Auburn monitors the portal all day every day. Every player (of note) that pops is scouted and vetted and considered.
Bruce Pearl is as motivated as I've ever seen him — and he's never not motivated — to get the dudes Auburn needs to take a step forward for 2023-24.
As best I can tell, here are the names you need to know right now ...
• Rice G Quincy Olivari is from Atlanta, played at Westlake HS
6-foot-2
36% 3FG
45% 2FG
80% FT
Synergy offensive rating: 75th percentile "VERY GOOD"
Synergy defensive rating: 41st percentile "AVERAGE"
Best shot type: Spot up shooting — 85th percentile "EXCELLENT"
Senior last season, but has a Covid year remaining. Played 85% of possible minutes in 2022-23, which is a LOT. A shooting guard by trade who also serves as the second-choice point guard. Accomplished driver. Also attempted 239 shots from three-point range last season. (Wen Green led Auburn with 146 3FGA last season.)
• Florida International G/F Denver Jones is from New Market, Ala., but played JUCO ball at Garden City (Kan.) CC
6-foot-4
37% 3FG
55% 2FG
85% FT
Synergy offensive rating: 81st percentile "VERY GOOD"
Synergy defensive rating: 58th percentile "GOOD"
Best shot type: Spot-up shooting — 92nd percentile "EXCELLENT"
Sophomore last season. Two-year starter. Finished with double-digit points in 27 of his 29 games last season. Averaged 21.6 points per game during his final 10 games of the year. Plays shooting guard and wing. Auburn was first school to make contact with him after hitting the portal.
• Temple G Damian Dunn is from Kinston, N.C.
6-foot-5
35% 3FG
46% 2FG
81% FT
Synergy offensive rating: 61st percentile "GOOD"
Synergy defensive rating: 22nd percentile "BELOW AVERAGE"
Best shot type: Transition — 83rd percentile "VERY GOOD"
Senior last season, but has a Covid year remaining. Two-year starter. Shooting guard by trade, but moonlights as a second option at point guard. Third-team All-AAC. Visited NC State this weekend.
• Virginia Tech G/F Darius Maddox is from Bowie, Maryland
6-foot-5
32% 3FG
40% 2FG
88% FT
Synergy offensive rating: 40th percentile "AVERAGE"
Synergy defensive rating: 15th percentile "BELOW AVERAGE"
Best shot type: Transition — 79th percentile "VERY GOOD"
Junior last season. Two-year starter. Missed the final 14 games of the season for personal reasons that reportedly were related to a family matter.
Bruce Pearl is as motivated as I've ever seen him — and he's never not motivated — to get the dudes Auburn needs to take a step forward for 2023-24.
As best I can tell, here are the names you need to know right now ...
• Rice G Quincy Olivari is from Atlanta, played at Westlake HS
6-foot-2
36% 3FG
45% 2FG
80% FT
Synergy offensive rating: 75th percentile "VERY GOOD"
Synergy defensive rating: 41st percentile "AVERAGE"
Best shot type: Spot up shooting — 85th percentile "EXCELLENT"
Senior last season, but has a Covid year remaining. Played 85% of possible minutes in 2022-23, which is a LOT. A shooting guard by trade who also serves as the second-choice point guard. Accomplished driver. Also attempted 239 shots from three-point range last season. (Wen Green led Auburn with 146 3FGA last season.)
• Florida International G/F Denver Jones is from New Market, Ala., but played JUCO ball at Garden City (Kan.) CC
6-foot-4
37% 3FG
55% 2FG
85% FT
Synergy offensive rating: 81st percentile "VERY GOOD"
Synergy defensive rating: 58th percentile "GOOD"
Best shot type: Spot-up shooting — 92nd percentile "EXCELLENT"
Sophomore last season. Two-year starter. Finished with double-digit points in 27 of his 29 games last season. Averaged 21.6 points per game during his final 10 games of the year. Plays shooting guard and wing. Auburn was first school to make contact with him after hitting the portal.
• Temple G Damian Dunn is from Kinston, N.C.
6-foot-5
35% 3FG
46% 2FG
81% FT
Synergy offensive rating: 61st percentile "GOOD"
Synergy defensive rating: 22nd percentile "BELOW AVERAGE"
Best shot type: Transition — 83rd percentile "VERY GOOD"
Senior last season, but has a Covid year remaining. Two-year starter. Shooting guard by trade, but moonlights as a second option at point guard. Third-team All-AAC. Visited NC State this weekend.
• Virginia Tech G/F Darius Maddox is from Bowie, Maryland
6-foot-5
32% 3FG
40% 2FG
88% FT
Synergy offensive rating: 40th percentile "AVERAGE"
Synergy defensive rating: 15th percentile "BELOW AVERAGE"
Best shot type: Transition — 79th percentile "VERY GOOD"
Junior last season. Two-year starter. Missed the final 14 games of the season for personal reasons that reportedly were related to a family matter.
