Auburn’s dominance this year has hinged on one person, and one person alone: Johni Broome. The six-foot-ten forward has been balling out for Bruce Pearl and his Tigers, making his presence felt to scouts and analysts alike. In the 2024-25 season, he is averaging around 18/10 double-double and shows no signs of stopping!

However, fans are getting curious about the Auburn star’s life outside the court! Even though Broome has been killing it on the hardwood floor, he has made it a point to keep his private life to himself. But has he been doing all of this on his own? Does he have a special someone by his side who can shoulder some of the burden? Let’s find out!

What’s Johni Broome’s relationship status?

Although there’s no publicly available information on Johni Broome’s relationship status, he appears to be focused on his basketball career at Auburn. Given that he is still a collegiate athlete, he may not be open to relationships at this point as he prioritizes his development on the court.

What’s his dating history?

The 2002-born forward currently plays for Auburn University’s men’s basketball team. There are no credible reports or sources linking him to any dating history. In addition, Broome keeps an incredibly private personal life, shining the focus on his game and growth as an athlete.

Johni Broome’s relationship with coach Bruce Pearl

Don’t you think Johni Broome and HC Bruce Pearl share a special bond? Auburn’s trip to the Final Four has highlighted the strong dynamics between the coach-player duo and the impeccable trust that they have in each other. Don’t get it twisted—Pearl doesn’t hesitate to call the young forward out. Not at all!

For example, he calls Broome out whenever he has a ‘triple-double’ but missed shots. However, he goes above and beyond to trust and celebrate the young man as well. After Broome’s injury in Auburn’s Elite Eight matchup against Michigan State, Bruce Pearl was having none of it. “Get your a– in there.” The Tigers coach said, leading to a critical three-pointer by Broome in the late game. After such an incredible shot, Pearl gave his props to the NPOY finalist, comparing him to NBA legend Willis Reed and his iconic 1970 Finals moment.

Without such an ironclad bond between coach and superstar, there’s no way that Auburn makes the Final Four. Not to mention, they’ve accumulated some heavy awards between the two, both conference and national level. Pearl won the Division I NABC Coach of the Year, while Johni Broome won the NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year award. Truly, an amazing season for both of them!

Johni Broome’s personality: A mixture of faith and discipline

With the Auburn forward’s outright dominance on the court, one would think that he’s quite an aggressive individual. However, that’s just not the case! Johni Broome is a man whose life revolves around two things: basketball and his faith. The Auburn big man has been a devout Christian for the last 20 years and gives all the credit of all his glory to god.

There’s also the fact that Johni Broome has a massive chip on his shoulder. He was overlooked as a recruit, ranking in the mid 400s nationally, and was spurned from local schools like USF. Broome had to earn everything that he has now, and he doesn’t take anything for granted! The former Morehead State forward dominated in the Ohio Valley Conference for two years, earning DPOY and Tournament MVP, before he got his big break at Auburn.

However, he’s also a natural leader. His encounters with freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford are a perfect example of why Johni Broome is fit to lead. The star forward makes sure there’s no hierarchy in the locker room, but still jokes around with the freshmen and his teammates. Bruce Pearl pointed this dynamic out, joking that Broome takes care of Pettiford in his own way, “loves on that little sh-t”. 

And outside of the court? He’s just a normal guy. Johni Broome loves playing Madden with his friends, listens to a ton of music, and does his own thing!

A legacy of excellence: The influence of his parents

Johni Broome’s rise to basketball stardom and his reputation as a genuine leader are deeply rooted in the values instilled by his parents, John Sr. and Julie Broome. Their unwavering commitment to education, hard work, and unity laid the foundation for what turned out to be a legendary college career!

Both John and Julie were athletes in their own rights. Julie Broome was where Johni got his height genes from, as her entire family is very tall! She played professional basketball in Germany and even coached at Jacksonville State. On the other hand, John Sr. played collegiate baseball at Alabama State. The fact that both of them played sports at such a high level meant that the Auburn star was exposed to some great teachings from the very beginning!

Furthermore, both his parents prioritized education and deemed it non-negotiable, saying that basketball wouldn’t last forever. This led Johni Broome to enroll as a sociology major, for which he received recognition from the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Second, and most importantly, they introduced him to faith. With his introduction to Christianity, a lot of things came on their own—morals, values, and a willingness to help.

The Broome family’s bond is symbolized by Johni’s jersey number 4, representing his place as the fourth member of the JAB Five. Interestingly enough, every boy in his household has a name derived from ‘John. ‘ His elder brother, John Jr., was an athletic and academic example for Johni Broome, as he played college football for FIU. It took some time for the younger Johni to get his moment in the sun, but as soon as the light shined upon him, he did not let it go!

Johni Broome’s rise to stardom

There’s no doubt that Johni Broome is an excellent player. After all, being in the race for an NPOY means that you’re amazing at the game, right? And when you’re amazing, people take notice? Well, that wasn’t exactly the case with Broome, at least not when he started out.

The six-foot-ten forward had humble beginnings to his collegiate career. He played for Morehead State for the first two years and absolutely dominated the Ohio Valley Conference! It got to a point where national coaches were hunting for the center to join their teams. Broome, in 2022, let go of the opportunity to play for Todd Golden in Florida and headed to Auburn to complete his collegiate career.

And it was all upwards from there! Johni Broome had a stellar first season as a Tiger, averaging nearly a double-double. From there, he thought about entering the NBA draft in 2023, declaring for it while maintaining eligibility to return. He performed really well in the G-League Elite camp, but scouts had their doubts about his wingspan and a lack of agility to play center.

However, he turned up the heat even more after returning to Auburn and this year? Johni Broome found himself in NPOY contention. His story is truly inspirational, and he encapsulates what it is like to travel the road not taken in a sea of one-and-done stars. But what’s next for the Auburn superstar?

The future ahead for Johni Broome

Well, there’s an obvious goal ahead of the Auburn forward—winning the NCAA championship. Johni Broome and Bruce Pearl have made it to the Final Four and will face Florida and Todd Golden. The concerning thing for Broome, however, are the injuries he sustained during the Elite Eight matchup with Michigan State.

A hyperextended elbow and left leg strain might put a stop to Auburn’s well-oiled machinery. However, Bruce Pearl has confirmed that the six-foot-ten center/forward will start against Florida on April 5th. Aside from potential national titles, there’s only one thing that we can predict for Broome going forward—an NBA contract.

NBA scouts and teams alike have genuine doubts about Johni Broome’s effectiveness in the league. Undoubtedly, the forward is a well-rounded and ready-to-play offensive package who will make an immediate impact in the NBA. However, his intangibles, his age, and his lateral quickness pose a lot of trouble for scouts looking to recruit him. Currently, he is listed as an early to mid second-rounder, but who knows? Maybe with a stellar Final Four performance and a potential MOP under his belt, teams and scouts will have a change of mind.

The only thing we can say for certain is that Johni Broome is a hooper. That man will continue to hoop wherever he goes, and the odds genuinely back an NBA breakthrough for the Auburn superstar.