Dap Recap: The King Is Back
For Auburn basketball, everything is looking up right now.
One of Auburn basketball’s stars will return for another season.
On Wednesday, Johni Broome declared that he would be returning to Auburn to play another season of collegiate football. What does that signify for the basketball team at Auburn? Is Broome likely to move to a different position and what will the rest of the roster look like going forward?
The most obvious and straightforward part of Broome’s announcement is the most important one. Plant City, Florida native and 6-foot-10 senior player is a returning standout for Auburn. Broome was excellent defensively last season, averaging 17 points and 9 rebounds per game. He became a front-runner for the SEC Player of the Year award and should be regarded as the overwhelming favorite to win both that title and several other national honors the following season. But by coming back, he may now solidify a legacy that will elevate him to the status of Auburn’s all-time greats, earning him comparisons to Chuck Person and Charles Barkley.
When word of Broome’s return first spread, there were rumors and talk that he might switch from the five to the four position, which would mean going from center to power forward. In the sense that he frequently plays away from the basket, opting to drive the ball inside, Broome is not your typical big man. In addition, he is a superb passer from the block and the top of the key and can occasionally drain threes. Bruce Pearl’s offense relies heavily on his natural ability to locate open cutters and Auburn’s wings for three-pointers. For a big man, he is regarded as one of the best passers in the nation. Those competencies could be
Dylan Cardwell and Broome’s announcement of their return makes Auburn’s frontcourt appear formidable. When you combine those two with Chaney Johnson, Auburn brings some expertise to those positions. Still, it’s unclear how Broome fits in and how that will impact any new portal additions. Should Broome continue to play at the five spot, expect Cardwell to support him and contribute meaningful and crucial minutes off the bench once more. That depth is very important for Auburn’s hopes of winning a championship. In that case, Auburn would try to complement Johnson at the four position with some more depth. Here, RJ Godfrey of Clemson is a name to watch. Suwanee, Georgia’s 6-foot-8 sophomore forward is
With Furman’s JP Pegues at point guard, Auburn made quite the stir and improved at the position last week. Last season, the junior averaged 18 points per game while shooting 36% from three for the Paladins. Denver Jones’s return and his addition guarantee Auburn’s backcourt for the following season. Tahaad Pettiford, an incoming freshman and 5-star hybrid guard, ought to see a lot of playing time. The McDonald’s All-American will give the guard position much-needed depth. Anticipate Auburn to fill the backup point guard spot with a JUCO, maybe to give a player the chance to support Pegues and contribute 10–15 minutes per game at the top level of SEC basketball.
