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Auburn basketball: Starting lineup options for 2020-2021 season

By Cody Williams

AUBURN, ALABAMA - FEBRUARY 08: Devan Cambridge #35 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after their 91-90 overtime win over the LSU Tigers at Auburn Arena on February 08, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA - FEBRUARY 08: Devan Cambridge #35 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after their 91-90 overtime win over the LSU Tigers at Auburn Arena on February 08, 2020 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Auburn basketball roster
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Middle-of-the-road scenario

Looking back at the best-case scenario, the notion of Okoro returning is, in truth, a bit far-fetched. Unless the media evaluating draft prospects is severely off-base or has been highly misinformed to this point, the wing is going to be a lottery pick and should stay in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Beyond that, it also seems highly unlikely the Tigers are going to be able to land all three five-star recruits they have their sights set on. Yes, they already have Cooper in tow but landing both Brown and Green along with him seem unlikely. So in the middle-of-the-road scenario for Auburn basketball, they land Green, who they are favored to sign as of now, but miss out on Brown, who Texas is currently the favorites to sign.

Landing Cooper and Green gives Auburn a tremendous freshman backcourt, which is something Pearl has thrived with in the past. He could have an even more talented, albeit more youthful, version of Bryce Brown and Jared Harper under his watch in the 2020-21 season. The key factors will be the ancillary pieces around him on the wing and in the frontcourt.

Center Babatunde Akingbola is the biggest project of the group as he saw only 2.3 minutes per game in 13 contests this past season and has limited experience coming from Nigeria. Cambridge and Williams, however, are experienced players who could step into a larger role and play their part well alongside Cooper and Green.