Auburn lands talented center from JUCO ranks
Auburn basketball is quickly rebuilding its roster after losing the bulk of its Final Four talent.
It is too early to say if Auburn will return to the Final Four next season, but Bruce Pearl and his coaching staff are working diligently to boost its chances. One day after adding former Mississippi State forward Keyshawn Murphy from the transfer portal, Auburn lands the commitment of one of the top JUCO defenders in Emeka Opurum.
"I want to thank God for this opportunity and his direction this past year which helped me grow on and off the court," Opurum shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account. "Thank you to my teammates, coaches, trainers and teachers at Butler College and in Nigeria! I would like to announce my commitment to Auburn University!"
Opurum announced his commitment to Auburn two days after visiting the Plains. Opurum was named the KJCCC Defensive Player of the Year following a stellar freshman season at Butler Community College in Kansas that saw him record 8.1 rebounds and block 2.6 shots per game. The 7-0 center is also a solid scoring threat. Last season, he scored 9.4 points and connected on 67% of his shot attempts. He reached double figures in points 13 times last season and recorded double-digit rebounds 10 times.
Auburn's frontcourt is reloaded with top transfer talent. Outside of Murpy and Opurum, UCF forward Keyshawn Hall announced his intent to transfer to Auburn. Bruce Pearl will also add true freshman Sebastian Williams-Adams, the No. 10 forward from the 2025 recruiting cycle, to next year's squad.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
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