Auburn staff visits 2018 big man

Canton (Miss.) power forward Javian Fleming has been a priority for Auburn since his impressive performance last summer at a Tigers’ team camp.

Bruce Pearl on Wednesday made sure Fleming knows he remains a priority.

“All of Auburn’s coaches came for an in-home visit,” Fleming said. “I talked to all of them; me and my parents did.”

Auburn’s coaches - Pearl, associate head coach Chuck Person and assistants Harris Adler and Steven Pearl - all visited with Fleming and family for more than an hour.

The in-home visit was an opportunity to build on relationships first formed in June when Fleming, then coming off his freshman season, showed out at Auburn’s camp and the Tigers showed up with an offer.

“Me and my parents sat down and talked to them, and we watched some videos, too,” Fleming said. “Everything went really good. We enjoyed talking to them. They are great people and great coaches.”

Fleming will get another opportunity to meet with the Auburn coaches in the summer. He and his Canton teammates are scheduled to return to Auburn’s team camp in June.

“I like the the basketball facilities and everything we saw last summer,” Fleming said. “I’m looking forward to going back this summer. Auburn stands high with me.”

Fleming doesn’t list any favorites among the 20-plus schools that have offered, which includes Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, LSU, Iowa State, Cincinnati, Minnesota and UAB.

“They are all about the same,” Fleming said. “Recruiting is starting to pick up for me, I’ve been hearing from a lot of schools, most of the SEC schools and Big Ten schools.”

Fleming said he plans to narrow his list in late July or early August.

As a sophomore, Fleming, who stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 230 pounds, averaged 15.2 points, 10 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots per game.