SNAPSHOT
A big man who seems ready to make an impact as soon as he hits the NBA, Johni Broome is a super senior who is an old school player in the frontcourt, and should be worthy of selection in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Although he does not have the modern ability to stretch the floor, Broome's inside scoring, team-lifting defence and connective passing make him one of the stronger big men in the draft class, and the fact that he is ready to slot into a rotation is another bonus.
DRAFT PROFILE
Born and raised in Plant City, Florida, Broome began playing basketball for his local high school, but truly began to make an impact when he transferred to Tampa Catholic High School, a move that truly put him on the map, particularly after a dominant senior campaign.
The big man committed to playing basketball at Morehead State, despite offers from several schools including Jacksonville and Bryant. When Morehead State's starting big man suffered a season-ending injury, it opened the door for Broome to step up in his Freshman season, and this helped fast track his development within the NCAA system.
Ahead of the 2022/23 season, Broome transferred to Auburn to join the Tigers, and played a crucial role in the team becoming one of the better programs in the nation. He led the team in points, rebounds, assists and blocks throughout his final campaign, and drove the team to the top seed in the NCAA Division I tournament.
During his super senior season, Broome averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.1 blocks per game, shooting 51 per cent from the field, 27.8 per cent from behind the arc and 58.7 per cent from the free throw line.
STRENGTHS
+ Inside scoring
+ Defensive impact
+ Playmaking
+ Ready made game
IMPROVEMENTS
- Shooting
- Struggles in switches
Broome has his greatest impact on the offensive end when he can get into the low block and get to work against the opposition. He has tremendous post moves and can finish with both hands, bringing an excellent offensive arsenal to the table as an inside scorer.
On the defensive end, he makes big plays by blocking shots and energising his team with plenty of emotion following these efforts. Broome's timing means he meets the ball at the right time, rarely giving away goaltends and making the opposition think twice about driving when he is in the paint.
As a big man, Broome has elite vision and can pass the ball well for his size, adding another bow to his game and forcing the defence to hesitate about double-teaming him in the post. Although unlikely teams will run offence through him, he has excellent connective passing skills and can open up the play with his vision and execution.
Like many players in his position, Broome struggles with scoring from range, although that trend is being bucked in the modern NBA with a lot of prospects able to stretch the floor. If he can muster up a standing jump shot and become more consistent from the line, it will open up his game even more.
DRAFT PROJECTION: Second round
Broome is an old-school big man prospect, and can slot into any NBA rotation with his inside scoring, defence and the experience he brings to the table. If he can develop as a shooter, it will make him a much more complete player in the coming years.
