Bruce Pearl never closed the door on it. The Auburn staff put in a significant effort and likely financial contribution to ensure it. It all worked. Johni Broome is coming back. It’s the most important, massive news Auburn basketball could get this offseason.

Auburn will bring back its best player. Broome looked at the NBA Draft, and decided to return to Auburn one more time. He’s previously tested the NBA Draft in prior offseasons. Especially coming into the 2023-24 season, it seemed like this was it in college.

And Broome played like he was ready to take the next step. It was his best statistical college season. He led Auburn in scoring with 16.5 points per game and raised his assist and 3-point shooting numbers significantly. He did that averaging fewer than 25 minutes per game.

It led to a first team All SEC and third team All American season.

Broome was one of the best big men in the country. And he’ll play one final year.

Money was assuredly a huge part of this decision. Despite his improvements away from the basket, Broome is not a lock to be selected in the NBA Draft, according to several notable NBA Draft writers. ESPN’s most recent mock draft does not have Broome being selected.

So it leaves a question of whether college could be more lucrative for Broome than a fringe NBA contract or going overseas. Pearl understood that.

“You’ve gotta weigh what the NIL could be versus what being on a two-way contract or a second round or Europe or things like that,” Pearl said in March. “I think that’s something his family is in the process of doing.”

Whatever NIL money Broome is receiving is enough to keep him in Auburn for his final year of eligibility. Broome took part in Auburn’s Senior Day proceedings this year. So did teammate Dylan Cardwell.

Both are back.

What Auburn would do at the center position with both Broome and Cardwell’s status up in the air was maybe Auburn’s biggest question heading into this offseason. Returning both appeared possible but maybe not the likeliest option. Pearl pulled it off.

With its front court duo back, what could expectations for next season look like?

For the defending SEC Tournament champions, bringing back Broome changes expectations significantly. Auburn will possibly have the preseason SEC player of the year in Broome and surely someone who will be a first team preseason All SEC player. He will likely receive preseason All American consideration.

Having an experienced star like Broome allows Auburn to realistically have hopes at an SEC title next season. But that will take questions at point guard being answered, too.

Auburn has lost three guards from its incredibly deep 2023-24 team: Tre Donaldson, Aden Holloway and K.D. Johnson. Thus far, along with Lior Berman and Jaylin Williams who were out of eligibility, those are Auburn’s only losses from last season.

It appeared Auburn wanted to shake up its guard spots, especially at point guard which had very inconsistent play down the stretch of the season. It seemed likely Auburn would lose at least one of Donaldson or Holloway and wound up losing both.

Auburn replaces them with highly touted Furman transfer JP Pegues. He will likely become the immediate starter at point guard.

Pegues was named to the All SoCon first team last season after averaging 18.4 points per game for Furman. Pearl wanted a player like Pegues to run the offense who can be a playmaker more so than Donaldson and Holloway largely facilitated.

Auburn will also be adding five-star recruit Tahaad Pettiford who is rated as the best point guard in the 2024 class, but Pearl doesn’t plan to use him exclusively as a point guard.

Pettiford will most likely come off the bench behind Pegues and returning shooting guard Denver Jones.

At this point, a possible starting lineup for Auburn next season could be the following:

PG: JP Pegues

SG: Denver Jones

G/SF: Chad Baker-Mazara

PF: Chaney Johnson

C: Johni Broome

That projects as one of the better starting lineups in the SEC next season yet again with several scoring options on what could be another very balanced team. Probably not as deep as the 2023-24 group, but not a long shot away either.

With Broome, Auburn can again have realistic expectations at another high NCAA Tournament seed.

But with Broome, Auburn hasn’t made a Sweet 16.

In his final year, Broome’s own expectations are more likely to make one final case to NBA scouts and make it a bit further in March.

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]