Former 5-star recruit Yohan Traore plans to transfer from Auburn

Yohan Traore (21) during the game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the #16 Auburn Tigers at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC on Saturday, Jan 21, 2023. Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers
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The top signee in Auburn’s 2022 recruiting class is entering the transfer portal.

Former five-star combo forward Yohan Traore announced Tuesday his plans to transfer from Auburn after one season with the Tigers. Traore, the 24th-best prospect in the 2022 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, appeared in 25 games off the bench for Bruce Pearl’s team this season.

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“I am grateful to be part of the Auburn Tiger community,” Traore wrote in a post on his Instagram account. “My time in Auburn has taught me lessons that extend far beyond the basketball court. I have given 100% to the University on and off the court. A heartfelt thanks to Coach Pearl for recruiting me and giving me the opportunity to play at Auburn. I also want to thank the entire Auburn staff for giving me the opportunity to play under their leadership this past year. To my teammates, thank you for always being by my side, you guys have become family to me.

“Most importantly I would like to thank the Auburn community for embracing and supporting me throughout my time here. I will always remember and appreciate you, but the time has come for me to enter the transfer portal and take that next step as a basketball player. Thank you all for respecting my decision.”

Traore originally signed with LSU but was granted a release from his letter of intent after Will Wade was fired in Baton Rouge, La. Shortly thereafter, Traore took a visit to the Plains and then committed to Auburn.

The 6-foot-10 Traore averaged 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds per game as a freshman. After being part of Auburn’s regular rotation during nonconference play, logging double-digit minutes off the bench in 11 of the 12 games he appeared in during that stretch. He all but fell out of Auburn’s regular rotation at the start of SEC, playing sporadically as Auburn put together a 10-8 record in conference action.

“It was tough, mentally, but I just got to keep my head up,” Traore said two weeks ago in Birmingham. “I kept working. I feel like I did a great job staying ready. It was tough mentally, but I feel like I got over it now.”

Traore, who played nine minutes off the bench in Auburn’s opening-round NCAA Tournament win against Iowa, did not play in the team’s season-ending loss to top-seeded Houston. Following the Iowa game, Traore said his plan was to “most likely” return to Auburn for his sophomore season.

Now, after the dust has settled on the Tigers’ 2022-23 season and with a roster restructuring on the way for Pearl and his staff, Traore is on his way out the door.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

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