As the buzz of March Madness fades, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl just received a significant roster boost.
UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall stated he will bypass the NBA draft process and commit entirely to the Tigers for the 2025-26 season.
Hall, a 6-foot-7 guard/forward, exploded into the national scene in 2024-25 at UCF, when he averaged 18.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, garnering Second-Team All-Big 12 and Big 12 All-Newcomer accolades.
He was one of the most sought-after players in the country because of his reliable scoring, adaptability on defense, and playmaking (2.4 assists per game).
Hall’s decision to remove his name from the draft was announced by CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein via X on Tuesday.
For Auburn, the timing could not be better.
The Tigers closed the 2024-25 campaign with a 32-6 record, clinching the SEC regular-season crown with a 15-3 mark and advancing to the Final Four for only the second time in program history under Pearl’s leadership.
Their season finally ended with a hard-fought loss against Florida in the national semifinals, falling 79-73.
With the departure of all of Auburn’s key players from the previous season, Pearl now inherits a versatile wing that can defend multiple positions and stretch the floor.
Miles Kelly, Denver Jones, Tahaad Pettiford, Chad Baker-Mazara, Johni Broome, and Dylan Cardwell are all graduating, transferring, or heading to the NBA.
As Auburn switches its emphasis from the Plains to the gateway, Hall’s pledge underlines Pearl’s determination to sustain the program’s rising trend and challenge for a national title again in 2025-26.
