Pearl remains confident in future of Auburn’s program

AUBURN | Kareem Canty is gone, permanently. Tahj Shamsid-Deen is out for the year with an injury, and TJ Dunans may be done too. Danjel Purifoy remains ineligible.

It’s been a series of misfortunes for Auburn’s basketball program this season that have contributed to the current six-game losing streak.

But the suspensions, injuries and losses haven’t lessened Bruce Pearl’s confidence in the future. Auburn’s second-year coach signed a Top 20 class in November and could add a couple of more to the highly-rated group this spring.

“We recruited all of them knowing that potentially Kareem would be here only for a year so it doesn't affect recruiting,” Pearl said. “Losing absolutely affects all the prospects so we're in constant communication with them and their families. I think they understand where we're at and why. I've sensed absolutely no panic or concerns.

“It's not where we want to be but our recruits know we're building something and that's why they decided to come here because they see the opportunity.”

The biggest personnel question Pearl has to answer in regards to recruiting is whether or not Shamsid-Deen will be able to return from his third shoulder surgery. If not, they’ll need another point guard to go along with signee Jared Harper.

“Is he going to be healthy enough to come back for his junior year? That's a decision that Tahj is going to have to make with the doctors probably this spring,” Pearl said.

“If Tahj makes a decision to not be able to come back and play then yes, we will definitely be looking for another point guard in this recruiting class. And we are, but we still were even if Kareem hadn't made this announcement. We were still looking.”

Canty, Auburn’s leading scorer, was suspended last week and announced Thursday night he was leaving the team and declaring for the 2016 NBA Draft. Pearl said Friday that Canty has withdrawn from school.

“We met several times, and I think that frustration and the disappointment and the lack of success we’re having on the court really led to it being really hard for him,” Pearl said. “I think every player faces this situation at some point and it being late in the year and him being out, he made this decision. This was his decision. It was not something that we forced him to do, and I just wish him well.”

*****ADDITIONAL NOTES*****

** Forward Tyler Harris didn’t practice Thursday due to back spasms and cramps but is expected back for Friday’s practice. “We’re talking about a muscle spasm and cramping as opposed to a muscle injury,” Pearl said. “He definitely will play (Saturday). When does the spasm come back if it does? He’s at no risk to injury. We expect Tyler to be close to 100 percent.”

** Dunans, a junior guard, is still rehabbing from the knee injury he suffered against Harvard Dec. 23. He met with Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday. “He's a getting closer,” Pearl said. “The doc says it's not there yet. The quad strength still isn't back.”

** Auburn hosts Vanderbilt Saturday at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN2. The Commodores beat the Tigers 75-57 in Nashville Jan. 12, racking up 10 blocked shots. “We’re going to try to find some offense agains the best field goal percentage defensive team in the league and the best 3-point field goal percentage defensive team in the country,” Pearl said. “A team that blocked a bajillion, gazillion shots at Vanderbilt.”