AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn men’s basketball inked JUCO big man Emeka Opurum (pronounced UHH-MECK-UHH OHH-POUR-umm) on Thursday.
The 7-foot, 210-pound center is a transfer from Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. This gives the Tigers a size advantage in their frontcourt next season as Opurum joins Mississippi State transfer KeShawn Murphy, who is 6-foot-10.
“I am really proud of the track record we’ve had of developing big men in the line of Johni Broome, Dylan Cardwell, Walker Kessler and Austin Wiley,” head coach Bruce Pearl said. “Emeka has great upside. He is a legit seven-footer. He has a great wingspan, great timing defensively and has the ability to move his feet. Emeka has three years of eligibility and a great desire to work on his game and body. He is an outstanding student and athlete. We’ve had great success with guys with a Nigerian background in Chuma Okeke, Isaac Okoro and Babatunde “Stretch” Akingbola.”
In just one season at Butler, he was honored as Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-KJCCC First Team. Opurum made 87 blocks in 33 games played for the Grizzlies. He also averaged 9.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Opurum hails from Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to the U.S. in August of 2024. He previously attended Trinity International College (TRICOL) in Trinity Hills, Nigeria.