Johnnie Harris’ 3rd year at AU

[aubiefifty 18,430]

What can be expected in Johnnie Harris’ third year in Auburn?

 

Daniel Locke

Tue, April 4, 2023 at 1:00 PM CDT

 

 

The 2022-23 season was a step in the right direction for the Auburn Tigers women’s basketball program. The Tigers finished with a winning record for the first time since 2019 and advanced to the second round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament. Johnnie Harris has the program moving in the right direction.

The roster for next year will look different, but the Tigers will welcome back a familiar face. Honesty Scott-Grayson, a guard from Brick, New Jersey, will be back for her sixth year of college basketball and her fourth year with Auburn. Scott-Grayson averaged 12.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game and scored her 1,000th career point this season.

Auburn has two players who have entered the transfer portal so far: romi levy and Aicha Coulibaly. Levy was a junior forward from Herzelia, Israel who missed the 2021-22 season due to a knee injury. Levy averaged 6.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists for the Tigers this season. Coulibaly was a junior guard from Bamako, Mali who has been a big part of the program for three seasons. Coulibaly averaged 16 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists and started 25 games for Auburn this season.

 

The Tigers have two important recruits coming in for next season: Timya Thurman and Savannah Scott.

“I’m very excited about the class of 2023,” Harris said. “They both provide much-needed SEC size and skills that will help boost our program to the next level. This is an instant impact class that we’ve needed to rebuild this program.

Thurman is a 6’5” center from Linden, Alabama.

“Timya Thurman has the potential to be a dominant post player in the SEC,” Harris said. “She’s long, physical, and her presence will be felt on both ends of the court. This is an Alabama kid that is able to stay close to home, while establishing her new home here at Auburn.”

Scott is a 6’4″ center from Conway, Arkansas.

“Savannah Scott is a physical player who has really good hands and footwork in the paint,” Harris said. When I think of tough, hard-nosed, physical, and aggressive…she’s a player that comes to mind. She’s also the kind of post player skilled enough to play with another big.”

This will be a crucial year for Auburn’s rebuilding process and Harris is confident that the team will continue moving in the right direction.

[ellitor 34,021]

That's assuming there is a year 3 which is not a given.

[AuburnNTexas 7,354]

1st year I was impressed with how much more cohesive the team was with the Talent that she inherited. Second year I saw better recruiting and I thought we were headed in the right direction and then it seemed like the wheels fell off. I am beginning to think the assistant coach that left was why we initially looked better. Now with some important players in the Portal  even with the two new Centers coming in I just don't know. I am going to give Harris the benefit of the doubt and hope she gets a third year but if she does we have to look a lot better than we did this year. She better hit the Portal hard and she needs quick results to prove that she deserves a third year.

[ellitor 34,021]

2 minutes ago, AuburnNTexas said:

She better hit the Portal hard and she needs quick results to prove that she deserves a third year.

To an extent it doesn't matter how hard she hits it if she ain't got no NIL behind it.

[AuburnNTexas 7,354]

2 minutes ago, ellitor said:

To an extent it doesn't matter how hard she hits it if she ain't got no NIL behind it.

If no NIL behind it and that is the reason the players are leaving then it doesn't really matter if we bring in another coach. We have basically written off Women's basketball at Auburn.

[ellitor 34,021]

8 minutes ago, AuburnNTexas said:

If no NIL behind it and that is the reason the players are leaving then it doesn't really matter if we bring in another coach. We have basically written off Women's basketball at Auburn.

Not necessarily. If the new coach can mesh well with our money people (Not saying Coach J is not) then maybe we will get some NIL opportunities to give out.

[TD1 246]

I noticed that they only mentioned 2 players that have entered the portal so far. 

Richardson announced her commitment to Ole Miss this morning. 

[ellitor 34,021]

13 minutes ago, TD1 said:

I noticed that they only mentioned 2 players that have entered the portal so far. 

Richardson announced her commitment to Ole Miss this morning. 

@TD1 Who is they? Outgoing schools don't usually announce it when players are transferring out.

[AUJarhead 71]

3 minutes ago, ellitor said:

@TD1 Who is they? Outgoing schools don't usually announce it when players are transferring out.

Here's who I'm aware of:

[TD1 246]

15 minutes ago, ellitor said:

@TD1 Who is they? Outgoing schools don't usually announce it when players are transferring out.

The writer of the article. Should have made that clear in my previous comment. 

Edited April 6, 2023 by TD1