Auburn basketball: Projecting Bruce Pearl’s 2021-22 Starting 5
Auburn basketball starting point guard: Wendell Green Jr.
While Eastern Kentucky fell short in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament this past March–one that was won by eventual play-in game loser Morehead State–Wendell Green Jr. was not and will not be the scapegoat.
He was electric in the Colonels’ season finale, scoring 29 points, dishing out four assists and collecting three rebounds.
For the year, he collected 15.8 points, five assists, and 3.8 rebounds. While he is no Sharife Cooper, the tradeoff for less big plays is also less turnovers.
Auburn basketball starting shooting guard: Desi Sills
Desi Sills was one of the cogs in the Arkansas Razorbacks machine that fell short in the Elite Eight to Baylor but also ended Oral Roberts’ Cinderella Run.
Sills was no star on the Hogs, often deferring to NBA hopeful Moses Moody, but his ability to create havoc defensively and run the floor in transition make him a solid addition to a starting five that lost its way at the 2 after Justin Powell went down in 2021.
Auburn basketball starting small forward: Allen Flanigan
Allen Flanigan’s return makes him one of the more tenured upperclassmen on the Tigers. His 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and three assists gave him one of the more balanced stat lines, but his efficiency didn’t scream “NBA-ready”.
2021-22 could be his time to establish that he is, and that he could be an Isaac Okoro-esque prospect, even if his ceiling is a bit lower than the 2020 #5 pick.
Auburn basketball starting power forward: Jabari Smith
Jabari Smith is perhaps the most exciting big man prospect Auburn has had since Charles Barkley himself.
As one of the crown jewels in Pearl’s recruiting takeover of the Peach State, the Tyrone, GA native could be the featured option as soon as year one.
Auburn basketball starting center: Walker Kessler
UNC underperformed in 2020-21, and perhaps Walker Kessler has a case that he should have been unleashed off the pine sooner.
The 5-star from (you guessed it) Georgia comes to the Plains ready to play as the team’s new starting center with Thor departing for the NBA…and even if he returns.