Auburn Fires GM Brian Kloman for Major Recruiting Disaster

Steven Pearl during an Auburn vs. Tennessee game on March 12th. 2026. Getty

Just before the start of the 2026-27 college basketball season, Auburn has made a major front office move. General manager Brian Kloman has been fired, due in part to a recruiting issue involving international prospect Mantas Rubstavicius.

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According to ESPN, Kloman was aware that Rubstavicius had taken college courses while in his native Lithuania. However, he failed to disclose that information during Rubstavicius’ lawsuit against the NCAA. The 24-year-old recruit was attempting to gain eligibility for the upcoming season.

Auburn wasn’t aware of Kloman’s lack of transparency until Friday. Upon hearing of the news, the school then began moving forward with efforts to fire the general manager.

It’s not every day you see a move of this magnitude in college basketball, especially at this time of the year. What’s next for the Tigers, and will Rubstavicius take the court this season?

What’s Next for Auburn basketball?

GettySteven Pearl during an Auburn vs. Tennessee game on March 12th. 2026.

Auburn came up just short of an appearance during last season’s NCAA Tournament. The Tigers will be eager to make a stronger March Madness push, especially with this season’s expanded 76-team bracket. However, a pair of preseason losses, including a brawl against in-state rival Alabama, don’t bode well for War Eagle’s chances.

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Head coach Steven Pearl will have his work cut out, but there’s undeniable talent across this roster. The team is wielding an experienced lineup, with five upperclassmen expected to begin the season as starters.

Eligibility has been a major storyline throughout Auburn’s offseason as well. Former Utah State guard Kolby King was immediately granted another year following an October ruling from the Ohio Supreme Court.

6’6″ Rubstavicius was expected to play a major role in some capacity for Auburn. The Lithuanian’s absence leaves the school without a versatile wing capable of…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/auburn-fires-gm-brian-kloman-065251201.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-27 06:52:00

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