During a conversation on former Furman point player JP Pegues’ dedication to the Auburn basketball program through the transfer portal, Justin Hokanson of On3 had some fantastic news for Tiger supporters: For his third and last season back on the Plains, Johni Broome is “trending (in) the right direction.”

“Pegues will be expected to start right away,” Hokanson began by stating, “There’s a high likelihood he will be the only new starter next season, joining Jones, Chad Baker-Mazara, Chaney Johnson or Johni Broome (trending the right direction), and Dylan Cardwell as the starters.”

Interestingly enough, Hokanson projects Broome to be a starter at the 4 next to Dylan Cardwell, who announced his return for a fifth season at Auburn but hasn’t yet started during his collegiate career. Being that Chaney Johnson started while Jaylin Williams was out down the stretch of the 2024-25 season, it seems plausible that Broome would be a starter at the 5 again if he returns.

Though perhaps Cardwell was promised a starting spot if he was to return to the team this coming Fall. In the NIL era, there’s more that goes into these decisions than before.

Auburn basketball has needs at power forward and point guard

The return of Pegues takes the place of one of the two point guards who left the team after the 2023–24 campaign. The program’s depth was harmed by the loss of Tre Donaldson and 5-star high school prospect Aden Holloway, who was reduced to a 4-star as a transfer, but Pegues does a great job of stepping in for both. But since one man cannot walk the complete distance, Bruce Pearl’s greatest need at the moment is probably another PG through the portal.

That is, assuming the squad needs a big man and Broome is unable to make a comeback. On the depth chart, the power forward position is already a little weak. Chris Moore may get time at the four if necessary, but the loss of Broome makes things worse.