Latest news with #JohniBroome
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn All-American Johni Broome ramping up workouts ahead of NBA draft
Auburn All-American Johni Broome ramping up workouts ahead of NBA draft Auburn senior Johni Broome is beginning to hit the workout circuit after visiting two playoff teams this week, with less than four weeks to go until the 2025 NBA draft. Broome was a consensus first-team All-American, averaging 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 blocks on 51% shooting from the field this past season. He joined Charles Barkley (1984) and Chris Porter (1999) as the only Tigers players to win SEC Player of the Year. The 6-foot-10 forward had his first predraft workout on Wednesday with the LA Clippers. He was then among the prospects who visited the Detroit Pistons on Friday. Broome leaves Auburn as the only player in history to tally at least 2,500 points, 1,500 rebounds and 400 blocked shots in a career. He set single-season program records for rebounds (389) and double-doubles (21) as a fifth-year senior. The 22-year-old is considered a potential late first-round pick at this stage of the predraft process. He established himself as one of the most dominant big men in the country, with his ability in the post, rebounding and toughness on a nightly basis. Broome will have the opportunity to improve his stock in team workouts and interviews up until the draft on June 25-26. He'll likely visit at least 8-12 teams in total, giving him plenty of chances to make a name for himself against his peers.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Johni Broome Goes Viral For Unfortunate Reason at NBA Combine
From 2023 to 2025, Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome was one of, if not the best, bigs in college basketball. However, that does not mean he is destined for stardom at the NBA level. On Tuesday, Broome participated in the 2025 NBA Combine. His shooting left a lot to be desired, but his standing vertical leap went viral for all the wrong reasons. Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome (4). Brett Davis-Imagn Images The former Auburn Tigers basketball star became the unexpected subject of online ridicule after ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony posted a clip of Broome's standing vertical jump from the 2025 NBA Combine. The video quickly went viral, not because of its impressiveness, but because of the shocking lack of explosiveness. Advertisement Fans pounced on the reigning SEC Player of the Year's lackluster bounce, roasting Broome in the replies for what many perceived as underwhelming athleticism. The criticism was steadfast, but reached new heights when learning language platform Duolingo joined the mix. "Learn Chinese and try Super Duolingo today!" the official Duolingo account quote tweeted on Givony's video, reigniting the mass hysteria around Broome's combine lowlight. The joke, for those unfamiliar with NBA internet lore, cuts deep. For years, fans have quickly poked fun at players who have failed to meet expectations by suggesting their talents are best suited for a basketball career in China. The graphic of NBA commissioner Adam Silver saying "Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy," is the most famous way for fans to intertwine China and the NBA. Broome, a two-time All-SEC selection and the heart of Auburn's frontcourt over the past two seasons, has been a consistent and physical force in college basketball. His skill set lends to a more throwback style of play, with the forward opting to play with his back to the basket. Although mainly a two-way post presence, Broome has developed a decent three-point shot in recent years. Advertisement Broome entered the 2025 NBA Combine with a second-round draft grade despite his laundry list of accolades, including leading Auburn to the Final Four last season. He averaged a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double last year with Auburn posting a 32-6 record. Nevertheless, his lack of perceived NBA traits has him fighting for a slot in the backend of the 2025 NBA Draft. Related: Indiana Fever Make DeWanna Bonner Announcement Before Preseason Debut
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA mock draft: Tahaad Pettiford rises, Johni Broome drops in latest mock from ESPN
The NBA draft stock of Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford continues to rise ahead of his impactful decision. Pettiford produced a stellar output during his stay at the NBA draft combine last week, which caught the eye of several NBA scouts. Now that the dust from the combine has settled, ESPN has released its latest NBA mock draft, which bumps Pettiford to No. 37 overall, up two spots from their last mock released post-NBA lottery. In this mock draft, Pettiford is projected to land with the Detroit Pistons in the second round. Advertisement Although he continues to climb in the mock drafts, Pettiford is still a few slots away from considering an exit from Auburn. During a fundraising event in Montgomery last week, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl discussed Pettiford's great combine performance and what it would take for him to bolt for the NBA. "If Tahaad has a first-round contract, I think he's going to go — and he should go," Pearl said. "He won't leave unless he's in a really good spot." Pearl went on to say that Pettiford will have an increased role with the team next season should he return. On the flipside, as Pettiford's NBA stock rises, another player's drops. In the latest mock, Auburn forward Johni Broome slipped from No. 37 overall to No. 45. He is now projected to be drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the second round after being projected to be taken by the Detroit Pistons at No. 37 overall last week. According to Jon Chepkevich of Draft Express, Broome posted 6'9 ¼" barefoot, 249.4 lbs with a 7'0 ¼" wingspan and 9'0 ½" standing reach measurements at the combine. Advertisement Pettiford has until May 28 to stay in the NBA draft mix, or to withdraw and return to Auburn. The NBA draft begins Wednesday, June 25. 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__ This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Tahaad Pettiford, Johni Broome status in ESPN's latest NBA mock draft
