Auburn's Bruce Pearl Reacts to Big Transfer Portal News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Apr 17, 2025 8:34 PM ET

Auburn's offseason has already seen some seismic shifts.

After a Final Four run fueled by a veteran-laden lineup, head coach Bruce Pearl has watched much of his core depart, some testing the NBA waters, others seeking fresh starts elsewhere.

With the SEC landscape growing ever more competitive, the Tigers' brass scoured the transfer portal for reinforcements.

Enter Kevin Overton, a 6-foot-5 combo guard whose risen from the mid-major level at Drake to most recently Texas Tech.

Overton's decision, announced Tuesday afternoon, immediately injects backcourt depth and tournament pedigree into an Auburn roster that desperately needed it.

Pearl, ever animated, captured the moment in a single word.

Boom
— Bruce Pearl (@coachbrucepearl) April 17, 2025

Overton first made waves at Drake in 2023-24, starting in all 35 games as a true freshman.

He averaged 11.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest, showcasing his ability to stretch the floor with a 34.6% mark from deep and ending the season with MVC All-Freshman honors.

A move to Lubbock in April 2024 saw Overton adjust to life off the bench for a loaded Texas Tech squad.

There, he averaged 7.8 points and 3.7 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game, hitting 42.2% of his field goals and 33.1% of his triples.

His versatility with the ability to play both the two and three spots caught Pearl's eye immediately.

Johni Broome and Tahaad Pettiford both declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, while forward Chad Baker-Mazara tapped into the portal and senior center Dylan Cardwell exhausted his NCAA eligibility.

With all of their key players gone, Pearl understands how huge this move is for the program.

At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, Overton provides the Tigers with a reliable two-way guard who has invaluable NCAA Tournament experience.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: