re: #tAuburnBasketball Thread

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AUBURN, Alabama--Bruce Pearl used the opportunity of the Southeastern Conference’s annual summer media conference call to praise former Tiger standout Chuma Okekewhile getting in another dig at last year’s SEC coaches who snubbed the Auburn forward in voting for the league’s all-star teams.

Okeke was selected by the Orlando Magic with the 16th pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft despite being in the recovery stage after having ACL surgery following Auburn’s win over North Carolina in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

“He is one of the best I have ever coached,” Pearl said about Okeke, who was named to the 2019 NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team after averaging 15.0 points, seven rebounds, three steals, 2.3 assists in NCAA Tournament games helping the Tigers advance to the Final Four.

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“He has great instincts,” Auburn’s coach said. “He was very much an underrated defender. I thought he was the best defender in our league last year.

“He can guard anybody,” Pearl declared. “He can move his feet and challenge shots, and when I say guard anybody I mean one (point guard) through five (center). That is a rare talent, one we tried to take advantage of and I know they will rely on at the next level in the NBA.

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“He became a great three-point shooter and scored with his back to the basket as we tried to roll him down and mismatch him on teams that switched on us,” Pearl added. “He was an unselfish player. He just did what needed to be done.

“He never worried about his own stats, he never worried about his own numbers, the only thing he cared about was being a great teammate and helping his team win. That is all going to make him a great pro.”

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With Okeke in the starting lineup for every game except the victory over Kentucky in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament and Final Four loss to Virginia, the Tigers finished 30-10 overall and won the SEC Tournament championship.

“Chuma averaged 13 points and seven rebounds,” Pearl said. “He was not first team All-SEC. He was not second team All-SEC. He was not on the All-Defensive Team in the SEC, but he got drafted 16th. That should tell you a lot.”

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