There have been a lot of questions regarding Desi Sills and how he ended up at Arkansas State after signing with Auburn following his departure from Arkansas earlier this year. There have been a lot of rumors and speculation about the situation, however, AuburnSports writer Jay Tate has provided an update from the Tigers' perspective.
It all boils down to academics, and a situation that arose after Sills signed with Auburn. Tate explains the situation below:
Desi Sills wanted to play at Auburn.
He wasn't just talking. The former Arkansas guard signed a financial aid agreement with the Tigers in early May, eliciting much happiness throughout Auburn Arena. Sills brought more of what Bruce Pearl believes ailed his team last season.
Bruce Pearl's 2020-21 team underachieved in a big way. A 13-14 overall record? Inconceivable. Yet we all watched it happen — what with Sharife Cooper playing just 12 games, Justin Powell playing just 10, Allen Flanigan playing out of position more often than not and a disappointing season from Devan Cambridge. The team had problems at point guard, to be sure, but never seemed to regroup even after things at point guard became settled.
And that's what stood out most to Pearl. He wants his next teams to be tougher — mentally and physically.
So Pearl and his staff sought to re-imagine the Tigers' lineup via the transfer portal. They accomplished that goal by adding several experienced, aggressive players to the roster. That group includes point guard Zep Jasper from Charleston, point guard Wendell Green from Eastern Kentucky, center Walker Kessler from North Carolina, guard KD Johnson from Georgia ... and Sills.
Sills may have been the most intriguing simply because he's such a niche player. He's a shooting guard by trade, but his best skill is defense. He's rough and mean and indefatigable and engaged. He's a terrific perimeter defender. And while his work on the scoring end is erratic (at best), Sills' willingness to defend is not. Simply put: Sills' defensive spirit was supposed to be a critical part of the 2021-22 team's identity. He was seen as a guy who could lift everyone else's level simply by doing what he does best.
He'll probably be that guy next season.
I'm certain Arkansas State will appreciate it.
Sills [signed with] the Red Wolves because, well, the transfer portal is an imperfect place. Sometimes things are lost in translation. Sills was close to graduating from Arkansas with a degree in recreation and sport management. It's a cool degree track, no doubt, but it's not one that Auburn offers. Once academic experts reviewed Sills' credits from Arkansas and attempted to apply them to a similar degree track at Auburn, the numbers didn't tell a happy story. Several his of Arkansas classes wouldn't count toward a degree at Auburn. He couldn't be a one-and-done and still earn a degree.
And that was that.
Arkansas State offers a bachelor's degree in sport management. Now Sills will head for Jonesboro in pursuit of another chance to shine on a college court.
It all boils down to academics, and a situation that arose after Sills signed with Auburn. Tate explains the situation below:
Desi Sills wanted to play at Auburn.
He wasn't just talking. The former Arkansas guard signed a financial aid agreement with the Tigers in early May, eliciting much happiness throughout Auburn Arena. Sills brought more of what Bruce Pearl believes ailed his team last season.
Bruce Pearl's 2020-21 team underachieved in a big way. A 13-14 overall record? Inconceivable. Yet we all watched it happen — what with Sharife Cooper playing just 12 games, Justin Powell playing just 10, Allen Flanigan playing out of position more often than not and a disappointing season from Devan Cambridge. The team had problems at point guard, to be sure, but never seemed to regroup even after things at point guard became settled.
And that's what stood out most to Pearl. He wants his next teams to be tougher — mentally and physically.
So Pearl and his staff sought to re-imagine the Tigers' lineup via the transfer portal. They accomplished that goal by adding several experienced, aggressive players to the roster. That group includes point guard Zep Jasper from Charleston, point guard Wendell Green from Eastern Kentucky, center Walker Kessler from North Carolina, guard KD Johnson from Georgia ... and Sills.
Sills may have been the most intriguing simply because he's such a niche player. He's a shooting guard by trade, but his best skill is defense. He's rough and mean and indefatigable and engaged. He's a terrific perimeter defender. And while his work on the scoring end is erratic (at best), Sills' willingness to defend is not. Simply put: Sills' defensive spirit was supposed to be a critical part of the 2021-22 team's identity. He was seen as a guy who could lift everyone else's level simply by doing what he does best.
He'll probably be that guy next season.
I'm certain Arkansas State will appreciate it.
Sills [signed with] the Red Wolves because, well, the transfer portal is an imperfect place. Sometimes things are lost in translation. Sills was close to graduating from Arkansas with a degree in recreation and sport management. It's a cool degree track, no doubt, but it's not one that Auburn offers. Once academic experts reviewed Sills' credits from Arkansas and attempted to apply them to a similar degree track at Auburn, the numbers didn't tell a happy story. Several his of Arkansas classes wouldn't count toward a degree at Auburn. He couldn't be a one-and-done and still earn a degree.
And that was that.
Arkansas State offers a bachelor's degree in sport management. Now Sills will head for Jonesboro in pursuit of another chance to shine on a college court.
