Basketball News: 8-14-2026
0 views
Skip to first unread message
Dudley Dent
Aug 14, 2026, 8:10:02 AM (3 days ago) Aug 14
to Tiger Tracks
Auburn Basketball News: 8-14-2026
Auburn adding fifth-year Utah State transfer guard to roster:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-basketball-roster-kolby-king-utah-state-2026-288924871/
Auburn lands Utah State transfer guard Kolby King:
https://www.on3.com/teams/auburn-tigers/news/auburn-lands-utah-state-transfer-guard-kolby-king/
ESPN Details Auburn Basketball’s Ceiling, Floor For Upcoming Season:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/basketball/espn-details-auburn-basketball-ceiling-floor-2026-27
What is Auburn basketball's ceiling for the 2026-27 season?:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/08/13/auburn-basketball-schedule-floor-ceiling-prediction-sec/91284442007/
*************************
Auburn adding fifth-year Utah State transfer guard to roster
By Nathan King
Auburn 247
Thanks to a recent court ruling, a slew of players became available as late additions for college basketball teams. Auburn became one of those teams Thursday.
The program is expected to add Utah State transfer guard Kolby King, Auburn247 was informed Thursday. King was mentioned to Auburn247 this week as a player to watch after the injunction regarding athletes receiving an extra year of eligibility, and now he's expected to join the Tigers.
The 6-foot-2 King has played at four schools in as many years: St. John's, Tulane, Butler and most recently Utah State, where he came off the bench last season and 7.5 points per game, shooting 39% from deep.
Earlier this month, Colorado U.S. District Court judge Charlotte Sweeney granted an injunction to recruits from the class of 2022, ruling that the NCAA must immediately provide eligibility for those who missed the new "five-for-five" rule. The NCAA has obviously appealed and urged its institutions not to add any players, but the floodgates were opened, and Auburn is now the latest school to add depth.
King becomes the ninth new player for Steven Pearl's Auburn team in Year 2, joining swing forwards Adam Olsen (South Alabama) and Thomas Dowd (Troy), guard George Kimble III (Vanderbilt), center Bukky Oboye (Santa Clara) and power froward Owen Freeman (Creighton); along with international signees Mantas Rubstavicius (wing, Lithuania) and Narcisse Ngoy (center, France); and freshman guard Caleb Williams.
**********************
Auburn lands Utah State transfer guard Kolby King
By Justin Hokanson
Auburn Sports On3 Rivals
Kolby King has committed to Auburn after transferring from Utah State, sources tell AuburnSports.
King is one of several players involved in an eligibility lawsuit filed after the NCAA announced its age-based, five-year eligibility model. His eligibility for the 2026–27 season is tied to that ongoing legal challenge.
King may arrive on campus this weekend.
He spent the 2025–26 season at Utah State after previously playing at St. John’s, Tulane and Butler during his college career.
King appeared in all 36 games last season, averaging 19.2 minutes per contest. He posted 7.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 47.7% from the field, 39.3% from 3-point range and 74.7% from the free-throw line. He scored in double figures 11 times, highlighted by a season-high 20-point performance against Wyoming, and also grabbed a season-best nine rebounds versus Colorado State.
King spent the 2024–25 season at Butler, appearing in 34 games with four starts while averaging 18.8 minutes per contest. He averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, shooting 44.1% from the field and 40.0% from 3-point range. He scored in double figures seven times, including a season-high 16 points at Marquette.
King played the 2023–24 season at Tulane, starting 23 of 31 games while averaging 27.4 minutes per contest. He averaged 10.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, shooting 47.6% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range. He reached double figures 14 times, scored 20 or more points four times and recorded a 22-point, 10-assist double-double against Dillard.
King began his collegiate career at St. John’s during the 2022–23 season, appearing in 26 games off the bench. He averaged 1.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.7 minutes per game, with a season-high eight points coming against Marquette in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals.
Kolby King joins Tahaad Pettiford, Kevin Overton, George Kimble III, Caleb Williams, Simon Walker and Blake Muschalek in Auburn’s backcourt.
Kimble III injured his non-shooting hand this summer and missed time. Kimble III didn’t play in the two exhibition games in Greece.
***********************
ESPN Details Auburn Basketball’s Ceiling, Floor For Upcoming Season
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers have had a rollercoaster of a pair of seasons over the last two years; in 2024, legendary Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl led his team to a Final Four, but in 2025, Pearl retired, paving the way for his son, Steven Pearl, to take over the squad. The younger Pearl’s team struggled in 2025, resulting in an NIT Championship win, though that was certainly not the result Tiger fans were looking for.
