Zep Jasper calls Auburn career a 'great experience'

Auburn guard Zep Jasper saw his collegiate career come to a close on Saturday as the Tigers fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against No. 1 seeded Houston. The game itself belonged to Auburn in the first half as Bruce Pearl’s club went into the break up by 10 at 41-31 and seemed to be on track to avenge last season’s round of 32 loss as a two-seed against 10-seeded Miami.

Alas, Houston came out and looked the part of a national title favorite in the second half, blasting Auburn 50-23 in the final 20 minutes to book their third straight trip to the second weekend.

For Auburn, the loss marked a disappointing end to a rather disappointing season. After winning the SEC in 2022, the Tigers entered 2023 with raised expectations since they returned their entire backcourt and nabbed Johni Broome in the transfer portal, who was to be the successor to Walker Kessler.

Broome exceeded any reasonable expectations and developed into the team’s leading scorer, best defender and top overall player while the backcourt again featured inconsistent play from guys like Wendell Green and KD Johnson. Despite the extra year under their belts, the pair of 2021 transfers were arguably worse than they were in 2022 as Auburn struggled to even make the NCAA Tournament.

The other guard who took a sort of step back was Zep Jasper, another guard who transferred into the program in the 2021 offseason. He started every game of Auburn’s last two seasons and was a defensive specialist, but averaged three less points per game in 2023 compared to 2022. Nonetheless, Jasper was a huge cog in both teams as a stopper on the perimeter and was a huge reason for the Tigers’ defensive success the last two years.

After his career ended on Saturday, Jasper discussed just how grateful he is for the experience of playing for Auburn.

“It was a great experience. Coming in with, you know, Wendell, Walker Kessler, Jabari Smith, a couple other guys. We made history. We was number one in the country. Won a regular season championship, which we didn’t predict. We came in, worked hard, and did it. And then we made history again by making the tournament, you know, going in the Round of 32. It’s been a hell of a ride. I appreciate Auburn so much.”

After three years at the College of Charleston plus two at Auburn as a starter on two tourney teams, the fifth-year guard will hang up his sneakers for good at the college level, and with 2021 All-CAA team honors to show for it.