Johni Broome returning to Auburn basketball after participating in NBA Draft process

AUBURN — Auburn basketball center Johni Broome has decided to return for another season of college basketball. Broome announced his decision via social media on Memorial Day.

“I’m back,” Broome told Auburn Live.

“I always wanted to play in the NBA. Hopefully, my goal is to get drafted and walk off the stage in the first round, early second. I felt like coming back to college, working on my body a little bit more.”

Broome talked to the Auburn coaching staff on Monday and officially gave them the good news.

“They were excited. We’re ready to get back to work,” Broome said. “I think we’re really capable. We added a bunch of really good pieces. We added people that want to win and have a chip on their shoulder.”

Following Broome’s performance at the G League Elite Camp and NBA Draft Combine in early May, Broome and his family began the process of considering all options. Broome and his family met with Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl on May 25, then returned home to make a final decision.

Sources close to Broome told Auburn Live that there were discussions around two-way contracts with multiple teams following the draft combine. Two-way contracts aren’t guaranteed, but are enticing because it opens the door to join a NBA team without being drafted. For context, two-way contracts range anywhere from around $80,000 to $450,000 on average.

“It was amazing,” Broome said of his week in Chicago. “I can play with those guys night in and night out. I can prove myself. It added more confidence in my game.”

Broome averaged over 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game last season at Auburn after transferring from Morehead State. He earned All-SEC second-team honors in the process.

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Broome entered his name into the NBA Draft in April. He competed in the G League Elite Camp in Chicago, Ill. in May. In his first game, Broome finished with 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting, adding four rebounds. In his second game, Broome finished with 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting, adding eight rebounds. Those two performances were good enough to earn Broome an invite to the NBA Draft Combine. He was one of only eight players to earn an elevation invite from the G League camp to the draft combine.

Broome scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in his first game during the draft combine, while meeting with teams and receiving feedback regarding his potential draft status.

“Johni helped himself and clearly does the things he does,” Pearl said following Broome’s elevation to the draft combine. “He’s able to score, he played physical, has a high basketball IQ.”

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Broome’s return to Auburn basketball helps solidify a rebuilt roster heading into the 2023-24 season.

Bruce Pearl and Co. have added transfers Denver Jones and Chaney Johnson, plus JUCO transfer Chad Baker-Mazara. The trio of transfers will join McDonald’s All-American freshman guard Aden Holloway in making up the Tigers’ newcomers. Meanwhile, Wendell Green Jr., Allen Flanigan, Yohan Traore, Chance Westry and Stretch Akingbola have left the program.

Broome’s return, along with the assumed return of Jaylin Williams, and Lior Berman’s likely addition to the scholarship total give the Tigers 11 scholarship players, with two spots remaining to fill. Auburn Live talked about what might happen with those final two Auburn basketball scholarship spots in a recent insider on May 18.

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