Latest news with #Opurum
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Auburn to host JUCO center Emeka Opurum for visit
Auburn needs to fill the voids left behind by several playmakers from its Final Four squad, and one of the top junior college athletes could be a potential suitor to hold down the center position. According to Nathan King of Auburn Undercover, Auburn will host Butler Community College center Emeka Opurum for a visit beginning Monday. Opurum, a 7-0 center originally from Nigeria, is a prime candidate to fill the space left behind by outgoing senior Dylan Cardwell. Advertisement As a freshman at Butler during the 2024-25 season, Opurum averaged 22 minutes per game while starting 25 of 33 games played. During his time on the floor, he scored 9.4 points, hauled in 8.1 rebounds, and blocked 2.6 shots per game. Opurum was also a sharpshooter by connecting on 67% of his shots from the field. He recorded 10 games of double-digit rebounds and 13 games of double-digit point totals. His best game of the season came against Cowley College on March 5, when he scored 18 points and hauled in 19 rebounds. He followed up his strong performance three days later against Pratt College when he scored 20 points and secured seven rebounds. Auburn will look to replace over half its roster due to the graduation of key stars, including Dylan Cardwell, Johni Broome, and Denver Jones, and the transfer of Jahki Howard. Auburn has earned the commitment of former UCF forward Keyshawn Hall, but is looking to add several more solid athletes like Opurum to fuel their dreams of returning to the Final Four next season. 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: Auburn welcomes JUCO center Emeka Opurum for visit
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
JUCO center Emeka Opurum breaks down decision to sign with Auburn
It took a quick visit to Auburn for Emeka Opurum to see what the hype is about. Opurum announced his commitment to Auburn on Wednesday, one day after wrapping up his official visit. The 7-0 center from Butler Community College said in a recent interview with Auburn Undercover that the friendly vibes around campus played a major role in his decision to sign with the program. "I like the people and the environment. They're really friendly. When I got here, everyone was waving at me," Opurum said of his visit in an interview with Auburn Undercover. "It's a good place and I really think it's a good fit for me." Auburn needed to find athletes who could match the production of Dylan Cardwell and Johni Broome in the frontcourt, and Bruce Pearl felt that Opurum was a great match. He scored 9.4 points per game while shooting 67% from the field. His 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game were a factor in him winning the KJCCC Defensive Player of the Year award as a true freshman last season. Pearl believes that Opurum has the tools and the desire to develop into a great player over the next three seasons, which could elevate him to the success that several Auburn big men have experienced under Pearl's guidance. 'I am really proud of the track record we've had of developing big men in the line of Johni Broome, Dylan Cardwell, Walker Kessler and Austin Wiley,' Pearl said following Opurum's commitment. 'Emeka has great upside. He is a legit seven-footer. He has a great wingspan, great timing defensively, and has the ability to move his feet. Emeka has three years of eligibility and a great desire to work on his game and body. He is an outstanding student and athlete. We've had great success with guys with a Nigerian background in Chuma Okeke, Isaac Okoro, and Babatunde 'Stretch' Akingbola.' Opurum echoed Pearl's thoughts by saying that he can grow in Auburn's system, as well as his faith. "I really think Auburn is a place I can fit because my playing style. Having great coaches that have a good track record can help me develop as a person, both on the court and outside of the court," Opurum said. "They're also really into faith. I'm a firm believer in God. God comes first in everything. I had to pray and ask Him for help in my decisions and thinking. God always comes first for me." Opurum is the fourth transfer Auburn has inked this cycle, joining former Mississippi State forward KeShawn Murphy, former UCF forward Keyshawn Hall, and fellow JUCO product Abdul Bashir. Pearl and his staff will continue to search the transfer portal as they look to fill the void left behind by 55% of its Final Four roster. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page onFacebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter@TaylorJones__
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Auburn Receives Major Recruiting News After Losing Johni Broome
The Auburn Tigers have stood atop the SEC standings in the college basketball landscape for quite some time. Head coach Bruce Pearl continues to help Auburn compete for national titles and SEC titles, while having success in the recruiting realm. Advertisement On Wednesday, Auburn picked up a big-time commitment, helping replace the contributions of the team's leading rebounder and Naismith National Player of the Year finalist Johni Broome. Pearl and his staff received a commitment from Emeka Opurum, a 7-foot center who is coming off a successful season at the junior college level. Upon the release of the news, Opurum took to social media, sharing his excitement with fans. "I want to thank God for this opportunity and his direction this past year which helped me grow on and off the court," Opurum said. "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 was one of the more intriguing prospects out of the junior college level. Out of Butler Community College, Opurum was named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Defensive Player of the Year during his freshman season, per Jeff Rabjohns at 247Sports. Advertisement Last season, Opurum averaged 9.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Auburn Tigers guard Tahaad Pettiford and forward Johni Broome. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Opurum will help replace Auburn's leading rebounder Johni Broome, a menace inside the paint. As mentioned, Broome was the runner-up for the Naismith Player of the Year, losing the prestigious award to none other than Duke's Cooper Flagg. In his final season with the Auburn Tigers, Broome averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Broome is now headed to the 2025 NBA draft. Related: St. John's Coach Rick Pitino Dealt Unfortunate News After NCAA Tournament Related: Dawn Staley Makes Major Personal Announcement After NCAA Tournament
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
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. Advertisement "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__ This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn lands commitment from Emeka Opurum
USA Today
16-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn lands talented center from JUCO ranks
Auburn lands talented center from JUCO ranks Auburn adds size and depth to its front court with the addition of the Defensive Player of the Year from the KJCCC. 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__
