective treated him fairly. We’re really glad to have him back.”

Broome’s production didn’t necessarily explode from Year 1 to Year 2 at Auburn — his points and rebounds per game rose by 2.3 and 0.1, respectively — but the manner in which he achieved that production was impressive. He was efficient, playing 24.8 minutes per game, and he expanded his game to become a real threat from beyond the 3-point arc.

Originally arriving to Auburn in April 2022 as a back-to-basket big man who played with some finesse in the post, Broome shot 35.4% on 2.3 attempted triples per game last season. Against SEC competition, Broome made 39.2%…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-transfer-portal-not-option-091211426.html

Author : The Montgomery Advertiser

Publish date : 2024-05-24 09:12:11

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