We interrupt your daily dose of Auburn Basketball Final Four hype to show you what you can look forward to after Auburn’s magical year comes to an end in the coming days. Bruce Pearl continues to show that he is a top recruiter as he looks to bring in Auburn’s fourth top 25 recruiting class in his 5 years and this class will be an important one with the impending graduation of senior leaders Bryce Brown, Horace Spencer, and Malik Dunbar.
Isaac Okoro (F – 6’6, 215 lbs)
Isaac Okoro is the centerpiece of this talent filled Auburn class, the 4 star Wing out of McEachern High School was once ranked the #1 player out of the state of Georgia. (until top prospect Anthony Edwards reclassified to 2019) Alongside 5-Star 2020 PG Sharife Cooper, Okoro led McEachern High School to a perfect 32-0 record and the school’s first boys’ basketball state title. Okoro is an elite athlete on both sides of the floor, able to use his length and instincts to easily jump passing lanes and then finish with a thunderous dunk on the other end of the floor. Okoro projects as an instant impact wing defender on an Auburn team that might be lacking one outside of Samir Doughty, his offense outside of attacking the rim might be a work in progress year one but look for his jump shot to come together after a full off-season with the team.
Jaylin Williams (F – 6’7, 215 lbs)
While Okoro is the centerpiece of this class, Williams could be the steal of it. Jaylin can do it all from the power forward position, while at Brantley County High School he once posted a triple double that included 6 blocks. The consensus 4 star recruit is a tough presence in the post on both sides of the floor not unlike Horace Spencer, but where Williams is ahead of his predecessor is that he can score from all three levels of the floor. Year one Williams should be able to battle it out in the post and be a powerful rebounder but watch out as his jump shot develops and he becomes a threat all around the court.
Babatunde ‘Stretch’ Akingbola (F/C – 6’8, 220 lbs)
You may laugh at Akingbola’s nickname, but it is certainly deserved as he has an absolutely ridiculous wingspan that will let him dominate on the defensive side of the ball as he put up many 10 rebound and 10 block games while in high school. Babatunde is extremely raw offensively, but his potential as an elite shot blocker and rebounder more than makes up for that rawness. I wouldn't put money on it, but there is the framework for a 3-point shot to develop down the road that would skyrocket his value offensively on this Auburn team.
Tyrell Jones (G – 6’1, 170 lbs)
I hope you aren't tired of small point guards because Bruce has yet another player who fits perfectly in that Jared Harper archetype. Jones, who's earned the nickname 'Turbo', is one of the fastest guards in the country while also having great vertical and lateral agility making him an incredibly dangerous transition scorer. While his passing game and shooting isn't fully developed, a year of learning under Harper and McCormik should help him develop into a worthy successor of the starting point guard job.
Allen Flannigan (G/F, 6’5, 200 lbs)
You may recognize Allen’s last name as he is son of current Auburn assistant coach and former player Wes Flannigan, but unlike the stereotype of coach’s sons Allen is a superb athlete. The 6’5 Wing out of Little Rock, Arkansas has all of the athletic tools to be a superb slasher and defender out of the gate, his jumper still needs a lot of work but as seen with Malik Dunbar and Samir Doughty this Auburn shooting staff can develop Flannigan into a solid all-around wing player.
