Auburn Basketball: 4-star PG Nolan Hickman has Tigers in final three

Could the loss of Tony Barbee from Kentucky to Central Michigan actually have helped Auburn basketball’s recruitment of former Wildcat commit Nolan Hickman?

Absolutely.

Funny how fate would have it now with non-fan-favorite Barbee helping the team whose fanbase has sharply turned on him. Auburn now has a chance to land another point guard replacement for facilitator Sharife Cooper, an expected NBA first-round draft pick.

Expected starting point guard replacement Wendell Green Jr., a transfer from Eastern Kentucky, did drop five dimes last season for the Colonels, but at 5-foot-11, could be undersized in a physical SEC compared to the Ohio Valley Conference.

Hickman brings more natural Power 5 size at six-foot-two and provides dynamite scoring, though he is not the facilitator Green Jr. has proven to be at the Division I level. He recorded just three assists in his senior season at Mt. Pleasant in Utah.

Auburn basketball has been named in Hickman’s top three options along with March Madness runner-ups Gonzaga and Kansas, per John Rothstein:

Gonzaga already has two 5-star recruits in Chet Holmgren and Hunter Sallis fortifying the roster after the departures of potential NBA Draft lottery picks Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs committed in 2021 as well as 4-star big Kaden Perry.

Kansas’ Kurtis Townsend has been in contact with Hickman on behalf of the Jayhawks, per 247Sports.com’s player profile. KU is adding four 4-star recruits as well as a 3-star to the class of 2021.

Hickman is currently projected to land with Gonzaga according to SEC insider and friend of Fly War Eagle Jake “Jboy” Crain.

Perhaps the recently vacated scholarship slot of Auburn basketball de-commit Trey Alexander could be used on Hickman if he changes his mind.