The transfer portal has been huge for Mark Pope. In his first year at Kentucky, he practically rebuilt the entire roster using it. And he’s gearing up to do it again. But while Pope’s portal activity has been loud and in-your-face, looks like Bruce Pearl has been working quietly in the background. Auburn isn’t just celebrating a No. 1 seed and a Final Four run—they’re already setting up for next season. The proof? Pearl just swooped in and made a move that caught everyone off guard.

But before diving into that, let’s have a quick look at the Tigers’ roster situation. Sure, they’re a No. 1 seed, but they’re not exactly stacked with blue-chip recruits. In fact, they only have one five-star player, and just two guys on the roster were top-100 high school prospects. Compare that to Duke or Houston, who have at least six each.

But don’t get it twisted, there’s a method. What is it? Take a guess….well, obviously, the transfer portal. “You’ve got to bring in pieces that fit with what you currently have,” Auburn associate head coach Steven Pearl said. And that’s exactly what they did. One of the top names in the portal was Keyshawn Hall, a 6’7”, 235-pound forward who spent last season at UCF. 

If you don’t know about him, Hall led the Big 12 in scoring with 18.8 points per game, pulled down 7.1 rebounds a night, and shot a solid 35% from deep. He’s the kind of player who can make an immediate impact. This would be Hall’s fourth team in four years. He started at UNLV, then went to George Mason, then UCF. 

A few days back, On3’s Joe Tipton reported that the forward was set to meet with Kentucky over Zoom. Naturally, when news broke about his meeting with Pope, most people assumed Kentucky had it in the bag. I mean, it’s coach Pope. He has done it before. 9 transfers that led him to Sweet 16. It also had him saying, “I think guys have seen the massive success that we have had this year, and I think we’ll have great success recruiting the portal.” But surprise!

Reports say Hall has committed to Auburn, leaving Pope empty-handed. We already knew that Kansas and Auburn are in the mix but it seemed like Pope will eventually bring him to Lexington. And now, the internet can’t help but heap praise on coach Pearl.

Bruce Pearl’s portal magic has Auburn fans buzzing

One fan called him the “CBB portal king,” and can we really argue with that? Just take a look at the names he’s brought in—Johni Broome, Miles Kelly, Chad Baker-Mazara, Denver Jones, Chaney Johnson. Every single one of them has either leveled up their game or been a star from the jump. At Georgia Tech, Kelly’s numbers weren’t exactly very eye-catching. But this season at his offensive rating shot up by 20 points, his three-point percentage jumped six points, and his two-point shooting saw a five-point increase. That’s what we call a transformation.

And then there’s Broome, who’s been leading the charge since he arrived and is even in the National Player of the Year conversation. If that’s not elite portal scouting, what is? Another fan chimed in, saying “Pearl is loving this portal era😂.” And why wouldn’t he? Auburn’s coaching staff has practically built a title-contending squad through the portal. Just a few years ago, the Tigers struggled to get past the regular season. Even when they did, early exits were the norm. But now, the turnaround has been undeniable, and the common denominator is transfer talent.

And here’s the best part—it’s not over yet as one fan put it, “Still in the tourney and making moves.” Auburn is still very much in the tournament, gearing up to face Florida in San Antonio. Both teams look strong and the predictions are split but many are siding with the Tigers. Meanwhile, coach Pearl is out here multitasking like a pro—coaching his squad through the madness while also piecing together next year’s roster. The man is on mission.

One fan was hyped, dropping the all-caps “This is big get for the Auburn MBB team!!! LETS GOOOO!!!” Hall’s been a force at every stop. Starting at UNLV, then George Mason, where he led the team in scoring (16.6 PPG), rebounding (8.1 RPG), and free throws made. He earned second-team all-conference honors and was one of the best defensive rebounders in the country. Then came UCF, where he continued dominating—starting all 33 games, leading the Big 12 in scoring, and earning second-team all-conference again.

That means, Auburn just added one of the most proven, battle-tested players in the portal and that’s a huge win. And obviously, Auburn fans are all in. “If the Pearls want him, we want him,” one said. This fanbase is nothing if not passionate, and they’ve shown their trust in Pearl time and time again. We’ve seen it in the electric rivalry games against Alabama, we’ve seen it in their unwavering support over the years, and we’re seeing it again now. 

Bruce Pearl is the most successful coach in Auburn history in his 11 years, and has them two wins away from something legendary. Next season is shaping up to be something special, but first, Auburn has business to take care of. Let’s see if they can claim their first title.