Auburn Basketball: Austin Wiley enrolls, immediately eligible for Tigers
Surprise, surprise, five-star 2017 recruit Austin Wiley is eligible to play Sunday for Auburn basketball.
Auburn had an excellent start to the 2016-17 season before this week. The Tigers had wins over North Florida and Texas Tech, and their lone loss was to a powerful Purdue Boilermaker team.
However, this week has been a disaster for Bruce Pearl and company. The Tigers lost to one of the worst Power Five teams in the nation, Boston College, at Madison Square Garden, and had to suspend Bryce Brown and Horace Spencer indefinitely.
On Friday, the tide turned for the Tigers, as shocking news was released. Five-star 2017 recruit Austin Wiley opted to enroll early in Auburn and has been ruled immediately eligible for the Tigers, meaning that he is able to play on Sunday against Mercer.
ESPN had Wiley labeled as a five-star recruit and as the 13th best player in their top 100. The 6’9″, 250 pound big man was the number one player in the state of Alabama and was the 6th best center in the 2017 class.
Now, Wiley will join a front court that has struggled on the glass (36.9 rebounds per game – 162nd in the country). He will provide the Bruce Pearl and company with a powerful, strong presence on the interior. Wiley is a solid rebounder, can score with his back to the basket, can finish with authority and also has the ability to protect the rim and block shots.
Wiley’s defense is ahead of his offense. But that doesn’t mean he’s not able to produce on that end, because he can. Wiley has good size and a solid build that allows to carve out good position in the post. He’s an active rebounder that pursues the ball in and out of his area. He protects the rim and hunts shot blocking opportunities. On offense, he has good hands. the next step is developing his feel on the block and a go-to post move.
With Spencer still suspended, Auburn’s front court will consist of Wiley, LaRon Smith, Danjel Purifoy and freshman Anfernee McLemore. Even the 6’7″ TJ Lang could play the four if the Tigers want to go small.
While Wiley will bring depth and a true defensive presence, it’s likely going to take him a little while to adjust to the college game. Remember, this is a player that is getting thrown into the fire. He wasn’t supposed to play at this level until next season, which means he would’ve had an entire offseason to practice against his teammates and learn the nuances of Auburn’s system.Expecting Wiley to be Auburn’s savior this season is not likely. His presence doesn’t guarantee a berth in the NCAA Tournament, rather it helps Pearl get a head start on his development for 2017-18.
However, on the bright side, you never know what can happen in college basketball. Maybe Wiley’s learning curve isn’t as steep as we might think. And the SEC is indeed wide open after Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida and Texas A&M.
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