AUBURN, Ala. – It takes something big for Auburn University freshman Daniel York to miss a Tigers basketball game. Something like a Rubik's Cube competition.
A cube enthusiast since middle school, Daniel – like the basketball team he supports – emerged victorious in his most recent outing, setting the Alabama state record, solving the colorful cube in four minutes – while blindfolded.
How does Daniel solve a cube he can't see?
"There's a method," he said. "I memorize it beforehand, then I put the blindfold on, then I solve it."
Invented in 1974 by Hungarian architecture professor and sculptor Erno Rubik, the cube launched a craze in the 1980s and has enjoyed a comeback in the social media era.
"There's a huge community to it," said Daniel, who aspires to create a cubing club on campus. "I have a lot of friends across the country. We all travel and compete and do the Rubik's Cube. Similar interests bring people together.
"It's grown. With YouTube it got pretty popular. You can look up a tutorial now and just about anybody can solve it. There's a lot of people out there who solve it really fast. It's gotten its popularity back."
Prince of the Puzzle: Daniel once solved the Rubik's Cube in six seconds
The freshman from Phoenix, Arizona, started looking at Southern schools when his parents moved from the desert to the South.
"I found Auburn and I fell in love with it," he said. "It's been a blast so far. I really enjoy the college town, compared to the big city of Phoenix."
The computer engineering major wears a No. 34 Phoenix Suns jersey to each Auburn game. Daniel bought a second Suns jersey after Charles Barkley signed his original one when the Tigers hosted Georgia on Jan. 19.
"I love Barkley," Daniel said. "That jersey is framed in my room now. I've always liked basketball. I grew up with the Suns."
To help pass the time before games, Daniel sometimes practices his Rubik's Cube.
"Once they got that No. 1 ranking, it got pretty crazy having to camp out and get there really early," he said. "Waiting in line you get to meet and talk to people, so it's still pretty fun."
Daniel transitioned from freshman fan to Jungle Celebrity during Auburn's SEC opener vs. LSU when War Eagle Productions showcased his Rubik's Cube wizardry on the video board during a timeout.
The Conqueror of the Cube!
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) March 1, 2022
If you've been to an @AuburnMBB game this season, you've seen @AUJungle member @DanielY88946181 - the Prince of the Puzzle:
"I love competing & meeting new people with the cube."
Watch these fast fingers fly! ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/aWAZNYE8EM
"A lot of people on campus say, 'Aren't you that guy that solves that cube?'" he said. "If I put the Barkley jersey on, everybody knows who I am. It's like the Spider-Man suit."
With hand-eye coordination rivaling Auburn point guards Wendell Green Jr. and Zep Jasper, Daniel holds Arizona state records in cup stacking and is a member of the USA national sport stacking team.
"It helps with your brain," Daniel contends. "It unlocks a different side of it."
Averaging 11 seconds per Rubik's Cube solve, Daniel's fastest competition time is eight seconds.
"My best time at home is six seconds," he said. "The secret to getting fast is a lot of practice. The secret to completing it is a YouTube tutorial and a couple hours of your time.
"The hard part is getting to the really fast speeds, around 10 seconds. I've been practicing for a couple years. You have to be committed if you want to get fast."
Just like Daniel York solves his Rubik's Cube, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl and the Tigers are solving their own Southeastern Conference puzzle in their successful quest for a championship.
"I love this team," Daniel said. "I've seen them grow since the season started. Everything's moving together really nice. They're balling out. It's really fun to watch."
Auburn freshman Daniel York
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer