Auburn Just Stayed Alive For A Guard Recruit Fans Wanted Badly

As Auburn battles football dominance, their basketball program pins hopes on securing four-star point guard Kevin Savage, who narrows his choices to the Tigers and five other top schools.

Auburn’s basketball staff is still grinding on the recruiting trail, and a major name in the 2027 class just trimmed his list with the Tigers still in the mix.

Kevin Savage, a four-star point guard, announced Thursday that he is down to six schools and will make his commitment on July 5. Auburn made the cut alongside Purdue, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Florida State and UCLA.

Savage, a blue-chip prospect, is rated as the No. 9 point guard in the 2027 class and the No. 6 player in Georgia. He plays for Wheeler in Marietta, and that program finished the 2025 season ranked No. 1 in the state.

The 5-11 guard has taken official visits to Purdue and Cincinnati, while Auburn has been involved in his recruitment since 2023.

For Auburn, the timing makes sense. The Tigers currently lean on Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton to drive the offense, but both are nearing the end of their college timelines.

Depending on how the NCAA’s new eligibility ruling is applied, Overton is either in his final season or his second-to-last one, while Pettiford is in his second-to-last year of eligibility. Either player could also leave for the NBA before that clock runs out.

That leaves Auburn already looking ahead, and Savage would give the Tigers a potential long-term answer in the backcourt if they can win out. He’s the kind of guard who fits the need, but Auburn will have to beat out five other programs that are clearly serious about him.

The Tigers may be in strong shape for the next couple of seasons thanks to Pettiford and a strong haul from the transfer portal and overseas this year, but the program’s staff can’t afford to slow down. If Auburn wants to get back to 2024 form and avoid another 2025-like disappointment, the recruiting work has to keep rolling.

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