Latest news with #SECPlayeroftheYear
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.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Longhorns women's basketball earns unique honor to represent USA this summer
Longhorns women's basketball earns unique honor to represent USA this summer In August, the USA GLOBAL JAM showcase will return, and Longhorns fans will have a special reason to tune in this year. The Longhorns women's basketball team has been selected to represent the USA during the showcase, which will be held in Toronto from the 13th-17th. GLOBAL JAM is an international basketball showcase that features men's and women's Under-23 teams from around the globe. Following another impressive regular season, Texas will get to shine on the global stage. Over the last few years, the Longhorns have been one of the best teams in the nation, making them an ideal choice. "The University of Texas brings strong traditions of basketball excellence," said Michael Bartlett, Canada Basketball President and CEO. "As the 24-25 SEC co-champions and their advancement to the Final Four, we're proud to welcome this storied program and their fans to GLOBL JAM this August." During the 2024-2025 campaign, Texas won 35 games, setting a program record for wins in the NCAA Era. They also made history by advancing to the Final Four for the first time in 22 years. Their roster included Madison Booker, the SEC Player of the Year. She also got help from Rori Harmon who earned WBCA All-America honorable mention honors. As the Longhorns look to build on their success, they will get to participate in a showcase they will never forget. They will still have Booker and Harmon leading the way against the best talent in the world. While their focus is on winning a national championship, starting the season, playing in the GLOBAL JAM is something many fans and players have circled on their calendars.
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
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USA TODAY Sports Network 2025 All-SEC baseball team, individual honors
As the college baseball regular season closes, it's clear the SEC is still the conference that wears the crown. Ahead of this week's SEC tournament, 11 of the conference's 16 members are nationally ranked, and 13 teams are projected to make the NCAA tournament. Many of those programs, such as Arkansas and LSU, remained near the top of the SEC through much of the season, but it was newcomer Texas that won the conference title. Advertisement Each of them are represented in the USA TODAY Sports Network's 2025 All-SEC team, which was voted on by a panel of nine writers who cover the league. Arkansas' Wehiwa Aloy won SEC Player of the Year, leading the league's best offense in batting average (.358), slugging (.677), hits (82), runs scored (72) and home runs. (18) Jim Schlossnagle, who took over at Texas after leading Texas A&M to last year's Men's College World Series championship, won SEC Coach of the Year. Tennessee's Liam Doyle, who was top two in the SEC in ERA, opponent batting average and strikeouts, won SEC Pitcher of the Year. Texas' Dylan Volantis and Georgia's Robbie Burnett were named SEC Freshman and Newcomer of the Year, respectively. Doyle was one of just two unanimous selections to the All-SEC team, along with Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese. Auburn, Tennessee and Texas were the lone SEC programs with multiple All-SEC players. USA TODAY Sports Network's 2025 SEC individual honors Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle stands in the dugout ahead of the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, April 25, 2025. SEC Player of the Year: Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas SEC Coach of the Year: Jim Schlossnagle, Texas SEC Pitcher of the Year: Liam Doyle, Tennessee SEC Freshman of the Year: Dylan Volantis, Texas SEC Newcomer of the Year: Robbie Burnett, Georgia USA TODAY Sports Network's 2025 All-SEC baseball team Tennessee's Liam Doyle (12) points to Tennessee's Hunter Ensley (9) after Ensley made a home run-robbing catch at the wall during a college baseball game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 9, 2025. Catcher: Rylan Galvan, Texas First base: Andrew Fischer, Tennessee Second base: Chris Rembert, Auburn Shortstop: Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas Third base: Ace Reese, Mississippi State* Outfield: Ike Irish, Auburn; Robbie Burnett, Georgia; Kade Snell, Alabama DH/Utility: Ryland Zaborowski, Georgia Starting pitcher: Liam Doyle, Tennessee*; Kade Anderson, LSU; Kyson Witherspoon, Oklahoma Relief pitcher: Dylan Volantis, Texas Advertisement *Unanimous selection The 2025 All-SEC baseball team was selected by a panel of nine writers who cover the league for the USA TODAY Network: Adam Cole (Montgomery Advertiser), Aria Gerson (The Tennessean), Corey Diaz (The Daily Advertiser), Gentry Estes (The Tennessean), Jackson Fuller (Southwest Times Record), Marc Weiszer (Athens Banner-Herald), Mike Wilson (Knoxville News Sentinel), Sam Hutches (The Clarion-Ledger), and Sam Sklar (The Clarion-Ledger). Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@ or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: USA TODAY Sports Network 2025 All-SEC baseball awards
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NBA draft: 5 players who make sense for the Sixers in Round 2
2025 NBA draft: 5 players who make sense for the Sixers in Round 2 The key pick for the Philadelphia 76ers will be the No. 3 pick they were able to earn in the lottery, but they do have another pick in the 2025 NBA draft and it is the No. 35 overall pick in the second round. Second round draft picks are not the most glamorous. They are not going to wow anybody when they are selected, but second round picks are important nonetheless. For example, the Sixers were able to hit on Adem Bona with the No. 41 pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Assuming the Sixers don't trade this pick, there are options for them at No. 35. Here are five players who make sense in Round 2 of the draft: Cedric Coward, Washington State 2024-25 stats: 17.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.7 bpg, 55.7% FG, 40% 3FG After two seasons at Eastern Washington, Coward transferred over to Washington State and gave some good production during his one season with the Cougars. He's a high IQ player who can move well without the basketball and knock down shots coming off pindowns and off movement while also being able to put the ball on the floor and create for others as well. He is also an underrated defender and the Sixers could always use another 3-and-D option. Johni Broome, Auburn 2024-25 stats: 18.6 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.1 bpg, 51% FG, 27.8% 3FG The 2025 SEC Player of the Year, Broome will turn a lot of teams off with his age--he'll turn 23 in July. That limits his upside at the next level, but he is a bruiser who has a soft touch around the basket while being a ferocious rebounder. He's also an underrated passer and somebody who can protect the rim as well. If Philadelphia is looking to add more depth at the big man spot, Broome does make sense. It will be interesting to see how he projects at the next level when considering he is 6-foot-10 and not much of a shooter. Chaz Lanier, Tennessee 2024-25 stats: 18.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.9 spg, 43.1% FG, 39.5% 3FG Speaking of shooting, Lanier brings that at a high level. After four seasons at North Florida, Lanier transferred to Tennessee for a fifth season of college and shot the lights out. He took 8.2 triples per game and knocked then down at a nearly 40% clip in the toughest conference in college basketball. Like Broome, his age will turn a lot of teams off. He will turn 24 in December, but he might be worth a look as a specialist with a second-round pick. Labaron Philon, Alabama 2024-25 stats: 10.6 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.3 rpg, 1.4 spg, 45.2% FG, 31.5% 3FG Philon is a pure playmaker. His freshman season with the Crimson Tide highlighted his ability to be unselfish and make the right plays with his passing ability and he also showed off an ability to drive and put the ball on the floor when the time called for it. He is going to be a solid and productive player at the next level whenever his name is called and if it's the Sixers, they'd be getting an NBA ready ball-handler. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton 2024-25 stats: 19.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.7 bpg, 65.3% FG, 34.4% 3FG A 5-year player in college, Kalkbrenner stands at 7-feet tall so if the Sixers are thinking size, then he's their man. He is skilled around the basket, can step out and knock down a shot--which helps when he can just shoot over anybody--and has some good passing skills. There is a chance he sneaks into the first round as a late pick, but there is also a good chance he is there at No. 35 for Philadelphia.
