Justin Powell, a 6-6 guard from Kentucky, committed to Auburn on Friday and became the first member of the team’s 2020 class.
Powell also held offers from Tennessee, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Xavier, Virginia Tech, among others, and was receiving interest from Kentucky.
COMMITTED? #wareagle pic.twitter.com/g2m1MKgdzp
— Justin Powell (@jtpowell241) June 7, 2019
Powell is ranked No. 171 by 247Sports and No. 228 in the 247Sports composite rankings, but Mike Schumann of The Daily Hoosier reported that Powell was ranked no. 51 overall by the recruiting service before having to sit out most of his junior season of high school due to transfer rules.
Powell sitting out was due to him transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida for his sophomore year and then transferring back to Kentucky after a few games and being forced to sit out for the rest of the season.
His first competitive game after sitting out was in this year’s Atlanta EYBL session, where he scored 26 points on 6-6 shooting from three in his return, also adding five rebounds, one steal, one block and one assist.
Nike EYBL All-Atlanta: Honorable Mention
Justin Powell ? Indy Heat (IN)
ATL stats: 15.8 PPG, 54.8 FG%, 58.8 3PT% (10-17), 2.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.2 TOPG (4-0)
READ ??https://t.co/j3c70Ebpaw @indy_heat @jtpowell241 pic.twitter.com/ZfpWCs4tA1
— D1 Circuit (@D1Circuit) May 5, 2019
Bruce Pearl has talked about the depth of talent in the 2020 class for years now, and Powell will be what looks like the first of many recruits signed.
Powell is also a friend and former teammate of five star center Walker Kessler, and both were at Auburn’s major recruiting event “Fish Fry Weekend.”
Kessler and Powell played on the ATL Celtics together in 2017.
Powell looks like he could be the next Bryce Brown if his ranking stays so low. The guard has shot over 50 percent from the international three-point line this AAU season, and that’s after having to knock the rust off from not playing during the high school season.
Powell has primarily played point guard in high school, but he has experience playing off the ball in AAU and has the size and ability to play point guard, shooting guard and small forward for the Tigers.
Auburn was unable to sign a shooter like Powell in the 2019 class, despite targeting recruits like Ismael Massoud who wound up signing with Wake Forest. So, it’s clear Powell will be a welcomed addition to the team after next year’s departures will leave the Tigers without Samir Doughty, Anfernee McLemore and others.
Powell’s shooting and versatility could allow him to compete for minutes as a freshman no matter how talented Auburn’s 2020 class ends up being.
Powell committing to Auburn is another testament to Pearl’s ability to have a bigger impact on the recruiting trail with a Final Four under his belt.
Auburn received commitments from Javon Franklin (2019), Daeshun Ruffin (2021) and now Powell all within a week of each other, and all three players will come in as heavily recruited out-of-state prospects.