Steven Pearl on Santa Clara transfer Bukky Oboye: Former point guard still learning 7′1 body

Auburn basketball is preparing for the 2026-27 season with one of the tallest rosters in recent memory, bolstered by a pair of new 7-footers. The Tigers have added French prospect Narcisse Ngoy and Santa Clara transfer Bukky Oboye to the fold, giving the coaching staff significant size to work with in the paint.

Unlocking New Potential

Oboye arrives at Auburn with a proven track record, having started all 34 games for Santa Clara last season. During that campaign, he posted averages of 7.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Beyond the counting stats, he demonstrated elite efficiency in 2025 by leading the nation in 2-point field goal percentage at 77 percent. According to KenPom, he also ranked 44th nationally with an 8 percent block rate.

Despite those achievements, Auburn coach Steven Pearl believes the big man has only scratched the surface of his capabilities. The transition to his current size has been rapid—Oboye was a point guard standing 6-foot-4 just a few years ago. "He’s still trying to figure out how to move in that body," Pearl noted. "He’s got a lot of untapped potential. He’s only been 7’1 for a couple years now."

Developmental Summer Ahead

The coaching staff is prioritizing a rigorous summer training program for both Oboye and Ngoy. Pearl emphasized that the focus will be on evolving their skill sets and exposing them to responsibilities they haven't been asked to handle in previous years. "We’ve really got to do a good job of bringing out his potential this summer," Pearl added.

Oboye brings valuable experience from a successful stint at Santa Clara, where he helped the Broncos finish third in the West Coast Conference. The team secured a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament and nearly upset Kentucky in the first round. "His ability to finish around the rim is at the highest level in college basketball," Pearl said.

Building Size in the Pearl Era

The arrival of Oboye marks a unique moment for the program, as Auburn will feature multiple 7-footers on the roster for the first time during the Pearl Era. Historically, the team has only utilized two 7-footers under coach Bruce Pearl: Walker Kessler and Trayvon Reed.

The Tigers are set to kick off preparations for the 2026-27 campaign this June, followed by a highly anticipated foreign tour in Greece scheduled for August.