The Tigers have been quite active in the transfer portal this past offseason and have even gotten a few exhibition matchups in with Lithuanian professional team KK Mega Superbet, but how are they actually expected to fare in 2026?
ESPN’s Myron Medcalf shared his thoughts on the matter on Wednesday.
“Auburn won the NIT championship, but only after weathering a 1-7 stretch that torpedoed its shot at an at-large NCAA tournament berth,” Medcalf wrote. “But both Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton -- who combined to score 50 points in the team's win over Tulsa in the NIT championship -- are returning this season. The big question: Is there a replacement for Keyshawn Hall (19.3 PPG, 38% from 3)?”
Medcalf went on to project the Tigers’ ceiling–or the best possible reality in his mind–as a 25-win team that would finally bow out in the round of 32 during March Madness, while his projection of the team’s floor, or the worst possible reality, sees the Tigers as a 20-win team that, once again, misses out on the NCAA Tournament.
However, Medcalf presented a major question that has been circulating in Auburn basketball circles for some time: Is there truly a replacement for Hall? The Tigers would certainly like to think so, as they have signed height and strength in Narcisse Ngoy, a French seven-footer, as well as Bukky Oboye, a Santa Clara transfer who stands at 7-foot-1.
However, though Hall played the role of a traditional forward for much of the season, height and strength are not all the Tigers are looking to replace. Most importantly, they need a top-level scorer, as well as a top-level three-point shooter. Mantas Rubštavicius seems to tick all of those boxes and more, but even without Rubštavicius, the Tigers can also lean on Thomas Dowd, Owen Freeman, Caleb Williams or any of a host of other new faces on the Plains this year.
We have yet to see all of these players, or the Tigers’ offense as a whole, at full strength so far, so keeping an eye on other exhibition and preseason matches will be crucial to understanding just how far the Tigers could go this season.
*************************
What is Auburn basketball's ceiling for the 2026-27 season?
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
The Auburn Tigers just completed an overseas excursion to Greece, where they finished with a 1-1 record against KK Super MegaBet, a professional team from Serbia that competes in the ABA League.
Returning pieces Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton shined in the games, with Pettiford connecting on 7-of-17 shots from the field and Overton averaging 16 points and making five three-point shots. Another bright spot was Troy transfer Thomas Dowd, who collected 28 rebounds over the two games and recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in Auburn's 92-71 win over KK Mega SuperBet on Saturday, Aug. 8.
The bad news, though, is that Auburn fans must now wait over two months to watch the Tigers play again. Despite the layoff, experts are starting to voice their predictions on how Auburn will perform during the 2026-27 season, including ESPN.
Myron Medcalf of ESPN released his predicted order of finish for SEC teams this upcoming season, along with each team's floor and ceiling. For Auburn, the gap between the floor and ceiling for Auburn is narrow, and so is their margin of error for postseason play.
Medcalf predicts the Tigers to finish No. 11 in the SEC ahead of the second season of the Steven Pearl era, behind notable teams including Texas A&M, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Texas, and Florida, and ahead of LSU, Ole Miss, and South Carolina. Medcalf's best-case scenario for Auburn is a 25-win season, a three-win increase from last season's total, and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. However, the worst-case scenario for Auburn is a regression to 20 wins and another season without an NCAA Tournament bid.
What could be the difference between the best and worst-case scenarios for Auburn? Finding a replacement for the outgoing Keyshawn Hall, who was the third piece of Auburn's "big three" last season
"But both Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton -- who combined to score 50 points in the team's win over Tulsa in the NIT championship -- are returning this season. The big question: Is there a replacement for Keyshawn Hall (19.3 PPG, 38% from 3)?" writes Medcalf.
Dowd made a strong case for being the third man during Auburn's trip to Greece, as did South Alabama transfer Adam Olson, who scored 12 points and logged seven rebounds in Auburn's win last Saturday. Auburn will also await the eligibility decisions for international signees Mantas Rubštavičius and Narcisse Ngoy, and the return of Creighton transfer Owen Freeman, who was held out of Auburn's games in Greece due to injury.
Auburn has plenty of questions surrounding them, but those questions could be answered rather quickly. The Tigers open the 2026-27 season in Birmingham for an exhibition game on Oct. 14 against Florida State. The full schedule will be released at a later date.
