Last season, Auburn fans watched Johni Broome dominate the paint and the stat sheet, averaging 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and shooting a clean 51% from the field. It was the kind of season that cements a player’s legacy - and it helped push Auburn to just its second Final Four appearance in program history. But despite the numbers and the run, Broome came up short in the postseason awards race, edged out by Duke’s Cooper Flagg.
Fast-forward to this season, and Auburn might have another star with National Player of the Year potential - and this one’s already making waves. Enter Keyshawn Hall.
Hall, a transfer with a unique blend of size, strength, and guard-like scoring ability, has quickly become the engine of Auburn’s offense - and more. He’s leading the team in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage, averaging 20.9 points, 8.8 boards, and shooting 47% from the floor. That’s not just good - that’s top-tier production in the SEC, a conference known for its physicality and depth.
He’s currently the only player in the conference to rank in the top five in both scoring (2nd) and rebounding (4th). That kind of two-way dominance is rare, especially for a player who can guard every position and score from just about anywhere on the floor.
And yet, despite those numbers and Auburn’s strength of schedule, Hall’s name hasn’t cracked the top tier of National Player of the Year chatter - at least not yet.
The current frontrunners, according to CBS insider Jon Rothstein, include names like Cam Boozer (Duke), Braden Smith (Purdue), Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), and AJ Dybantsa (BYU), among others. It’s a stacked list, no doubt. But you have to wonder: if Hall keeps this up, especially once SEC play kicks into gear, how long can voters ignore what he’s doing on both ends of the floor?
For his part, Hall isn’t focused on the accolades. He’s focused on winning - and getting back to the Final Four.
“Auburn fans, they obviously know I’m going to score the ball. That’s something they’re going to see,” Hall said during SEC Media Days. “I want to show them I’m a winner, and I’m willing to win at any cost and get back to the Final Four.”
That mindset shows in his approach to the game. After Auburn’s Holiday Hoopsgiving win over Chattanooga, Hall emphasized that rebounding - not scoring - is what gets him going.
“My biggest thing every game, I know it looks like points, but I always try to crash for rebounds. That gets me going.
I always try to get 10 rebounds every game. If I can do that, it elevates my game,” Hall said.
It’s that kind of effort and mentality that’s earned him the “unicorn” label - a term that gets thrown around a lot these days, but in Hall’s case, it fits. Former Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl was the first to publicly tag him with it this season, tweeting, “He’s different!
Got some Unicorn!” back in early November.
Current head coach Steven Pearl doubled down on the praise, calling Hall “the most accountable guy you can have offensively.” That’s high praise from a staff that’s seen its share of elite talent come through the program.
Now, Hall has another big test on deck - and it’s a chance to make a statement on a national stage. Auburn is set to face No.
6 Purdue in the Indy Classic, and it’s more than just a high-profile non-conference matchup. It’s also a head-to-head opportunity for Hall to go up against Braden Smith - one of those aforementioned National Player of the Year candidates.
Auburn is 2-3 against ranked opponents this season, but this game offers more than just a resume boost. It’s a chance for Hall to show - in real time, against elite competition - that he belongs in the conversation for college basketball’s top individual honor.
Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m., following Northwestern vs. Butler, and the game will stream live on Peacock.
Hall’s numbers are loud. His game speaks for itself. But if he can lead Auburn to another marquee win and keep putting up this kind of production, the whispers around his National Player of the Year candidacy might start turning into something a lot louder.