Alright look—Coach Larry Vickers got off to to a slow start, but once it got rolling…
His first offseason as Auburn’s head coach? Man built a whole new squad from scratch. And I gotta say… I can see the vision. The roster is deeper at guard, longer on the wings, and built to play the kind of basketball Vickers wants: up-tempo, defense-heavy, and aggressive.
Let’s go through it—position by position—and talk about what this team could look like in year one of the Vickers Era.
The Guards: Real Ball-Handlers This Time
Last year, one of the biggest problems for Auburn was we didn’t have enough players who could reliably bring the ball up the floor. Press defense gave Auburn FITS, and turnovers killed way too many possessions.
That ain’t the case anymore.
Aubrun landed Sania Richardson, a freshman with real poise and confidence at the point. She’s a better shooter than Marshawn Bostic was, and while she may not be as fast, she plays with control. That alone is gonna change things.
But she’s not the only one. A’Riel Jackson has experience and can run the point if needed. Mya Petticord is a scoring guard but can handle it under pressure. Ja’Mia Harris has size at 5’11” and can play-make in spots. Harrisoum Coulibaly might be a hybrid guard-forward, but she’s another body who can help break the press.
We went from barely scraping one primary ball-handler to having five options.
The Frontcourt: Length, Depth, and Upside
This frontcourt looks nothing like last year—and that’s a good thing.
- Khad Leye – 6’2″, sophomore, tough forward who brings some physicality.
- Clara Coulibaly – 6’3″ JUCO product. No relation to Harrisoum, but she’s got a nice size and the ability to step away from the basket.
- Quanirah Montague – 6’5″, transfer from Mississippi State, coming off injury. Big-time upside. Fits exactly what Vickers wants in a stretch big.
- Arek Angui – 6’9″ transfer from UCF. Now look, she’s raw. Not gonna give you 25 minutes, but she can protect the rim and change shots.
That’s four real post options with size. Vickers wants his bigs to be mobile, able to stretch the floor, and protect the paint. Montague especially is gonna be key—if she’s healthy, she could be a problem in the SEC.
Returners Matter Too
Let me show some love to the returners.
Sasha Joseph stuck with her commitment through the coaching change. That says something. She can play that big guard / wing role and give you good minutes.
Syriah Daniels and Kaitlyn Duhon both stayed, and they’re gonna be crucial—especially on the defensive side. These are gritty players who’ve been through the fire. You can’t build culture without players like that.
This pair could be glue pieces for this team. Daniels is physical, tough, and fits the mindset Vickers wants on defense. Duhon has those same qualities with elite speed and veteran leadership.
The Vickers Identity
What’s this team going to look like?
Fast. Aggressive. Smart. Defensive-minded.
Vickers built tough teams at Norfolk State. They were ferocious defensively and knew how to control tempo. He’s bringing that same philosophy to Auburn.
And now? He’s got the bodies to do it.
This team has the tools to press, trap, rotate, and finish in transition. That was the missing piece last year—Auburn would get the steal but couldn’t capitalize on the other end. Not anymore. Harrisoum Coulibaly, Montague, and Harris can all run the floor and finish through contact.
What I’m Watching
Look, Auburn still has some questions to answer:
- Can Sania Richardson handle the SEC grind as a freshman point guard?
- Can Montague stay healthy and be the post presence we need?
- Will the team gel quickly enough to compete early in the season?
But if you’re asking me right now? This group has what it takes to make noise.
They’re deeper. More skilled. And most importantly, they’ve got a coach who knows exactly what he wants—and now he’s got the squad to go make it happen.
👇 Up Next:
- Missed the men’s breakdown? Read it HERE.
- Watch the full video breakdown here: https://youtu.be/wZHNEBJmdso
Make sure you’re subscribed to the channel and locked in with us all season. I’ll be breaking down individual players soon, so keep it right here.
War Eagle.
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