Reflecting on the period before Bruce Pearl’s arrival at Auburn a decade ago is truly remarkable. Pearl led the Tigers to their first Final Four in 2019 and has consistently made them contenders in an increasingly competitive SEC. The recent season saw the team achieve 27 wins and secure 2nd place in the league, although an unexpected loss to Yale dampened the overall success.
The talent passing through Auburn in recent years has been extraordinary, with many key players returning. Despite the departures of Jaylin Williams and a few others, seniors Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara, and Denver Jones will be back. Broome, in particular, is a significant returnee, coming off a season as one of the SEC’s top scorers and rebounders.
Although the Tigers lost some players to the Transfer Portal, they also bolstered their roster through it, much like when they added Broome two years ago and Baker-Mazara last season. This year’s notable additions include Ja’Heiim Hudson, a former small forward from SMU, and Miles Kelly, a combo guard from Georgia Tech. Another significant addition is JP Pegues from Furman.
Pegues made a name for himself at Furman, notably with a game-winning shot against Virginia in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Last season, he averaged 18.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, earning First Team All-SoCon honors. Pegues’ impressive performance as a point guard, excelling in scoring, assisting, and free throw percentage, makes him a valuable asset for Auburn, especially after losing guards Tre Donaldson and K. D. Johnson in the offseason.
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