In comparison to AU’s recent Final Four squad, Bruce Pearl’s Auburn Tigers basketball program will little resemble it in the 2025–26 campaign. Furthermore, it extends beyond the absence of the complete starting five for the team. Chad Prewett, an assistant, has completely departed the game to follow a “greater calling.”
Bruce, Steven, and Tahaad Pettiford were the same as the previous year. Apart from that, the team will have to adjust to new jobs and a new group of people.
The Serbian big man Filip Jovic is one of the most intriguing new arrivals. He is the first player Pearl has signed who did not complete high school in the United States since the 2014–15 season. Pearl made the obvious analogy to Nikola Jokic, who played for the same Serbian club during his professional career, when he announced his signing with some fanfare.
What part does Filip Jovic play for the Auburn Tigers?
Justin Ferguson of the Auburn Observer claims that Jovic will be a versatile combo player who can see the floor at the 4 or 5 places.
“Jović is a projected 4 who, in some lineups, might play some small-ball 5. Ferguson stated, “He looks more like a prototypical frontcourt player than UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall or Division II standout Elyjah Freeman, but he is shorter than both Mississippi State transfer KeShawn Murphy and JUCO signee Emeka Opurum.”
Since foreign players seldom make such a leap, it is unclear how Jović will adjust to life in the SEC. Similar European imports have been successful for defending national champion Florida; the most noteworthy example was Urban Klavzar, who played as a sixth player the previous season.
In conclusion, Jovic will have an influence during the 2025–26 season, which could be Pearl’s most successful to date due to a fantastic transfer portal haul and one of his most comprehensive high school/international recruiting classes ever.
