Auburn star was considered for second-round NBA draft pick: Report

Auburn basketball star Johni Broome was considered as a second-round pick of the 2023 NBA draft at one point in the draft process — with Auburn Undercover’s Nathan King revealing that the big man’s parents told him before he returned to the Plains that the Los Angeles Lakers were considering him with a second-round pick.

“Broome’s parents told Auburn Undercover that the day before his Memorial Day decision to ultimately return to Auburn, the Lakers called and asked him to come work out, and said they were considering using their second-round pick (No. 47 overall) on him,” King wrote.

Broome, like Dylan Cardwell and Jaylin Williams, spurned an attempt at making an NBA roster, likely through the Summer League/G-League route, to return to the Tigers. Wendell Green Jr., on the other hand, is attempting to make the Association.

Auburn basketball freshman projected to be a two-year player before going pro

Incoming Auburn basketball recruit Aden Holloway was projected by King to be a two-year player for Bruce Pearl before attempting to go pro during the 2025 NBA draft cycle.

“A proficient outside shooter and crafty facilitator, Holloway could be more of a two-year player for Auburn — one who continues to get stronger and develop his game at the college level — rather than a one-and-done, and that’s reflected in his NBA draft projections, which favor him as a 2025 selection much more than a 2024 pick,” King wrote.

Holloway comes to Auburn with increased ball-handling opportunities in the wake of Green and Chance Westry’s departures. It’s possible that the Prolific Prep product breaks out under Pearl like the offensively-inclined undersized guards before him and catches the attention of NBA scouts ahead of that timeline.

If King is right, and Holloway does stick around for a second season, though, AU will have two 5-star point guards in 2024-25 with Tahaad Pettiford joining the fray on the Plains via the 2024 class.