It’s only July, but Auburn’s basketball season is already starting to take shape - and Jon Rothstein has put the Tigers on his preseason board.
Rothstein’s latest top 50 rankings slotted Auburn at No. 44, with the projected starting five listed as Tahaad Pettiford, Kevin Overton, Thomas Dowd, Owen Freeman and Bukky Oboye.
That placement comes after a major roster reset for Auburn following last year’s NIT run. Pettiford and Overton are the only major returners the Tigers have, whether in the starting group or off the bench, and Overton was the 2025 NIT MOP.
Even with all the turnover, Auburn appears to have rebuilt itself in a much stronger position than it was in last year’s offseason. The Tigers have added size, depth and more proven talent in the frontcourt, which should give this group a very different look.
Two names not included in Rothstein’s starting five stand out: Mantas Rubstavicius and Narcisse Ngoy. Both are international transfers, and both are expected to matter this season. Rubstavicius, a Lithuanian professional player, is a 6-foot-6 guard who could make a real impact in the SEC.
Ngoy gives Auburn something it didn’t have much of last season. The Tigers’ first international signing of the offseason, he comes from a French professional league and stands 7 feet tall. He joins Oboye as one of two seven-footers on the roster, a sharp contrast from the undersized big men Auburn used a year ago.
Auburn missed the NCAA Tournament in 2025, but if this roster clicks, the Tigers have the pieces to get back there and potentially do more than just sneak in.
In Other News...
Auburns New Backfield Has One Early Concern Fans Cant Ignore
Alex Golesh has made it clear from the start that Auburns offense is going to lean on tempo and the run game, and the early shape of that backfield is already drawing attention. The Tigers added Nykahi Davenport, Tae Meadows and Baylor transfer Bryson Washington to give the unit more depth around the returning pieces, a move that fits the way Golesh wants to play and gives Auburn more options behind center.
Washington is the name that stands out most because of what he has done before arriving on The Plains, but his transition has not been seamless. Golesh said the transfer has been making progress, yet there is still a question about how quickly he can fully handle the physical demands of this offense, a concern that matters in a system built to keep the pressure on defenses and keep the ground game moving. [Read more 🡒]
Johni Broomes NBA Shot Suddenly Looks Shakier As Auburn Heads Overseas
Johni Broomes path to an NBA roster spot has gotten a lot less certain as Philadelphia continues sorting through its frontcourt depth, and that matters in Auburn circles because Broome was one of the Tigers biggest names heading into pro ball. The 76ers have added more competition behind Joel Embiid, putting Broome in a crowded fight for a backup role at the exact moment the team is trying to make room for its newer pieces.
Meanwhile, Auburn is heading overseas for its preseason tune-up, with exhibition games set in Mykonos, Greece, against Serbian pro team KK Mega Basket. It is another reminder of how the program keeps using international trips to build chemistry and get an early look at the roster, even as one of its former stars waits to see whether his next stop will come in Philadelphia or somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Faces A Recruiting Showdown For An In-State Quarterback Target
Auburns quarterback board already has a familiar in-state name on it, and Sam Sollie has now put a date on his next step. The Gadsden City High School passer, a Class of 2028 prospect, said he will make a verbal commitment on Aug. 8 after spending the offseason visiting Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State and Tennessee.
For Auburn, the interest is easy to understand. Rivals views Sollie as a three-star quarterback and expects him to end up in the SEC, which makes every visit and every impression matter a little more in a race that has already drawn several major programs. The Tigers have also been especially active in his recruitment, hosting him more than any of the other finalists, and now the countdown is on as one of Alabamas better young quarterbacks gets ready to narrow the picture. [Read more 🡒]