Auburn Basketball Continues to Reshape Roster Amid High-Profile Departures
The Auburn Tigers have stayed in the college basketball spotlight since the 2024 NCAA Tournament ended, and the news just keeps coming. Head coach Bruce Pearl faces a major challenge heading into the 2024–25 season, looking to guide Auburn back to the Final Four after last season’s narrow 79–73 loss to Florida in San Antonio.
But to do it, Pearl will have to rebuild a roster that’s undergone a massive shake-up.
The latest blow came with Chad Baker-Mazara entering the transfer portal, a move confirmed on Johni Broome’s Instagram via a Bleacher Report post. Baker-Mazara, who transferred to Auburn from Duquesne, started 34 games this past season and averaged 12.3 points per game, emerging as a key scoring option. He saved some of his best for last, scoring 22 points against both Ole Miss and Kentucky and dropping 18 points in the season-ending loss to Florida.
Baker-Mazara’s exit adds to a growing list of Tiger departures. Among those leaving:
- Johni Broome, Auburn’s All-American big man, is heading to the 2025 NBA Draft after averaging 18.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
- Denver Jones
- Dylan Cardwell
- Tahaad Pettiford
- Miles Kelly
This exodus follows Auburn’s SEC Championship run, and now Coach Pearl and his staff are actively working to reload the roster for another tournament push.
On the plus side, the Tigers have already landed some key pieces in the portal, including
- Keyshawn Hall (UCF): A versatile wing who can create mismatches
- KeShawn Murphy (Mississippi State): A stretch-forward with size and shooting upside
With the portal still open and the draft picture shifting, Auburn’s roster is far from finalized. One thing’s certain: Bruce Pearl’s program will look very different next season—but if recent history is any indicator, don’t count the Tigers out just yet.
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