As Auburn basketball prepares for the 2025–26 season, the team will look drastically different from the one that reached its second Final Four in six years. With the majority of players either graduating or entering the transfer portal, head coach Bruce Pearl faces the challenge of rebuilding nearly the entire roster. The lone potential returnee is freshman Tahaad Pettiford, who declared for the NBA Draft but has kept his college eligibility intact.
Aware of the impending roster turnover, Pearl and his staff were proactive on the recruiting trail even during the Tigers’ postseason run. Just before their matchup against Florida in the NCAA Tournament, Auburn landed its first major addition from the transfer portal.
Former UCF standout Keyshawn Hall was the first to commit to the Tigers and is expected to be a game-changer this upcoming season.
“Keyshawn was one of the most impactful players in the portal,” Pearl told Auburn Live. “He led the Big 12 in scoring and is a pure scorer. He’s tough to guard one-on-one and offers versatility on both ends of the court. He’s a matchup nightmare. What stood out most was his determination to finish his college career as a winner and compete for a title.”
Hall brings an impressive résumé to Auburn, having averaged 18.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game last season. He shot 42.7% from the field, 35.4% from three-point range, and 84.4% from the free-throw line. Starting all 33 games for UCF, he earned second-team All-Big 12 honors for his performance.
