What goes up must come down in the end, and Auburn basketball had been on the up-and-up for a while after head coach Bruce Pearl racked up four transfers from the portal in the wake of losing so many players from last season. However, today four-star signee Trey Alexander announced today that he will re-open his recruitment and de-commit from Auburn basketball’s class of 2021.
Alexander originally signed with the Tigers in November of 2020, but he is apparently reconsidering after the slew of transfers joining the 2021 roster. Despite the depth of Auburn’s guards without Alexander, no one is taking it lightly that the No. 1 player in the state of Oklahoma is no longer tied to the Tigers.
Without Alexander, Bruce Pearl will still have Wendell Green Jr., Desi Sills, Zep Jasper, Devan Cambridge, Allen Flanigan, and Chris Moore. The recent addition of former Arkansas Razorback Desi Sills to the program most likely had something to do with Alexander’s decision to re-open his recruitment.
On the upside, losing Alexander means that one more scholarship spot will open up for Bruce Pearl, which could mean the return of J.T. Thor and the reclassification of Scoot Henderson. Alexander was previously considering Georgia, Arkansas, and Ole Miss around the SEC, and it may be interesting to see if he ends up replacing Desi Sills on the Razorbacks’ roster.
He could also be considering staying in-state and playing for Oklahoma State or Oklahoma, both of which were after him prior to his Auburn commitment.
Jabari Smith, the highest-rated recruit in Auburn basketball, remains the sole signee of the 2021 class, and he’ll join transfers Walker Kessler, Zep Jasper, Desi Sills, and Wendell Green Jr. on the Plains next year. Despite the loss of Alexander, Auburn basketball should still be a major contender come next season.