Johni Broome injury update: Bruce Pearl reveals Auburn star's status for Tennessee game

Auburn head men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl revealed ailing Tigers center Johni Broome is a “game-time decision” for Saturday night’s Top 10 showdown vs. No. 6 Tennessee, according to Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman.

The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Broome has missed the past two games against Mississippi State and Georgia since suffering a significant ankle injury in the second half of the Tigers’ 66-63 win over South Carolina on Jan. 11. The talented big man went up for a rebound and landed on Chaney Johnson’s foot, rolling his ankle in the process.

Auburn star big man Johni Broome will be a game-time decision tomorrow night against Tennessee, Bruce Pearl told @TheFieldOf68.

Pearl said Broome practiced some yesterday and wants to play, but he’ll see how the ankle feels tomorrow.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) January 24, 2025

No. 1 Auburn (17-1, 5-0 SEC) enters Saturday night’s SEC showdown vs. No. 6 Tennessee (17-2, 4-2) at 8:30 pm ET on ESPN having won 10 straight since the Tigers’ lone loss this season, 84-78, vs. No. 9 Duke on Dec. 4.

Despite missing time, Broome still leads Auburn in five major statistical categories this season, averaging 17.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.7 blocks, and a team-high 27.4 minutes per game. The ankle sprain is the second injury Broome has suffered this season. He also had a shoulder injury late in non-conference play.

Auburn hasn’t missed a beat since losing Broome, outscoring No. 15 Mississippi State by 22 (88-66) and escaping Athens with a 70-68 win over No. 23 Georgia last Saturday. Through it all, the Tigers have maintained their SEC-leading plus-19.6 point differential and 50.2 field goal percentage, while ranking third in the league averaging 85.7 points per game this season.

Of course, just because the Tigers played well without Broome, doesn’t change the fact that they’ll welcome him back with open arms. After all, Broome is a first-round NBA prospect, according to The Athletic‘s Sam Vecenie.

“I have Johni Broome as a first-rounder,” Vecenie said. “I had Johni Broome, last year, in the Top 40, and he decided to return to school. I think I shared the draft guide profile that I had written last year on Broome. Like, I think Broome is a stud.

“Everywhere he’s gone, he’s kind of kicked ass,” Vecenie added. “He kicked ass at Morehead State, he’s kicked ass for two years now at Auburn. He kicked ass both at the G-Legue Combine and the NBA Combine when he went to those. I’m just a buyer in general. I have him in the 20 to 30 range right now.”

Grant Grubbs contributed to this report.