Steven Pearl and the Auburn basketball team have spent much of August in Greece, but the Tigers’ transfer portal work has continued moving forward.
Auburn recently received some positive news with the addition of former Utah State guard, giving the Tigers another valuable depth piece.
The 6-foot-1 senior averaged 7.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season.
Kolby King brings more intrigue off the court than he does on it. He isn’t a flashy addition, but he offers a dependable bench option with plenty of experience. King has appeared in 127 career games, averaging 18.8 minutes per contest. His best scoring season came at Tulane in 2023, when he averaged 10.4 points per game. His roles at Butler and Utah State, however, were somewhat more limited.
King was part of a Utah State squad that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season. Before that, he played for Tulane and Butler teams that, much like Auburn, were going through difficult stretches.
Considering how far Auburn fell back last season, this commitment is hardly a transformative one. King should provide solid depth off the bench, but his presence alone would not have prevented the Tigers’ disastrous February.
Kolby King’s eligibility is surprising and confusing
Much of the discussion surrounding King has focused on the legal battle over his eligibility. The legal language and court proceedings surrounding his situation can be complicated, but the basic explanation is fairly straightforward:
King was one of 15 plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed in July after the NCAA announced a change to its age-based, five-year eligibility rule. A judge subsequently issued an injunction allowing athletes from the 2022 class to remain eligible for the upcoming season.
It is increasingly frustrating that college sports fans have had to become familiar with complicated legal proceedings simply to understand what the future holds for individual players, teams and the sport itself. It is certainly encouraging that athletes are receiving a fairer share and gaining mobility comparable to that of coaches. However, the growth of NIL and the transfer portal has also opened the door to a Pandora’s box of settlements, appeals and injunctions that have unfortunately become essential reading for fans trying to keep up with the sport.