Auburn recruiting at unprecedented level under Pearl

AUBURN | Auburn hasn’t been known as a basketball recruiting powerhouse. Not even close. But it’s starting to become one entering Bruce Pearl’s third season.

The Tigers currently have the nation’s No. 1 class in 2017 and already have the 2018 and 2019 classes off to great starts.

“Great players want to play with other great players. Great players want to get coached,” Pearl said. “I've got great confidence in my coaching staff. I think prospects are seeing that. The fact that we were second in the league in attendance percentage, I think they're recognizing that. It's an easy sell.”

It actually started with the 20th-ranked 2016 class, which included five-star guard Mustapha Heron, top 60 point guard Jared Harper and athletic big man Anfernee McLemore.

“All of them are really good players. Everybody, all the newcomers are good players. Unbelievable players,” said redshirt freshman forward Danjel Purifoy, who was the highest-rated signee in the 2015 class.

Heron, who was the first five-star to sign with Auburn in school history, went through his first practice as a Tiger Friday afternoon.

“The program is definitely making a turn for the better,” Heron said. “We have a chance of making a strong run at the SEC title this year and next year, and then hopefully making a strong run in the tournament.”

Auburn’s 2017 class, which can sign National Letters of Intent Nov. 9, includes five-star center Austin Wiley, top 50 point guard Davion Mitchell and top 60 forward Chuma Okeke.

Five-star power forward E.J. Montgomery, the No. 9 prospect in the 2018 class, committed to Auburn Sept. 22 and four-star 2019 power forward Jared Jones chose the Tigers Wednesday night.

Auburn will host Div. II Montevallo in an exhibition game Nov. 4 before opening the season against North Florida Nov. 11 at the Auburn Arena.