Auburn basketball: Former Kentucky commit high on Tigers

Although Auburn basketball’s roster is pretty stacked for the 2021-22 season, the de-commitment of four-star signee Trey Alexander makes room for another signee for Bruce Pearl.

What was once the second-most highly ranked commit for the Kentucky Wildcats’ recruiting class of 2021 is now a top recruit looking for a new home. Ranked the No. 4 recruit in the class of 2021 and the No. 1 recruit out of the state of Utah, Nolan Hickman backed out of playing for John Calipari’s Wildcats next season, and re-opened his recruitment at the end of April.

According to Rivals Basketball Recruiting, Hickman seems most high on Auburn and UCLA ahead of his announcement, which he says will be happening soon after the Iverson Classic event. Along with Auburn and UCLA, the four-star point guard has also heard from Arizona State, Gonzaga, and Washington.

"“It’s going to happen right after this event,” Hickman said. “As soon as I get back to the crib, I am going to talk with my family, pray about it and then come out with my commitment right away.”"

Rivals also reported that Hickman was one of the top performers in Day 1 of the event, impressing NBA scouts in the crowd:

"He managed to stand out of a pack that featured a handful of highly ranked prospects by creating the dribble, dropping effective pocket passes, playing tenacious defense on the perimeter, where he blocked a pair of shots."

While Auburn basketball waits to hear whether J.T. Thor will be returning to the Plains or putting his name in for the NBA Draft, there are two scholarship spots available on the roster. The team will look very different in the coming season after so many players leaving and transferring to Bruce Pearl’s team.

Though it was widely considered certain that Hickman would be heading to Gonzaga, the point guard’s future seems uncertain. We think he could find his home on the Plains.