The Auburn basketball program got some good recruiting news this week with the announcement that former JUCO big man Emeka Opurum will be joining the squad for the next season.
The Tigers had a fantastic run all the way to the Final Four this past season, but did it with a team that was mostly made up of seniors. Auburn basketball will be losing their big men in Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell along with several other players, and Opurum is the exact kind of player needed to fill the gap in their absence.
Standing at seven feet tall, Opurum moved to the United States from Nigeria last year and began his collegiate career at Butler Community College in Kansas. He played there for one season, averaging 9.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks and ultimately earned Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Opurum visited the Plains earlier this week and chose the Tigers over several programs including St. John's, George Mason, Indiana, and Iowa. For the big man, the people surrounding the Auburn basketball program helped solidify his decision, but head coach Bruce Pearl's history with developing big men like Walker Kessler and Johni Broome was a big factor.
"It was a factor because I can see myself in those positions," Opurum said, per Auburn Undercover. "Obviously, I'm not the best of the best. I can see myself being there because of the type of coaches that have developed certain people. Obviously, I have to hit the weight room because I have to be ready. You have to be prepared. I just have to take it a step at a time."
Opurum is the latest player to commit to the Tigers following former Mississippi State forward/center KeyShawn Murphy and former UCF wing Keyshawn Hall.