Kentucky journalist sends strong message on Auburn assistant basketball coach Steven Pearl
Auburn basketball clinched the SEC Championship on Saturday by beating down Kentucky — in a game that saw its broadcast go dark on ABC with the Tigers up big — and getting some help from Tennessee against Alabama in Knoxville.
Miles Kelly’s 30 points on 9/14 three-point shooting helped make up for Johni Broome’s struggles. Bruce Pearl’s son was a major component of Kelly’s AU commitment last May.
KSR’s Brandon Ramsey recognized that in his endorsement or Steven becoming a head coach one day.
“I have a lot of respect for Coach Steven Pearl,” Ramsey wrote.
“Between recruiting and game planning he is going to make a GREAT head coach. He’s beyond ready.
“Big reason why Auburn is as good as they are.”
As On3’s Justin Hokanson wrote at the time, Steven worked hard for a week and a half straight to seal the deal for Kelly.
“Auburn’s staff and Steven Pearl targeted Miles Kelly earlier in the process and did a really nice job of sealing the deal over the last 10 days or so — Kelly had plenty of options, but Auburn lands a really important piece to the roster heading into next season,” Hokanson wrote.
Many see Steven as Bruce’s successor on the Plains. Whether Bruce takes his “dream job” at Indiana or simply sails off into the sunset, there could be a plan in place to hand the reins to his son.
Then again, the allure of making Auburn a national powerhouse could keep Bruce continuing to build this program indefinitely. At 64, Pearl still has plenty of energy and enthusiasm and AU has fully embraced him as the best thing to ever happen on the Neville/Auburn Arena hardwood.
Whether Bruce stays or he goes, a Pearl will be probably be overseeing this program well into the future.
