How did Auburn basketball’s Ja’Heim ‘Turtle’ Hudson get nickname? Allow him to explain

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When Auburn basketball landed SMU transfer Ja’Heim Hudson during the offseason, coach Bruce Pearl made it sound as though he gave the reserve forward his now-known nickname.

“One of the things for me about Turtle — that’s his nickname by the way, is he’s got a little head that sits on top his shoulders,” Pearl said in May. “He’s got these big shoulders. I like those guys. Guys that are 6-7 with short heads, they’re actually 6-8 or 6-9. It’s those 6-9 guys with the big hair, long necks and the big head, they’re actually 6-7.”

But as Hudson explained Tuesday, speaking to the media for the first time since his arrival on the Plains, that wasn’t the case. “Turtle” is a name he’s been known by since he was a kid.

“My aunt gave it to me when I was young,” Hudson said, “because I took my time with everything and moved at my own pace.”

Who is Ja’Heim Hudson? On Auburn basketball’s reserve forward

Dec 30, 2024; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Monmouth Hawks forward Chris Morgan (21) pressures Auburn Tigers forward Ja’Heim Hudson (8) during the second half at Neville Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images

Hudson was the final piece of Auburn’s roster turnover this offseason, committing to the Tigers on May 17.

COMMITTED: Auburn basketball fills need at forward with SMU transfer Ja’Heim Hudson

A two-time transfer, moving from Georgia State to SMU, then SMU to Auburn, Hudson has played in 67 career contests, but mostly as a reserve, starting in just 35 of those. For his career, he’s averaged 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds.

Hudson averaged 5.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists with the Mustangs during the 2023-24 campaign. He appeared in 31 games, starting once, and shot 43.4% from the field while knocking down 32.1% of his 3-pointers in 15.2 minutes per game.

In two seasons at Georgia State, Hudson averaged 7.7 points and 5.8 rebounds. In an eight-point loss at Auburn in December 2022, Hudson dropped eight points and 11 rebounds. He played 36 minutes against the Tigers and was…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/did-auburn-basketballs-jaheim-turtle-222701584.html

Author : The Montgomery Advertiser

Publish date : 2025-01-13 22:27:00

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