Class of 2026 big man Sam Funches earns Auburn offer after Elite Camp performance
Class of 2026 big man Sam Funches on Sunday participated in the Bruce Pearl Elite Camp at Auburn.
And he didn’t just perform.
Funchess, a 6-foot-10 freshman, performed well enough that he walked away with an offer.
He learned of the offer during a conversation with Auburn assistant Wes Flanigan, who spoke to Funches and his parents.
“It is a blessing,” Funches said. “It felt like hitting a game-winning shot.”
Pearl’s message resonates with Funches
The offer wasn’t the only thing he took away from the camp. Pearl’s message to the campers is something that resonated with Funches.
“It was a great experience,” he said. “I loved the message from Coach Pearl. He asked us, ‘Is it worth it?’ Meaning everything that we do to get better … is it worth it? Is all the hard work worth it? Are the sacrifices that our parents make worth it?
“I know it’s worth it because all the hard work is showing.”
Auburn isn’t the only school to offer the ninth grader. Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Jackson State, Creighton, Troy, Kansas State and Oklahoma State also have offered.
Needless to say, Funches is projected to be one of the top players in the country in ’26.
