re: #tAuburnBasketball Thread

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Continued:

Forward - (Auburn will take 1 Forward/Stretch 4 in this class)

PF Greg Brown ***** (TX) - This freak athlete is the number 1 target at the 4 position in this class. Brown has the ability to guard 2-5 on the floor, runs like a deer, and has elite off the ball shot blocking ability. While his shooting (especially from three) is still a work in progress, Brown's ability to finish in transition and at the rim in traffic is absolutely elite. I think North Carolina and Texas still have the advantage here right now, however Auburn/Kentucky/Memphis are not going away and all 3 have a chance to gain some momentum in Brown's recruitment with OVs on the horizon. In my opinion, this is one recruitment that is way too uncertain to call at this time.

PF Jaemyn Brakefield **** (WV) - Brakefield is one of the smoothest players/athletes at the 4 position in this class. He has an efficient shooting stroke, sees the floor well and has better than average handles and passing ability for a man his size. Brakefield, like all the forwards that Pearl recruits has plus ability as a defender and rebounder, and if playing inspired basketball could be a difference maker in year one. While Michigan and Ole Miss are under consideration, I think this boils down ultimately to an Auburn vs Louisville battle w/ the Tigers coming out on top.

PF Chris Moore **** (AR) - Moore is the epitome of hustle and effort. No one plays harder and more physical than Chris Moore, though his lack of size could be an issue on the next level. However at only 6'6 Moore out plays guys with much more size at regularity, and his ability to step out and shoot the 3 makes him an extremely tough cover. Wes Flanigan is the lead recruiter here and has done a great job of making sure that Moore is keeping Auburn in his top group of schools, however with Auburn hoping to land either Brown or Brakefield, it's likely that Moore ends up at in state Arkansas. Should our stance with Brakefield and Brown change, us ramping up attention in Moore's recruitment is not out of the question.

PF Rongie Gordon **** (AL) - Gordon had an excellent spring and summer on the AAU Under Armor Circuit, and is the definition of blue collar. While he is excellent playing around the rim and finishing in transition, his improvement in handling the ball and shooting from three is what has really caught college coaching staffs by surprise. Should we miss on Brakefield, Gordon is my dark horse candidate to land in the class.

Center (Auburn Plans to take 1 Center in this Class)

C Walker Kessler ***** (GA) - Just like Sharife Cooper, Walker Kessler is where it begins and ends with big man recruiting in this class. Kessler is a supremely skilled big man that displays a variety of scoring moves on the low block as well as having shown the ability to step out and be a real threat from 3. While Kessler is not an exceptional athlete, he certainly possess more than enough athleticism to be effective and really moves well up and down the court in transition. Kessler is a positional rebounder and solid defender that should only get better in these parts of the game once he has some time in a college S&C program. The lead recruiter here is Steven Pearl, however we are also getting an assist from close friend Justin Powell as well as BP himself. To me something would have really to change for Kessler not to end up an Auburn Tiger.

C Cliff Omoruyi **** (NJ) - Omoruyi dominates through extremely impressive strength and phyicality. While he is only an at the rim scorer right now, offense is not Omoruyi's game. He instead controls the paint with his athleticism, rebounding and shot blocking prowess, and is an elite finisher at the rim when he gets his chances. Omoruyi is raw, but God Damn is he talented. If he ever puts it all together he could really excel at this next level. While Ira Bowman has really worked hard on this recruitment and has us in contention at the top for Omoruyi, if we land Kessler then I don't see Cliff landing here as well.

C Jaylin Williams **** (AR) - Another Wes Flanigan target (hope you guys are starting to see a trend here), Williams had a really good spring and summer on the AAU circuit which caught a lot of college coaching staffs' attention. Williams is an inside and outside scoring threat that rebounds as well as any big man I've watched in this class. Williams runs the floor well and has above average athleticism, and should Auburn miss on its top 2 targets here then it would absolutely be pleased to land Williams if he were still available. Unfortunately I don't believe that will be the case, as I think Williams lands at Oklahoma State or Arkansas here in the near future.

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2020 Class Prediction

With five spots coming open after this season, this is how I see us filling those five spots as of today:

1. PG Sharief Cooper ***** Ranked #16 Nationally
2. SG Matthew Murrell **** Ranked #45 Nationally
3. SG Justin Powell *** Not Ranked Nationally at this time
4. PF Jaemyn Brakefield **** Ranked #36 Nationally
5. C Walker Kessler ***** Ranked #20 Nationally

Should we pull this off, and I think it's a strong likelihood that we do, that is easily the best class ever in the Bruce Pearl Auburn Basketball era.

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