Auburn has added another experienced piece to its men’s basketball roster, securing a commitment from transfer guard Kolby King. The veteran guard will take advantage of an additional season of college eligibility after a recent court ruling opened the door for certain Class of 2022 athletes to receive a fifth year.
King announced his decision to join Auburn on Thursday evening, informing On3’s Joe Tipton of his commitment. The move gives the Tigers another experienced backcourt option as they prepare for the upcoming season and continue building their roster under head coach Steven Pearl.
The Pompano Beach, Florida, native spent the 2025-26 campaign at Utah State, where he appeared in 36 games. During his lone season with the program, King averaged 7.5 points per game while playing approximately 19.2 minutes each night. His ability to contribute offensively and his experience across multiple college programs should give Auburn additional depth and flexibility.
King’s college basketball journey has been anything but conventional. Auburn will become the fifth program he has played for in five seasons, making his career one of the more unusual paths through the modern transfer era.
The guard began his collegiate career at St. John’s during the 2022-23 season. As a freshman, he averaged 7.7 minutes per game while learning the college game and competing for opportunities in a talented program. His time in Queens, however, came to an end following a coaching change.
After Rick Pitino took over from Mike Anderson, King entered the transfer portal in search of a new opportunity. That decision eventually led him to Tulane, where he found a much larger role and became a meaningful contributor.
At Tulane, King appeared in 31 games and earned 23 starts. His production increased significantly compared with his freshman season. He averaged 10.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, establishing himself as a player capable of handling substantial minutes and contributing on both ends of the floor.
Following his season at Tulane, King once again entered the transfer portal. His next destination was Butler, where he spent the 2024-25 season. With the Bulldogs, he appeared in 34 games and averaged 18.9 minutes per contest. He finished the season averaging 5.6 points per game.
King then made another move, joining Utah State for the 2025-26 campaign. At Utah State, he became a regular contributor, playing in 36 games and averaging 7.5 points in 19.2 minutes per game.
At that stage, it appeared Utah State would be the final stop of King’s college career. However, a significant development involving NCAA eligibility rules changed that outlook.
A Colorado judge issued an injunction concerning the NCAA’s eligibility regulations for athletes from the 2022 recruiting class. The ruling stated that the NCAA’s so-called “five-for-five” eligibility provision should apply to those student-athletes, potentially allowing them to compete for a fifth college season.
The eligibility issue became particularly important for players such as King, whose college careers began in 2022. Although the NCAA reportedly declined to apply the court’s decision retroactively, the ruling created an opportunity for affected athletes to continue pursuing another season of college basketball.
King is now taking advantage of that opportunity by joining Auburn.
The move represents another major chapter in a college career that has already included four different programs. Rather than ending his playing days after Utah State, King will now have the opportunity to compete in the Southeastern Conference and play for the Tigers.
Auburn enters the new season looking to build on a 22-16 campaign from the previous year. The Tigers also captured the NIT championship, giving the program momentum heading into the next chapter.
King’s arrival could provide Auburn with valuable experience, particularly because he has already played at several different programs and experienced different systems, coaches and levels of competition. His time at Tulane, Butler and Utah State means he has accumulated significant college basketball experience despite being relatively early in his overall playing career.
His offensive production at Tulane demonstrated that he can handle a larger role when given the opportunity, while his more recent seasons at Butler and Utah State have added to his experience as a rotational guard.
For Auburn, the commitment also adds another player who understands the demands of college basketball. With the transfer portal continuing to play a major role in roster construction, programs increasingly rely on experienced players to fill specific needs. King’s background across multiple teams could make him a useful addition to Auburn’s backcourt.
His decision also highlights the impact that eligibility rulings can have on college basketball rosters. Without the additional year made possible by the court ruling, King’s career might have ended following the 2025-26 season. Instead, he now has another chance to compete at the highest level of college basketball.
The SEC will provide a new challenge for King. The conference remains one of the most competitive environments in college basketball, and Auburn will expect its new transfer to bring experience and toughness to the roster.
For King, meanwhile, the opportunity represents a chance to finish his college career on a different stage. After starting at St. John’s, becoming a starter at Tulane, contributing at Butler and spending last season at Utah State, he will now head to Auburn for what could be the final chapter of his remarkable journey.
The Tigers will hope his experience translates into immediate contributions. His ability to score, rebound and play meaningful minutes could give Auburn another option as the team continues shaping its roster.
King’s journey also illustrates how dramatically the college basketball landscape has changed in recent years. The transfer portal has allowed players to move between programs more frequently, while evolving eligibility rules and court decisions have created additional opportunities for athletes to extend their careers.
For Auburn, the timing could not be better. The Tigers are coming off an NIT-winning season and will now add a guard who has already experienced several different college environments.
The expectations surrounding King will be significant, but so will the opportunity. He will have one more season to establish himself in the SEC, contribute to Auburn’s goals and potentially make the most of an eligibility opportunity that did not appear possible only a short time ago.
With his commitment now secured, King’s long and winding college basketball journey is set to continue. Auburn becomes the fifth program of his career, and the Tigers will hope his experience and versatility can help strengthen the team as it prepares for another demanding season.
After four stops in four seasons, King’s next destination is officially Auburn. The fifth-year opportunity has given him another chance to compete, and the Tigers now have an experienced transfer guard ready to begin the next stage of his career on the Plains.
