AUBURN, Ala. – Ja'Heim Hudson (pronounced JUH-heem) has signed his National Letter of Intent to join the Auburn men's basketball program for the 2024-25 season.
The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward from Hinesville, Georgia, is a transfer from SMU where he played in 31 games this past season averaging 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game for the Mustangs. He also made 18 steals and 17 blocked shots.
"Talking to the last three coaches Ja'Heim has played for – in high school, at Georgia State and at SMU – I respect all three of those coaches and all three said he was one of their favorites," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "He is a great person, great worker and great teammate. Stepping up another level, he brings great depth to our front line and has two years of eligibility remaining. He will definitely make an impact on our program and bring another level of toughness to our team."
Hudson registered a season-high 21 points with four rebounds against Indiana State in the 2024 NIT First Round. He also averaged 9.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest in the team's preseason foreign tour to Spain in the Summer of 2023.
An Athletic Director's Honor Roll student, Hudson started his collegiate career playing two seasons at Georgia State and was a member of the Panthers' 2022 NCAA Tournament and Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship squad. He scored a career-high 26 points with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in a victory over Coastal Carolina during his sophomore year. He was the team's leading shot blocker (22) and rebounder (6.9 avg.) that season.
For his career, he has recorded 20 double-figure scoring games and four double-doubles. Statistically, Hudson was ranked in the 93rd percentile on Synergy for pick and roll.
The former all-state first team and all-Cobb County second team selection led Wheeler High School to back-to-back state championships during his junior and senior seasons including a Top 25 ranking in 2020-21. A three-star recruit and among the Top 75 power forwards in the country in the Class of 2021, he also played AAU basketball for Game Elite and HYPE Hawks.