HOOP SCOOPS: 5 transfers to track for Auburn basketball fans

Auburn will be doing some heavy lifting in the transfer portal this offseason.

The Tigers already have lost Zep Jasper to graduation and both Chance Westry and Yohan Traore to the portal. So, there are and likely will be more holes to fill before the 2023-24 season tips off.

As Auburn Live’s Justin Hokanson wrote on The Corner, there are three open scholarships as things stand today. Could there be more openings? Absolutely. K.D. Johnson and Allen Flanigan both are considering leaving. That would make five. However, we’ll cross that bridge if/when we get there.

As of now, there are three and Auburn likely fills all of them with transfers.

Who are some of the top transfer targets to track? Here are five that Tigers fans need to follow.

5 transfers worth tracking for Auburn fans

G DENVER JONES, Florida International

Jones, from New Market, Ala., averaged 20.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists for FIU. He’s a scorer, which Auburn desperately needs. He can shoot. Jones shot 47% from the field and 37% from 3-point range. Auburn’s Bruce Pearl has been at the forefront of Jones’ recruitment. Jones is set to visit Auburn the weekend of April 7-9. The Tigers football team has its A-Day Game on April 8. Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State also are involved. Jones has two years of eligibility remaining.

G QUINCY OLIVARI, Rice

Olivari, from Atlanta, Ga., averaged 18.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in the 2022-23 season. He shot 41% from the field and 36% from behind the 3-point line. Like with Jones, Pearl has been spearheading this recruitment. Pearl reportedly met in-person with Olivari on Tuesday. Olivari has one year of eligibility remaining.

G T.J. BAMBA, Washington State

Bamba, from Bronx, N.Y., averaged 15.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in ’22-23. He shot 43% from the field and 37% from 3-point range. Bamba has entered his name into the NBA draft while also maintaining his college eligibility. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

G DAMIAN DUNN, Temple

Dunn, who is from Kinston, N.C. but played high school ball at Meadowcreek in Pebblebrook, Ga., averaged 15.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3 assists this past season. Dunn is a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining. He, too, likely will visit Auburn soon. Keep an eye on the weekend of April 7-9. Jones is set to visit that weekend. Dunn could, too.

G KARIO OQUENDO, Georgia

Oquendo, from Titusville, Fla., averaged 12.7 points and 2.6 rebounds this past season. He shot 39% from the field and 27% from the 3-point line. He led Georgia in scoring in the ’21-22 season with 15 points per game. In addition to the transfer portal, Oquendo also has entered the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. He would have to be a graduate transfer in order to be immediately eligible at Auburn.

The post HOOP SCOOPS: 5 transfers to track for Auburn basketball fans appeared first on On3.