Auburn lands Furman PG transfer JP Pegues: Impact analysis and more inside
AUBURN — Furman point guard transfer JP Pegues has committed to Auburn.
On3 Sports ranks Pegues the No. 28 overall player in the transfer portal and the No. 7 point guard in the portal. However, what matters is Pegues was Auburn’s No. 1 point guard target since as soon as he entered the transfer portal.
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He arrives after playing the last three seasons at Furman. He will have one year of eligibility remaining at Auburn. Pegues brings 95 total games of experience to the Tigers, including 66 starts.
Pegues visited Auburn on April 4. He planned to visit Florida on April 12, but cancelled that visit on April 11. South Carolina, Kansas State, Oklahoma and Florida were all schools heavily in the mix, with Florida being the biggest contender to Auburn for Pegues’ services.
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Auburn also seriously considered Washington State point guard transfer Myles Rice, but targeted Pegues just above Rice in the process. Sources confirmed on April 11 that Auburn cancelled Rice’s planned visit once they landed a private commitment from Pegues.
Pegues averaged 18.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game last season. He also shot 87.5 percent from the FT line last season.
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Pegues’ 27% assist rate (ranked inside the top 150 nationally) and his assist-to-turnover ratio was over 2-to-1. Pegues had 15 different 20-point games and scored 30-plus points in two road games last season.
Playing at NCAA Tournament team Samford last season, Pegues scored 33 points on 6-11 shooting from three. He played 34 minutes. He scored 21 points and dished out six assists last season at Arkansas, including going 10-10 from the FT line.
Pegues is a career 35 percent shooter from three-point range and shot 36 percent last season. He hit four or more threes in nine games last season.
Impact of Pegues’ commitment on Auburn’s roster
Pegues was Auburn’s top point guard target in the portal for the better part of two weeks. The Auburn coaching staff loves Pegues’ ability to score, his experience, and his ability to lead what should be a veteran Tigers’ team. He’s a good defender. Not great, but adequate. But we heard similar things about Denver Jones and defense last season, and Jones worked hard and developed into a really good defender. Good athletes will find a way. Pegues will be expected to start right away. There’s a high likelihood he will be the only new starter next season, joining Jones, Chad Baker-Mazara, Chaney Johnson or Johni Broome (trending the right direction), and Dylan Cardwell as the starters.
