The Auburn Tigers are still picking up the pieces of their shattered hearts after falling to the Florida Gators in the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four. As they try to leave the pain of March Madness in the rearview mirror, one of Johni Broome’s star teammates dropped a cryptic message about his future.
In a game that could’ve gone either way, the No. 1 seed in the South Region fell to the No. 1 seed in the West. But the parity in rankings does little to ease the lingering pain for the college basketball program on The Plains.
Broome, Bruce Pearl, and the Tigers had no answers for Walter Clayton Jr., who tormented Auburn all night long in San Antonio. While Broome is looking to move on from the loss and focus on his journey to the NBA Draft, a star teammate of his could be eyeing one more year in the NCAA.
After the loss to Florida, Auburn star Chad Baker-Mazara dropped a mysterious statement on his social media, hinting at a possible final season in college.
“2025/26 War Eagle?” Tigers senior guard Chad Baker-Mazara stated on his X, formerly Twitter, account. His message is a hint at Auburn’s battle cry, which has its origin in 1892 and it could well mean he is staying in school for the 2025-26 campaign.
Baker-Mazara’s post made waves on social media, as the 25-year-old could still return for another season in the NCAA. If he declares for the 2026 NBA Draft, he’d enter the league at 26. To put it into perspective, LaMelo Ball, who debuted during the 2020-21 season, is only 23 years old now.
Not a farewell
Moreover, the suspense around Baker-Mazara’s future rises as he has yet to announce a clear decision on his next step after the loss in the NCAA Tournament.
“Auburn, love y’all. Y’all have made me better as a person and a player in so many ways. Even though we fell short of the chip, it was a great season—and there are no other fans like you guys,” Baker-Mazara previously wrote, without clarifying whether this marked the end of his time with the program.
Odd man in
While Auburn starters like Johni Broome, Denver Jones, Dylan Cardwell, and Miles Kelly ran out of eligibility in college basketball, Baker-Mazara has one year left of eligibility if he intends to use it. His extra season was granted by the NCAA due to his year in junior college (JUCO). However, when asked shortly after the loss to the Gators, Baker-Mazara had no interest getting into any plans for the future.
“Man, come on. The game just ended,” he answered after being asked about a potential return next season.
SURVEY Should Baker-Mazara stay for another year in college or move on to the NBA?
Should Baker-Mazara stay for another year in college or move on to the NBA?
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However, judging by his latest activity on social media, it appears the 25-year-old Dominican guard has started to give serious thought to the question about his future.