Auburn Guard Andre Malone Leaves Program

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Two years after signing his National Letter of Intent to attend Auburn University and play for head coach Tony Barbee and the Auburn Tigers (5-7), Andre Malone decided it was best to find another program to play his final two years of College Basketball.

Malone participated in 11 games this season logging an average of 25-minutes per outing.

He was also the second leading scorer with 11.7 points a game, while adding 3.4 rebounds, and nailing 44 percent of his three point attempts.

His career high came during the second game of the season where he poured in 28-points, and four rebounds in a 79-68 loss to Samford.

Head coach Tony Barbee commented on the sophomore leaving the program by saying "He just felt it wasn't the right fit, and I agree."

Malone had offers from programs like Cincinatti, LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Xavier. All those programs are familiar with Malone as a player, and could have a possibility of landing the 6-foot-5 guard.

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Cedrick McAfee Finally Makes His College Decision

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Cedrick McAfee, a 6-foot-2 point guard recently joined the Florida International Golden Panthers 2011 recruiting class.

However, one day later McAfee changed his mind about the program and chose to decommit. 

McAfee opened back up his recruitment and although his coach only exclaimed that he rushed his decision, FIU still thought it was the frontrunner to acquire the highly-touted senior guard.

However, according to sources McAfee has made another 2011 recruiting class notable. That lucky recruiting class is Auburn.

The Auburn Tigers have been able to nab a few frontcourt players in Willy Kouassi, and Benard Morena. McAfee joins this recruiting class as the best player and could possibly become a star during his freshman year in college.

He chose Auburn over Arkansas, Baylor, FIU, and Memphis. The Tigers acquired a scoring machine that can lead the offense as well.

With McAfee to bolster in their 2011 recruiting class, I wouldn't be surprised if more recruits started becoming interested in the Tigers basketball program.

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Ex-Longhorn Varez Ward Transferring to Auburn

Posted by CoHoops Paul Seaver

The Auburn men's basketball program has been in the news the last week in regards to once expected players, as well as future Tigers.

Auburn, which is now directed by first year head coach Tony Barbee, received the verbal commitments of 2011 recruits Bernard Modena and Willy Kouassi last week. However, that was followed by the news that the team has lost both Luke Cothran and Shawn Kemp Jr. for 2010 due to non-qualifying issues.

Although, it is has begun to appear as if Auburn might have a tough time in the SEC in 2010-2011, Barbee's second season as head coach seems to be getting brighter.

Varez Ward is the newest addition to the program after rumors have surfaced he is transferring from Texas to Auburn.

Ward tore his quadriceps tendon early in the season at Texas this past year in what seemed to be a freak pre-game accident. After Ward sat out nearly the entire season, Texas received a commitment from incoming freshman Cory Joseph and that just may have pushed Ward to look elsewhere.

He did and he has found a new home. Ward was granted a medical hardship and will have three years of eligibility remaining at Auburn.

Ward should be a great addition to Auburn's program once he is fully healthy and eligible.



*Photo: Varez Ward *Credit: zimbio.com


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Auburn Grabs Pair of 2011 Commitments

Posted by CoHoops Paul Seaver

Auburn was considered a bubble team in early March and ended up as a No. 1 seed in the NIT. However, it was not enough to save the head coaching job for Jeff Lebo.

Lebo has found a new home as the head coach at Eastern Carolina, and now Tony Barbee has taken over. Barbee led UTEP to the NCAA Tournament this past season, bowing out to eventual national runner-up Butler in the first round.

On Thursday, Barbee got new additions to his program with the verbal commitments of two high schools teammates. Willy Kouassi and Bernard Morena will both attend Auburn.

Kouassi and Morena are both members of the class of 2011 and both hail from Central Park Christian School.

Morena, a 6-foot-8 small forward, is a three-star prospect, as rated by scout.com, while Kouassi, also a three-star prospect, is the big man inside at 6-foot-10.

The pair of commitments for Barbee is a great strating point in what will be the first full recruiting class at Auburn for the new head coach.

According to Evan Daniels of scout.com, 2010 Auburn commitments Luke Cothran and Shawn Kemp Jr. did not qualify and will not enroll at the university.

Tiger fans are happy with the signing of Tony Barbee. He was 82-52 in four seasons at UTEP, his first and only head coaching gig prior to his hiring at Auburn.


*Photo: Tony Barbee *Credit: auburn.scout.com

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