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Auburn's Johni Broome Sends Message to Tahaad Pettiford After NBA Draft Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated Apr 15, 2025 10:00 PM ET

It’s been quite the offseason for Bruce Pearl and the Auburn Tigers, as a couple of their top players from the 2024-25 Final Four team are testing the waters for the NBA Draft.

Johni Broome, a standout from Plant City, Florida, finished his third season with the Tigers, appearing in 36 games and averaged 18.6 points per game.

Broome was also among the nation’s top rebounders, pulling down 10.8 boards per contest.

His teammate, Tahaad Pettiford, a 19-year-old guard from Jersey City, New Jersey, made the SEC All-Freshman Team. He played in 38 games, averaging 11.6 points and 3.0 assists per game.

Both players have their sights set on the NBA as the 2025-26 season approaches. Pettiford also took to his official Instagram account to share a heartfelt message with fans, teammates, and coaches, following his choice to declare.

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A post shared by tahaad pettiford (@haad.0)

It was the response from his teammate, Johnni Broome, that caught the attention of many. Using his official Instagram account, @j.4.broome, Broome replied with “Go be great,” accompanied by an emoji. Broome's comment received over 420 likes.

The Tigers received great news earlier in the day, as former Mississippi State forward KeShawn Murphy announced he would be joining the team.

Murphy averaged 11.7 points per game for the Bulldogs last season. So far, the only transfer loss for Auburn has been Jahki Howard.

Additionally, a report from Justin Hokanson of O3.com noted that 7-foot freshman Emeka Opurum visited campus and is expected to make a decision about his future soon.

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

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