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NO BREAKING NEWS: Auburn Tigers Men’s Basketball & NFL React in Shock as Coach Bruce Pearl Makes Surprising Statement Announcing Johni Broome as New Guard
By [Your Name] | May 1, 2025
In a move that has sent shockwaves across both college basketball and football circles, Auburn Tigers Head Coach Bruce Pearl made a surprising and somewhat bewildering announcement earlier today: star forward Johni Broome will be transitioning to the guard position for the 2025–26 season.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Pearl, known for his fiery passion and unorthodox motivational tactics, confirmed during a press conference on Wednesday morning that Broome — a 6-foot-10, 240-pound All-American power forward — will spend the offseason preparing to take on duties as Auburn’s starting shooting guard.
“We’re going to flip the script,” Pearl said with a grin. “Johni Broome is not just a forward anymore. He’s our new guard. I’ve seen enough. His handles, his footwork, his basketball IQ — they’re elite. We’re changing the game.”
The announcement has sparked immediate reaction across the basketball world, social media, and even the NFL, with athletes, analysts, and fans alike wondering if Pearl is a mad genius or has finally lost his marbles.
.
His size, strength, and post dominance have made him one of the most feared low-post threats in college basketball — not the kind of player you’d typically ask to bring the ball up the court or defend lightning-quick point guards.
But Pearl clearly sees something others do not.
“I’ve coached some phenomenal guards — Jared Harper, Bryce Brown, Wendell Green Jr.,” Pearl said. “Johni’s vision and touch are right up there. He’s been quietly working on his perimeter game for the past two offseasons. This isn’t a joke — it’s evolution.”
The reaction has been instant — and polarized.
ESPN’s Jay Bilas called the move “revolutionary, if it works,” adding that Pearl’s decision “could change the way we view player roles entirely.” Charles Barkley, Auburn alum and NBA legend, had a different take.
“I love Bruce, but c’mon, man. Johni Broome is a beast in the paint — you don’t turn Shaquille O’Neal into Steph Curry overnight,” Barkley said on TNT’s Inside the NBA. “Unless he’s planning something we don’t know about, I just don’t get it.”
On social media, the response has ranged from hilarious to hopeful:
- “This is like moving Derrick Henry to slot receiver,” one fan tweeted.
- “Coach Pearl’s playing 4D chess while we’re stuck in 2K24,” wrote another.
Former Auburn point guard Jared Harper weighed in more diplomatically: “If anyone can do it, it’s Johni. He’s an underrated ball handler, and he works harder than anyone I’ve ever played with. I’m intrigued.”
Oddly enough, even NFL players and coaches have chimed in, drawing parallels between position changes in football and Pearl’s shocking basketball pivot.
Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry tweeted, “This like telling Aaron Donald he’s now a cornerback. Respect to Johni, but this is WILD.”
Meanwhile, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers added his own spice, posting on Instagram: “I see a lot of myself in Broome — everyone doubted me when I was benched in Green Bay, and now I’m being doubted again. Johni, embrace the shift.”
Some NFL scouts even joked that if Broome could really play guard at his size, he might be more valuable as a hybrid tight end.
Despite the surprise, Coach Pearl insists there’s logic behind the decision. He outlined a broader philosophy of “positionless basketball” — a movement that has been growing steadily at both the college and NBA levels.
“Look around the NBA — Nikola Jokić brings the ball up. Giannis runs the offense. LeBron has been a point forward for years,” Pearl said. “Why should college basketball stay stuck in traditional positions?”
Pearl revealed that Broome has been training with assistant coach Wes Flanigan and NBA skills coach Drew Hanlen since January on guard-specific skills. According to Pearl, Broome has improved his three-point shooting to 38%, is comfortably beating guards off the dribble, and can now guard 2s and 3s with relative ease.
“He’s gonna stun some people,” Pearl said. “He’s not just playing the guard spot to stretch the floor — he’s going to initiate offense.”
The Tigers have a loaded backcourt already, featuring returning star Chad Baker-Mazara and elite five-star freshman Kevin Overton. Integrating Broome as a guard means someone will have to adjust — possibly moving Baker-Mazara to the wing or playing a taller, unconventional lineup.
One potential lineup Pearl teased:
- PG: Kevin Overton (6’5”)
- SG: Johni Broome (6’10”)
- SF: Chad Baker-Mazara (6’7”)
- PF: Parker Jefferson (6’10”)
- C: Dylan Card (7’1”)
“That’s length, speed, power — and every guy can shoot,” Pearl said. “It’s a nightmare for opponents.”
Still, questions remain about defensive matchups, transition defense, and how Broome will fare guarding much smaller, quicker opponents.
Johni Broome, for his part, appeared calm, confident, and even excited during the press conference.
“I’ve always wanted to show I could do more,” Broome said. “Everyone sees me as just a post player, but I’ve been working on my perimeter game since I got to Auburn. Coach believes in me. Now I get to show the world.”
He admitted it wouldn’t be easy — conditioning, lateral movement, and communication are very different at the guard spot — but emphasized that he’s “ready to do whatever it takes to win.”
“I trust Coach Pearl. He’s never led me wrong,” Broome said. “I know people are going to laugh at first — but give it time.”
While the experiment may prove intriguing for Auburn’s title hopes, some NBA scouts are reportedly baffled.
“I don’t know what to make of this,” one Western Conference scout said anonymously. “Broome is a top-25 pick if he stays in the post. Moving him to the perimeter could expose weaknesses, or worse, confuse GMs about his long-term role.”
Others disagree, arguing that added versatility could boost his draft stock — especially if Broome shows he can defend multiple positions and shoot from distance.
“If he really can move like a guard and shoot like one at 6’10” — that’s a lottery pick,” said CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone.
That’s the million-dollar question.
Bruce Pearl has a reputation for innovation and bold moves. But this might be his most daring coaching decision yet. The upside? A terrifying, positionless offense that overwhelms opponents. The downside? A disjointed team identity and lost draft value for its star.
Still, one thing is clear: Pearl is all in.
“Let the critics talk,” Pearl said. “They always do. But we’re here to win championships, not follow the playbook.”
As summer workouts begin and Auburn sets its sights on another deep March Madness run, all eyes will be on one man — Johni Broome, the 6-foot-10 forward-turned-guard — as he attempts to rewrite what’s possible in college basketball.
Only time will tell whether this decision becomes a cautionary tale or a historic innovation. If anyone can pull it off, it might just be Bruce Pearl — and Johni Broome, the guard nobody saw coming.
Stay tuned. Auburn just changed the game again.
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