Auburn Tigers’ star forward Johni Broome announced his decision to enter the 2025 NBA Draft on Thursday, marking the culmination of a remarkable five-year college career capped by a consensus first-team All-American season. The 6-foot-10 senior shared his decision via a heartfelt statement on Instagram, expressing gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates, and fans at both Auburn and Morehead State, where he began his collegiate journey.
Broome’s final season at Auburn was nothing short of historic. Averaging 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field, he established himself as one of the nation’s premier big men. His dominance earned him the SEC Player of the Year award, joining Auburn legends Charles Barkley (1984) and Chris Porter (1999) as the only Tigers to claim the honor. Broome also set Auburn single-season records with 389 rebounds and 21 double-doubles, becoming the only player in NCAA history to amass at least 2,500 career points, 1,500 rebounds, and 400 blocked shots.
“After much prayer and discussion with my family, I’ve decided to take the next step and declare for the 2025 NBA Draft,” Broome wrote. “Playing at Auburn has been a dream come true, and I’m forever grateful for the love and support from the Auburn family. To my coaches and teammates, thank you for pushing me to be my best every day.”
Broome’s journey to this moment was unconventional. A three-star recruit out of Tampa Catholic High School, he started at Morehead State, where he averaged 15.4 points and 9.8 rebounds over two seasons. Transferring to Auburn in 2022, he evolved into a versatile force, blending post dominance with improved passing and defensive tenacity. His performance during Auburn’s NCAA Tournament run, where he averaged 30.8 points and 12 rebounds over five games despite battling an elbow injury, further solidified his reputation as a clutch performer.
NBA scouts project Broome as a potential first-round pick, with his size, skill set, and high basketball IQ drawing comparisons to versatile bigs like Wendell Carter Jr. However, questions linger about his perimeter shooting (31.2% from three in college) and ability to defend quicker guards on switches, areas he’ll aim to address at the NBA Draft Combine, set for May 11-18 in Chicago. Broome’s work ethic and competitive fire, honed by what he’s called a “chip on his shoulder” from being overlooked early in his career, have teams intrigued about his potential as a plug-and-play rotation player.
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl praised Broome’s growth and impact. “Johni came to Auburn with a dream and leaves as one of the greatest to ever wear the orange and blue,” Pearl said. “He’s ready for the NBA, and we’ll be cheering him on every step of the way.”
Broome’s departure closes a transformative chapter for Auburn, which reached the Final Four this season but fell to Florida. As he prepares for the draft on June 25-26 in New York City, Broome aims to become the first Tiger selected in the first round since Jabari Smith Jr. in 2022.