Auburn Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2021-22 season

Center

Starter: Walker Kessler

Similar to the power forward position previously, you could certainly make an excellent argument as well that the center position in the strength of the 2021-22 Tigers. Headlining this talented group will be Kessler, one of the top overall college basketball transfers of the offseason.

A storied high school player in the state of Georgia, as well as a former five-star recruit, Kessler spent his freshman season a year ago at North Carolina in which he averaged 4.4 PPG and 3.2 RPG. Shooting 57.8% from the field, Kessler only averaged 8.8 MPG with the Tar Heels but showed flashes multiple times of just how impactful he can be when seeing regular minutes.

A 7’1 center, Kessler can not only impact a game in a major way on the offensive and defensive glass but will also ranks top among the Tigers in scoring, as well as one of the top shot-blockers and interior defensive presences in the entire country. Kessler should turn in a massive 2021-22 season as one of the top overall players in the SEC.

Backup: Dylan Cardwell, Babatunde Akingbola

The Tigers will have experienced depth at the center position, both of which played prominent minutes a season ago with the first of the two being Cardwell. A now sophomore, Cardwell appeared in 27 games a season ago averaging 3.8 PPG and 3.6 RPG on 70.5% shooting and should be one of the top rebounders for the Tigers this season.

Akingbola will also see time in the rotation after appearing in a combined 40 games across the last two seasons. The junior is coming off a 2020-21 season in which he averaged 1.9 PPG and 2.6 RPG on 47.7% shooting from the field while averaging 10.9 MPG.

The Tigers will obviously be without a key contributor in Flanigan for the early part of the 2021-22 season. However, Auburn Basketball has the talent and depth needed to be a legit contender in the SEC throughout the 2021-22 campaign.