Auburn University’s new basketball arena passed its final pre-construction test Friday, when the AU Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $92.5 million bond issue to fund the project.

Just seconds before his death 14 summers ago, Tommy Joe Eagles was still coaching the game of basketball to Wesley Person.

Some were brand new.
Some were broken in a bit. Some a lot.

Construction on Auburn’s new basketball arena won’t start for at least a few more weeks.
The project won’t be finished until 2010. 

Auburn’s Quan Prowell averaged 7.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in only 20 minutes per game, while shooting 56 percent from the field and 67 percent from 3-point range in the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando, Fla., last week.

Milton and Pat McGregor of Montgomery recently pledged $1 million toward the new Auburn Arena. 

The Tigers said goodbye to 7-foot-1 center Boubacar Sylla on Monday and added Oklahoma transfer Tony Neysmith on Tuesday. On Wednesday, AU picked up another new addition, signing 6-foot-9 forward Francis Aihe from Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Fla.

Guard Tony Neysmith, who spent last season at Oklahoma, has transferred to AU.

As it turned out, the tallest player in Auburn basketball history had one of the shortest careers in memory. 

Auburn’s Quan Prowell might have improved his NBA draft status after averaging 14.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in three games in the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational last week.