Next season’s Auburn men’s basketball will look significantly different from the team that lost to Houston in the second round of the 2023 NCAA tournament.

K.D. Johnson, Tre Donaldson, and Chris Moore are the only players from last year’s roster scheduled to return. Zep Jasper is out of eligibility and Allen Flanigan entered his name in the transfer portal two days following graduation.

Wes Flanigan left the program as an assistant coach for Chris Beard’s staff at Ole Miss. Corey Williams got hired to replace the elder Flanigan. It remains to be seen if the father and son will have an Oxford reunion or if Allen bolts for the NBA.

Chance Westry transferred to Syracuse, and Johan Traore is going to UC Santa Barbara, leaving Donaldson as the sole remaining athlete from the 2022 recruiting class. Babatunde Akingbola entered the portal as a grad transfer and hasn’t gotten picked up by another program yet.

Johni Broome, Wendell Green Jr., Dylan Cardwell, and Jaylin Williams entered their names in the 2023 NBA Draft with a May 31 deadline to either stay in the draft or return to college. Auburn’s athletic website lists Broome, Cardwell, and Williams on the roster. Green isn’t on the website for next season’s roster. We’ll find out in the coming weeks if either of the four will return to Auburn for the new season.

“It forces us to have to continue really hard in the months of April and May to not only work with your players and help them finish up their spring conditioning and basketball and academics, and figure out what they’re trying to do, as well as then recruit to replace guys you didn’t think you were going to have to replace — and didn’t want to replace,” Pearl said. “The transfer thing swings both ways, so Auburn is an incredibly special place, and we’ve worked really hard to establish ourselves as a competitive basketball program. And so, we’re just going to bring in really good guys that we think can help us continue to be competitive. It just forces us to work a little differently.”

Chaney Johnson transferred to Auburn from Alabama-Huntsville, and Denver Jones comes from Florida International. Now that the changes have been addressed, let’s break down what Auburn’s roster could look like when the season starts.

Center

It’d be wrong to root against Broome getting drafted by an NBA team. However, if the all-SEC second-team big man leaves, there will be a severe lack of talent at the five. Cardwell would be the only scholarship center on the roster. Even if Broome stays, the Tigers will probably want to find another center for depth. If Broome leaves, it’s almost certain.

Power Forward

The power forward spot will heavily lean on if Williams comes back for another season. Chaney Johnson could be a viable option at power forward if Williams leaves. Pearl hit the portal for another power forward, considering the Tigers rebounding woes last season.

Small Forward

Flanigan departure leaves a hole at small forward. Moore has starting experience, and Lior Berman played some valuable minutes last season. Here’s another area where the Tigers seek improvement via the portal. Pearl said Chaney Johnson could play both forward positions, so he might be a viable option.

Shooting Guard

K.D. Johnson grew into a role as sixth-man last season. He and Denver Jones could complement each other, with either player being capable of starting or providing instant offense off the bench.

Point Guard

With Jasper leaving and all-SEC second team point guard Green seemingly gone, there’s room for Donaldson to become the starter. Donaldson will compete with incoming freshmen Aden Holloway to be the starting point guard.