Auburn adding fifth-year Utah State transfer guard to roster:
https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/auburn-basketball-roster-kolby-king-utah-state-2026-288924871/
Auburn lands Utah State transfer guard Kolby King:
https://www.on3.com/teams/auburn-tigers/news/auburn-lands-utah-state-transfer-guard-kolby-king/
ESPN Details Auburn Basketball’s Ceiling, Floor For Upcoming Season:
https://www.si.com/college/auburn/basketball/espn-details-auburn-basketball-ceiling-floor-2026-27
What is Auburn basketball's ceiling for the 2026-27 season?:
https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/auburn/football/2026/08/13/auburn-basketball-schedule-floor-ceiling-prediction-sec/91284442007/
*************************
Auburn adding fifth-year Utah State transfer guard to roster
By Nathan King
Auburn 247
Thanks to a recent court ruling, a slew of players became available as late additions for college basketball teams. Auburn became one of those teams Thursday.
The program is expected to add Utah State transfer guard Kolby King, Auburn247 was informed Thursday. King was mentioned to Auburn247 this week as a player to watch after the injunction regarding athletes receiving an extra year of eligibility, and now he's expected to join the Tigers.
The 6-foot-2 King has played at four schools in as many years: St. John's, Tulane, Butler and most recently Utah State, where he came off the bench last season and 7.5 points per game, shooting 39% from deep.
Earlier this month, Colorado U.S. District Court judge Charlotte Sweeney granted an injunction to recruits from the class of 2022, ruling that the NCAA must immediately provide eligibility for those who missed the new "five-for-five" rule. The NCAA has obviously appealed and urged its institutions not to add any players, but the floodgates were opened, and Auburn is now the latest school to add depth.
King becomes the ninth new player for Steven Pearl's Auburn team in Year 2, joining swing forwards Adam Olsen (South Alabama) and Thomas Dowd (Troy), guard George Kimble III (Vanderbilt), center Bukky Oboye (Santa Clara) and power froward Owen Freeman (Creighton); along with international signees Mantas Rubstavicius (wing, Lithuania) and Narcisse Ngoy (center, France); and freshman guard Caleb Williams.
**********************
Auburn lands Utah State transfer guard Kolby King
By Justin Hokanson
Auburn Sports On3 Rivals
Kolby King has committed to Auburn after transferring from Utah State, sources tell AuburnSports.
King is one of several players involved in an eligibility lawsuit filed after the NCAA announced its age-based, five-year eligibility model. His eligibility for the 2026–27 season is tied to that ongoing legal challenge.
King may arrive on campus this weekend.
He spent the 2025–26 season at Utah State after previously playing at St. John’s, Tulane and Butler during his college career.
King appeared in all 36 games last season, averaging 19.2 minutes per contest. He posted 7.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 47.7% from the field, 39.3% from 3-point range and 74.7% from the free-throw line. He scored in double figures 11 times, highlighted by a season-high 20-point performance against Wyoming, and also grabbed a season-best nine rebounds versus Colorado State.
King spent the 2024–25 season at Butler, appearing in 34 games with four starts while averaging 18.8 minutes per contest. He averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, shooting 44.1% from the field and 40.0% from 3-point range. He scored in double figures seven times, including a season-high 16 points at Marquette.
King played the 2023–24 season at Tulane, starting 23 of 31 games while averaging 27.4 minutes per contest. He averaged 10.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, shooting 47.6% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range. He reached double figures 14 times, scored 20 or more points four times and recorded a 22-point, 10-assist double-double against Dillard.
King began his collegiate career at St. John’s during the 2022–23 season, appearing in 26 games off the bench. He averaged 1.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.7 minutes per game, with a season-high eight points coming against Marquette in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals.
Kolby King joins Tahaad Pettiford, Kevin Overton, George Kimble III, Caleb Williams, Simon Walker and Blake Muschalek in Auburn’s backcourt.
Kimble III injured his non-shooting hand this summer and missed time. Kimble III didn’t play in the two exhibition games in Greece.
***********************
ESPN Details Auburn Basketball’s Ceiling, Floor For Upcoming Season
By Brooks Crew
Auburn Tigers on SI
The Auburn Tigers have had a rollercoaster of a pair of seasons over the last two years; in 2024, legendary Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl led his team to a Final Four, but in 2025, Pearl retired, paving the way for his son, Steven Pearl, to take over the squad. The younger Pearl’s team struggled in 2025, resulting in an NIT Championship win, though that was certainly not the result Tiger fans were looking for.
