Steven Pearl Adds Experienced Transfer Kolby King to Auburn Basketball Roster

Auburn basketball is taking advantage of a recent court ruling, adding another experienced piece to its backcourt ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The Tigers added Utah State transfer guard Kolby King on Thursday. King was one of the players involved in an eligibility lawsuit that ultimately opened the door for him to play one more season of college basketball.

And Steven Pearl wasted little time adding him to Auburn's roster.

King spent last season at Utah State, where he averaged 7.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while coming off the bench for the Aggies. The 6-foot-2 guard shot nearly 48% from the field and 39.3% from three, giving Auburn another proven shooter to add to an already deep backcourt.

He also brings plenty of collegiate experience.

Auburn will be King's fifth school after beginning his career at St. John's before making stops at Tulane, Butler and Utah State. His best season came with Tulane in 2023-24, when King averaged 10.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while becoming a consistent piece of the Green Wave's starting lineup.

Now, he'll have an opportunity to carve out a role with the Tigers.

“Kolby is a tough, versatile, battle-tested guard who has proven he can impact the game in a variety of ways. He can score at multiple levels, create for his teammates, rebound his position, and compete on both ends of the floor,” said Coach Pearl. “He brings athleticism, experience, and a proven ability to contribute in high-level environments. His production at Utah State this past season, along with his experience contributing to a winning team, will fit well with our current rotation of guards.”

Auburn already has plenty of talent in the backcourt, led by returning guards Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton. Pearl also added Vanderbilt transfer George Kimble III, international addition Mantas Rubštavičius, and freshman Caleb Williams this offseason.

That means King isn't necessarily being brought in to become one of Auburn's primary scoring options. However, after missing the tournament last season, one clear priority for Pearl was to add veteran presence to his bench and as role players. King fits that mold. 

King gives the Tigers another experienced guard who has played at multiple levels of college basketball and has proven he can knock down shots from beyond the arc. For an Auburn team hoping to make another run at the NCAA Tournament, having another veteran option available off the bench certainly doesn't hurt.

King becomes the latest addition to what has quickly become a deep Auburn roster entering Pearl's second season as head coach.

Auburn basketball just finished an international trip this summer to Greece and will be back in action for an exhibition game in Birmingham against Florida State on October 14th