Program changer

AUBURN, Ala. |Mustapha HeronClick [rl]Here to view this Link. made it official Thursday when the talented guard from Sacred Heart in Waterbury, Conn., signed and faxed in his National Letter of Intent to Auburn.

He is the first five-star to sign with Auburn in school history.

"We're very excited about Mustapha Heron's commitment," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "He's a program changer not just because he's a five-star and a probable McDonald's All-American, the third one maybe that we would ever have here at Auburn, he's an incredible young man.

"He has had his own reading program in the Waterbury area for a number of years with his dad. His dad works in the prison system and he has learned how to make a difference in the community already. Private school, Sacred Heart, an absolute role model. Could walk into school and having won two state championship for them and trying to get a third, he could be the big man on campus and he just doesn't carry himself that way at all."

Heron, 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, is ranked a five-star and the nation's No. 21 overall prospect by Rivals.com. He averaged 22 points and 5.3 rebounds last season becoming only the second junior to ever be named the New Haven Register All-State Player of the Year.

Heron chose Auburn over a number of other offers including UCLA, Kansas, Maryland, St. John's, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Alabama and Miami.

"I think the combination of seeing historically how my wings have scored, historically, particularly even like K.T. Harrell as a senior, and our system of playing fast, and a lot of others things," Pearl said on why Heron chose the Tigers. "Chuck Person getting to coach him at his position. Chuck was a pro at his position, I think that was really attractive to Mustapha.

"The other thing that was a big factor was when you've got 14 young men that graduated from Auburn last year, finished their eligibility, and they're playing on Sunday in the NFL, Mustapha was able to make that transition and translate playing professionally and going to Auburn. The same training staff, doctors, nutritionists and yes, our basketball program is nowhere near our football program right now but he was able to see how he could come to a small college town and train. He's a gym rat. He didn't want a lot of distractions so the size and the smallness and the whole thing was a great fit."

Pearl said being a one-and-done college player is not something that came up during Heron's recruitment.

"As far as how long he's here, that's all to be determined," Pearl said. "I think he's got a great future. I think he's got a chance to be an NBA player. I don't think he's worried about that right now though. You know what he's worried about right now? He's worried about doing a great job in school, winning a third state championship, coming to Auburn and having a college experience and whenever he's ready, he's ready, if he's ready. That's his approach. He's got a wonderful approach.

"Unless you pin him in a corner and ask him a question about what his timetable is and make him answer, I just think he doesn't have a timetable. He's excited about being a high school senior and about being a college freshman."

Auburn has also signed Worth County (Ga.) three-star power forward Anfernee McLemore and is expected to sign Pebblebrook (Ga.) four-star point guard Jared Harper Thursday evening.

Rivals.com currently ranks Auburn with the nation's No. 12 class and the SEC's No. 3 class. The Tigers are expected to sign one or two additional players in the spring period.