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Auburn basketball: BB has Tigers as Johni Broome favorite, best fit

By Andrew Hughes

Busting Brackets called Auburn basketball the favorite to land Johni Broome. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Busting Brackets called Auburn basketball the favorite to land Johni Broome. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /
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Let’s hope Busting Brackets is correct about their latest Johni Broome prediction, projecting the Moorehead State transfer to Auburn basketball.

BB’s Tristan Freeman sees Broome as the best fit for the Tigers after Walker Kessler’s NBA Draft declaration. As of now, there is no true heir apparent to the big blocking giant from Atlanta, Georgia. Yohan Traore’s game is more similar to that of Jabari Smith, who was able to collect blocks but is not the rim-protecting defensive general Kessler was.

As Freeman points out, Broome played well against the Auburn basketball frontcourt during the team’s home opener at the (then-named) Auburn Arena back in November. 12 points and eight boards against Kessler, Dylan Cardwell, Jabari Smith, and Jaylin Williams is impressive no matter how you slice it.

Freeman believes Broome could actually be an upgrade offensively at the pivot spot, and would offer minimal defensive slippage:

"The Tigers recently landed five-star power forward prospect Yohan Traore for the roster but still needs to add a center. Broome would be a perfect replacement for Kessler and the defense would stay the same, while the offense could potentially take a jump at the five-spot. And while Auburn does bring back some good guards, the offense for them won’t be as guard-heavy as Houston. Plus, playing in the SEC would be a bigger platform than the AAC and be good for his NBA Draft.He showed he can produced against one of the best SEC teams this past season and if he picks the Tigers, can show that he can do it on a regular basis. I think that Houston and Auburn makes the most sense if Oscar Tshiebwe comes back to Kentucky and the Tigers, in my eyes, get a slight edge in terms of best potential fit."

What does this mean for Auburn basketball junior Jaylin Williams?

Bruce Pearl said he’d be building the 2021-22 Auburn Tigers around Jaylin Williams. That was before Yohan Traore’s commitment, though. Broome’s addition only further complicates that statement.

How Williams responds to these new additions will be an interesting storyline to watch this offseason.

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