Auburn University made waves in the Southeastern Conference as standout basketball player Johni Broome and head coach Bruce Pearl were honored with the player and coach of the year awards, respectively, on Monday.
The illustrious achievements come after a season where the Tigers showcased their skills, ending with an impressive 27-4 overall record and a 15-3 record in SEC play. This success catapulted them to the top, securing the regular-season championship and earning the all-important No. 1 seed for the upcoming conference tournament.
Further accolades were distributed within the league, spotlighting Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier as the newcomer of the year, Texas guard Tre Johnson as the freshman of the year, Missouri’s Caleb Grill as the sixth man of the year, and Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler for his defensive prowess.
Notably, the SEC changed its all-conference teams format this year, opting for three five-man teams instead of the traditional two eight-man teams.
The First Team saw Johni Broome of Auburn, Walter Clayton Jr. from Florida, Alabama’s Mark Sears, Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV, and Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler being recognized for their exceptional performances.
Representing the Second Team were Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard, Tre Johnson of Texas, Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier, Collin Murray-Boyles from South Carolina, and Kentucky’s Otega Oweh.
The Third Team honors were claimed by Auburn’s Chad Baker-Mazara, Florida’s Alex Condon, Jason Edwards of Vanderbilt, Missouri’s Mark Mitchell, and Ole Miss’s Sean Pedulla.
In the All-Defensive Team lineup, Auburn’s Denver Jones, Tennessee’s Jahmai Mashack, Cameron Matthews from Mississippi State, Missouri’s Anthony Robinson II, and again, Zakai Zeigler from Tennessee were celebrated for their defensive contributions.
Meanwhile, the All-Freshman Team spotlighted talents like Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears, Tre Johnson from Texas, Asa Newell of Georgia, Tahaad Pettiford from Auburn, and Alabama’s Labaron Philon, each having caught the attention with their promising skills on the court.
