Auburn Basketball: Tigers land elite transfer center Johni Broome

Do you remember how dominant the Auburn Basketball frontcourt was at times this past season with a five-star freshman and a transfer center?

Well, if you thought that dominance was coming to an end due to Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler moving on the NBA, think again. Yes, the Tigers will have a starting frontcourt in 2022-23 that features both a five-star freshman and a transfer center once again.

Morehead State transfer center Johni Broome commits to Auburn Basketball

Auburn already held the five-star freshman part of that duo in Yohan Traore, and have now landed the other half in Morehead State transfer center Johni Broome.

One of the top names to enter the transfer portal this offseason, Broome is coming off his second season at Morehead State where the 6-foot-10 center averaged 16.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, and 3.9 BPG (ranked third nationally). Named First Team All-OVC for the second consecutive season, Broome also received numerous accolades including the 2021-22 OVC Defensive Player of the Year.

Holding a career stat-line of 15.4 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 2.9 BPG across the last two seasons, Broome is a career 56.1% shooter who excels on both ends of the floor in the paint. While Broome won’t necessarily stretch the floor offensively like Kessler did for the Tigers this past season, he is just as good defensively blocking shots, as well as a slightly better free throw shooter at 62.8% for his career.

With the jump from the OVC to the SEC certainly a big one, there is always the chance that Broome may not put up the same noteworthy stats as he has in previous years, in particular offensively. However, the defensive impact from the 6-foot-10 center should translate, and the Tigers should not skip a beat inside defensively.

There is no denying that the addition of Broome was a significant one for Auburn Basketball. Looking ahead to the coming weeks as well, the Tigers may not be done adding quite yet either.