No. 2 Auburn will be without star forward Johni Broome indefinitely after he suffered an ankle sprain during Saturday’s win over South Carolina. The 6-foot-10 senior will not require surgery to repair the injury, but the timeline for his return is uncertain.
Broome is a leading candidate for national player of the year, averaging 17.9 points and leading the SEC with 10.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game for the 15–1 Tigers.
Johni Broome is down, and holding his left ankle.
It appears he came down awkwardly on a South Carolina player’s foot. Auburn’s training staff helping Broome off the floor and to the locker room. pic.twitter.com/xkz76h5X0v
— Vince Wolfram (@vincewolfram15) January 11, 2025
He sustained the injury early in the second half, rolling his ankle when he landed on teammate Chaney Johnson’s foot while jumping for a rebound. Broome went to the locker room and eventually returned to the Auburn bench, but did not re-enter the game. He finished with six points and three rebounds.
Following the game, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl told reporters that Broome suffered a “significant sprain” and would undergo an MRI exam when the team returned home.
Last season, Broome earned third-team All-American and first-team SEC honors. He was also named SEC Tournament MVP after compiling a combined 47 points, 24 rebounds and six blocks in wins over South Carolina, Mississippi State and Florida.
Broome has provided some of his best performances this season in Auburn’s toughest games, highlighted by 23 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks in an 85–72 win over North Carolina at the Maui Invitational. He followed that up with 21 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks versus Memphis to win the tournament championship. At Duke, Broome scored 20 points with 12 rebounds in the Tigers’ only loss of the season.
Up next for Auburn is a home matchup with Mississippi State on Tuesday. After that, the Tigers visit Georgia (14–2) before hosting No. 1 Tennessee (15–1) in a primetime matchup on Jan. 25.
