The 2025-2026 season has quickly become the focus for Auburn men’s basketball after losing to Florida in the Final Four Saturday night.

Auburn will have somewhat of a rebuild on its hands, losing a number of key players due to exhausted eligibility. The Tigers have a few players that could return as well, but nothing is guaranteed.

Here’s a look at who can stay, who is departing and which players will have the biggest decisions to make:

Departing

• Johni Broome, F/C
• Dylan Cardwell, C
• Miles Kelly, SG/SF
• Denver Jones, PG
• *Chaney Johnson, PF
• Chris Moore, SF
• Ja’Heim Hudson, PF
• JP Pegues, PG

The star next to Johnson’s name is due to his time spent at the Division II level. There hasn’t been an NCAA ruling that would give former Division II seniors an extra year like with former JUCO players, but there is precedent for a former Division II athlete to gain an extra year of eligibility.

Wisconsin football player Nyzier Fourqurean filed a lawsuit against the NCAA to give him an extra year of eligibility due to him starting his career at Division II Grand Valley State. Fourqurean was granted a preliminary injunction, allowing him to play for Wisconsin this season.

When Johnson was asked what was next for him following Auburn’s loss to Florida, he said he didn’t know.

Jones was another name to watch as a potential returner, having played a year at the JUCO level. However, the NCAA’s most recent guidance deemed athletes who spent their JUCO season during the 2020-2021 ineligible for the blanket waiver. That decision was due to those players getting that year of eligibility back due to COVID-19.

Could return

• Chad Baker-Mazara, SF
• Tahaad Pettiford, PG
• Jahki Howard, SF
• Addarin Scott, PF

The two biggest names to watch here are Baker-Mazara and Pettiford, who each played a significant role for Auburn this season.

Baker-Mazara will have another year of eligibility due to the JUCO ruling, should he choose to use it. He was asked about a potential return following Auburn’s loss to Florida, but declined to answer the question.

“Man, come on. The game just ended,” Baker-Mazara said.

Eligibility isn’t an issue for Pettiford, who just finished up his freshman season. However, his position on NBA Draft boards has fluctuated throughout the season, meaning he could have a decision to make between going pro or staying in college.

He was also asked if he was going to be playing for Auburn next season, but was noncommittal in his answer.

“Obviously I don’t know yet,” Pettiford said. ”Just lost, so I’m just gonna figure it out after this.”

Howard had a smaller role than Baker-Mazara and Pettiford this season, but came to Auburn prior to this season as a highly touted freshman. The NBA Draft is unlikely for Howard following his freshman season, but a transfer away from Auburn can’t be ruled out.

The Tigers have already added JUCO transfer Abdul Bashir and UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall at Howard’s position, and a potential return by Baker-Mazara would create another obstacle between Howard and more playing time.

Scott redshirted this season after transferring to Auburn from the JUCO ranks prior to the 2023-2024 campaign. Auburn is currently thin in the frontcourt, especially if Johnson can’t return, but that wouldn’t mean a role for Scott is guaranteed.

Currently, the only frontcourt players Auburn has coming in are incoming freshman Sebastian Williams-Adams and Hall, who can play either as a guard or power forward at 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m