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NBA mock draft: Tahaad Pettiford rises, Johni Broome drops in latest mock from ESPN
NBA mock draft: Tahaad Pettiford rises, Johni Broome drops in latest mock from ESPN The stock of Auburn's freshman guard continues to rise as Auburn forward Johni Broome slips in the latest NBA mock draft from ESPN. The NBA draft stock of Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford continues to rise ahead of his impactful decision. Pettiford produced a stellar output during his stay at the NBA draft combine last week, which caught the eye of several NBA scouts. Now that the dust from the combine has settled, ESPN has released its latest NBA mock draft, which bumps Pettiford to No. 37 overall, up two spots from their last mock released post-NBA lottery. In this mock draft, Pettiford is projected to land with the Detroit Pistons in the second round. Although he continues to climb in the mock drafts, Pettiford is still a few slots away from considering an exit from Auburn. During a fundraising event in Montgomery last week, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl discussed Pettiford's great combine performance and what it would take for him to bolt for the NBA. "If Tahaad has a first-round contract, I think he's going to go — and he should go," Pearl said. "He won't leave unless he's in a really good spot." Pearl went on to say that Pettiford will have an increased role with the team next season should he return. On the flipside, as Pettiford's NBA stock rises, another player's drops. In the latest mock, Auburn forward Johni Broome slipped from No. 37 overall to No. 45. He is now projected to be drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the second round after being projected to be taken by the Detroit Pistons at No. 37 overall last week. According to Jon Chepkevich of Draft Express, Broome posted 6'9 ¼" barefoot, 249.4 lbs with a 7'0 ¼" wingspan and 9'0 ½" standing reach measurements at the combine. Pettiford has until May 28 to stay in the NBA draft mix, or to withdraw and return to Auburn. The NBA draft begins Wednesday, June 25. 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__
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Johni Broome's subpar vertical jump at NBA Draft Combine draws jeers on social media
The NBA Draft Combine is underway, running through Sunday in Chicago. And if any draft prospects are trending, chances are they either dazzled during drills and workouts or they disappointed. Unfortunately for Johni Broome, his name was a popular topic Wednesday because of a vertical jump that was less than impressive. The Auburn star recorded a standing vertical leap of 24.5 inches during testing drills. By comparison, projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg notched a standing vertical jump of 35.5 inches. VJ Edgecombe, ranked fourth on Yahoo Sports' NBA Draft big board, topped that with a 38.5-inch jump. Several detractors on social media also pointed out that Broome's standing vertical was less than massive Florida defensive tackle Desmond Watson, who weighs 464 pounds and jumped 25 inches at the NFL Combine. (Watson went undrafted and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent.) However, perhaps the meanest response came from, of all places, language learning platform Duolingo. The app's social media account quote-tweeted a video of Broome's vertical jump and wrote "Learn Chinese and try Super Duolingo today!" Learn Chinese and try Super Duolingo today! — Duolingo (@duolingo) May 14, 2025 Many NBA fans got the reference, which alluded to a popular meme that originated in 2022. A graphic circulating on social media features a fake quote from NBA commissioner Adam Silver saying, "Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy," as a warning to players whose behavior was a league issue or who were playing so badly they'd soon have to go overseas to play professional basketball. Broome, 6-foot-10, is projected as a late second-round pick in Kevin O'Connor's mock draft for Yahoo Sports. He's also rated as the No. 45 player on O'Connor's big board. Broome was one of the best players in college basketball last season and earned consideration for the Naismith National Player of the Year award that eventually went to Flagg. He averaged 18.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks, leading Auburn to a 32-6 record and a Final Four berth in the NCAA tournament. However, Broome's athleticism was a concern for draft analysts and those vertical-leap numbers didn't change that perception. Between that and questions about his shooting skills (he shot 28% on 3-pointers last season), he will likely be selected in the draft's second round, if at all. As the Duolingo post joked, Broome could have an interesting basketball journey.
