The Auburn basketball program received positive recruiting news this week with the announcement that former JUCO big man Emeka Opurum will be joining the team for the upcoming season.
Despite a remarkable run to the Final Four last season, the Tigers relied heavily on a roster filled with seniors. With the impending departures of key big men Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell, Opurum is precisely the type of player needed to help fill the void left by their exit.
Standing at seven feet tall, Opurum moved to the United States from Nigeria last year and began his collegiate career at Butler Community College in Kansas. He played one season there, averaging 9.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks, earning the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Defensive Player of the Year title.
Opurum visited Auburn earlier this week and chose the Tigers over several other programs, including St. John’s, George Mason, Indiana, and Iowa. He credited the supportive environment of the Auburn basketball program as a significant factor in his decision, as well as head coach Bruce Pearl’s track record in developing big men like Walker Kessler and Johni Broome.
“It was a factor because I can see myself in those positions,” Opurum said, according to Auburn Undercover. “I’m not the best of the best, but I believe I can achieve that with the type of coaching available. Clearly, I need to hit the weight room to be prepared and take it step by step.”
Opurum is the latest addition to the Tigers, joining former Mississippi State forward/center KeyShawn Murphy and former UCF wing Keyshawn Hall.
Leave a Reply