The Tigers have been quite active in the transfer portal this past offseason and have even gotten a few exhibition matchups in with Lithuanian professional team KK Mega Superbet, but how are they actually expected to fare in 2026?
ESPN’s Myron Medcalf shared his thoughts on the matter on Wednesday.
“Auburn won the NIT championship, but only after weathering a 1-7 stretch that torpedoed its shot at an at-large NCAA tournament berth,” Medcalf wrote. “But both Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton -- who combined to score 50 points in the team's win over Tulsa in the NIT championship -- are returning this season. The big question: Is there a replacement for Keyshawn Hall (19.3 PPG, 38% from 3)?”
Medcalf went on to project the Tigers’ ceiling–or the best possible reality in his mind–as a 25-win team that would finally bow out in the round of 32 during March Madness, while his projection of the team’s floor, or the worst possible reality, sees the Tigers as a 20-win team that, once again, misses out on the NCAA Tournament.
However, Medcalf presented a major question that has been circulating in Auburn basketball circles for some time: Is there truly a replacement for Hall? The Tigers would certainly like to think so, as they have signed height and strength in Narcisse Ngoy, a French seven-footer, as well as Bukky Oboye, a Santa Clara transfer who stands at 7-foot-1.
However, though Hall played the role of a traditional forward for much of the season, height and strength are not all the Tigers are looking to replace. Most importantly, they need a top-level scorer, as well as a top-level three-point shooter. Mantas Rubštavicius seems to tick all of those boxes and more, but even without Rubštavicius, the Tigers can also lean on Thomas Dowd, Owen Freeman, Caleb Williams or any of a host of other new faces on the Plains this year.
We have yet to see all of these players, or the Tigers’ offense as a whole, at full strength so far, so keeping an eye on other exhibition and preseason matches will be crucial to understanding just how far the Tigers could go this season.
*************************
What is Auburn basketball's ceiling for the 2026-27 season?
By Taylor Jones
Auburn Wire
The Auburn Tigers just completed an overseas excursion to Greece, where they finished with a 1-1 record against KK Super MegaBet, a professional team from Serbia that competes in the ABA League.
Returning pieces Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton shined in the games, with Pettiford connecting on 7-of-17 shots from the field and Overton averaging 16 points and making five three-point shots. Another bright spot was Troy transfer Thomas Dowd, who collected 28 rebounds over the two games and recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in Auburn's 92-71 win over KK Mega SuperBet on Saturday, Aug. 8.
The bad news, though, is that Auburn fans must now wait over two months to watch the Tigers play again. Despite the layoff, experts are starting to voice their predictions on how Auburn will perform during the 2026-27 season, including ESPN.
Myron Medcalf of ESPN released his predicted order of finish for SEC teams this upcoming season, along with each team's floor and ceiling. For Auburn, the gap between the floor and ceiling for Auburn is narrow, and so is their margin of error for postseason play.
Medcalf predicts the Tigers to finish No. 11 in the SEC ahead of the second season of the Steven Pearl era, behind notable teams including Texas A&M, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Texas, and Florida, and ahead of LSU, Ole Miss, and South Carolina. Medcalf's best-case scenario for Auburn is a 25-win season, a three-win increase from last season's total, and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. However, the worst-case scenario for Auburn is a regression to 20 wins and another season without an NCAA Tournament bid.
What could be the difference between the best and worst-case scenarios for Auburn? Finding a replacement for the outgoing Keyshawn Hall, who was the third piece of Auburn's "big three" last season
"But both Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton -- who combined to score 50 points in the team's win over Tulsa in the NIT championship -- are returning this season. The big question: Is there a replacement for Keyshawn Hall (19.3 PPG, 38% from 3)?" writes Medcalf.
Dowd made a strong case for being the third man during Auburn's trip to Greece, as did South Alabama transfer Adam Olson, who scored 12 points and logged seven rebounds in Auburn's win last Saturday. Auburn will also await the eligibility decisions for international signees Mantas Rubštavičius and Narcisse Ngoy, and the return of Creighton transfer Owen Freeman, who was held out of Auburn's games in Greece due to injury.
Auburn has plenty of questions surrounding them, but those questions could be answered rather quickly. The Tigers open the 2026-27 season in Birmingham for an exhibition game on Oct. 14 against Florida State. The full schedule will be released at a later date.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages