Auburn basketball roster reset: Outlook following JP Pegues commitment

AUBURN — With the addition of Furman point guard transfer JP Pegues, here’s the current outlook of Auburn basketball’s roster and what to expect moving forward.

Point guard

Pegues will be the anticipated starter heading into next season. Aden Holloway and Tre Donaldson have chosen to enter the transfer portal. There is no expectation that Holloway will change his mind, and while Donaldson might want to change his mind, it’s unlikely he would have a spot to return. It’s not impossible yet, so I don’t want to completely close the door until I’m told that door is for sure closed, but unlikely, per sources.

FYI: I’ve heard Wake Forest and Michigan early on with Holloway, but I’ve also heard they might have backed off some. I’ve also heard Alabama (yes, Alabama) with Holloway, but more so that Holloway is interested in them. I have no intel to suggest what Alabama’s interest might be. I do know our BamaOnline folks have also heard this, for what it’s worth. With Donaldson, I initially heard schools like Miami, Florida, Florida State and Georgia, but haven’t really dug that much or heard anything different since he entered.

With Pegues, where does Auburn go next? I would say be patient on the Tigers’ second addition at the point guard spot. Any elite or even really good portal point guard wants minutes. With Pegues on board, Auburn will essentially be recruiting a backup point guard. I think the Tigers will add a second point guard (assuming Donaldson indeed goes elsewhere), but it will likely be late in the process. Think a player that is happy to upgrade schools, has some options, but competing for playing time at Auburn is the best option. We’ll see how it shakes out, but that’s a logical progression. Think about someone like Chaney Johnson who came from Alabama-Huntsville and arrived at Auburn knowing he was likely to backup Jaylin Williams. His commitment happened in late April.

Power forward

With Johnson returning, Auburn will look to add another power forward, but again, like the potential second point guard addition, this may come later in the portal window time frame for similar reasons. Between Johnson and Johni Broome potentially playing some four (and I’m still working with optimism that Broome announces his return versus turning pro), the addition of another four man will be a backup type role. I haven’t heard many names here yet, only TCU transfer Jakobe Coles (and haven’t heard much about him in a week), but I’d imagine Auburn will turn their attention more towards this position moving forward.

Everywhere else

There really isn’t much drama past those two positions. Dylan Cardwell made his return official on Thursday afternoon. There’s optimism around Broome. Denver Jones, Chad Baker-Mazara, Chris Moore, Johnson and Addarin Scott will all return. Tahaad Pettiford and Jahki Howard are coming in, Pettiford playing behind Jones and Howard playing behind Baker-Mazara and Moore to start.

If you keep Broome on the roster until he says otherwise, Auburn is sitting at 10 scholarship players, hoping to add one more a the point guard and power forward positions.

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