< Previous 9 MEN’S B ASKETB ALL S T AFF IRA BOWMAN Assistant Coach STEVEN PEARL Assistant Coach WES FLANIGAN Assistant Coach DAMON DAVIS Strength & Conditioning Coach RANDY ROBERTS Chaplain CLARK PEARSON Athletic Trainer IAN BORDERS Video Coordinator MADDUX JEFFREYS Graduate Assistant KT HARRELL Graduate Assistant CHAD PREWETT Director of Operations MARQUIS DANIELS Director of Player Development MIKE BURGOMASTER Assistant Director of Operations TRA’CEE TANNER Equipment Manager HOLLY MCKEE Sports Dietitian CLICK EACH PHOTO FOR FULL BIO10 FEA TURE: JUS TIN PO W ELL Q&A JUSTIN POWELL has already made a splash. With 26 points against South Alabama, he tied the Auburn record for most points by a freshman in their home debut. So what made him choose Auburn? When did he dunk for the first time? Find out below. When did you start playing basketball? Powell: When I was four. My first game ever – the court was obviously smaller, and the goals were little six-foot goals – but we had our first league game, and I hit a half-court shot to win the game. I kind of knew after that it was my sport. What is the biggest basketball highlight of your career? Powell: I hit a game-winner my sophomore year. It was for a big championship back home, and that was probably the biggest one. There were two seconds left, and I hit a 3. So that was pretty big. How about the first time you dunked? Powell: I actually dunked on somebody for my first dunk. It was my eighth-grade year, I was playing up on freshman. I never tried it before, and it was randomly just in game. I went up and dunked on the dude. I sat there for a second like ‘Wow, that just happened.’ I ran back on defense. That was my first dunk ever. Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions? Powell: It’s kind of weird but my socks – I’ve got to have them perfect. They have to be perfect always. So if somebody in the game hits one down or it just happens on a play, you always see me fixing my socks. It’s got to be perfect. I don’t know why. What made you choose Auburn? Powell: First thing first, it was BP. Just a great coach, awesome coach. I wanted to play for him. And then just the family atmosphere. I took my official visit, and after that visit, I went home, thought about it for a couple days and I just instantly knew this is the place I want to be. It was comfortable. I’m a decent way from home, so I wanted to be comfortable again. Going to Auburn, I’m obviously comfortable being down there, and I just wanted to be in a family atmosphere. What stood out from your visits to Auburn? Powell: Just the people. That “War Eagle” goes a long way. You hear that, and everybody is a family. Even just walking around, when I was walking around after the Iron Bowl down on Toomer’s, everybody was just welcoming. It was a comfort thing. It was just awesome. Have you heard “War Eagle” outside of Auburn yet? Powell: I actually have. I was at a high school game, one of my games last year. It was the King of the Bluegrass, so it’s a big one, it’s like a national tournament. It was a packed gym, semifinals, and we were playing the No. 1 team in the state. We were coming down from the bleachers ready to go into the locker room, and I see a guy stand up, he’s got a big orange Auburn shirt on, and he yells “War Eagle” in the middle of the game. They’re playing, and everybody looks up toward him. I look up at him, I yell it back. Everybody was laughing. It’s like, “You don’t understand. That’s just what we do.” 15 A UTLIVE The Bruce Pearl Family Foundation is once again continuing the fight against cancer with the sixth year of AUTLIVE, Auburn basketball’s fight against cancer. The best way to beat cancer is to detect it early and be able to fight it on your home court. This year’s AUTLIVE game will take place in Auburn Arena on Saturday, February 27, 2021 vs. Tennessee. You can support the cause by purchasing a t-shirt for $25 beginning early January. AUTLIVE raises the awareness of cancer prevention and detection while t-shirt sales and donations raise money to benefit cancer patients at these locations: Russell Medical Foundation, Smile-A-Mile, Coosa Valley Medical Center, Children’s of Alabama, East Alabama Medical Center, Joy to Life, aTeam Ministries, Cancer Wellness Foundation and Russell Hill. Pearl and his coaching staff initiated the OUTLIVE program in 2009 at Tennessee in recognition of former Vol Chris Lofton, who beat testicular cancer through early diagnosis and local Next >