The Auburn Tigers men’s basketball continued its busy offseason in the transfer portal this week by adding another impactful piece to its roster, securing a commitment from former South Alabama Jaguars men’s basketball standout Adam Olsen as the program prepares for the 2026–27 season.
Auburn has remained aggressive in reshaping its roster this offseason, and the addition of Olsen gives the Tigers another experienced and proven offensive weapon. The 6-foot-8 forward arrives after a breakout junior campaign at South Alabama in which he established himself as one of the top perimeter shooters in the conference and one of the more dangerous scoring forwards available in the portal.
During the 2025–26 season, Olsen started all 32 games for South Alabama and delivered a standout year offensively. He averaged 16.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 39.1 percent from three-point range. His biggest statistical accomplishment came from beyond the arc, where he knocked down a school-record 102 three-pointers over the course of the season. That production helped earn him second-team All-Sun Belt honors and made him one of the most sought-after shooters in the transfer portal.
Auburn head coach Steven Pearl praised Olsen’s addition in a statement released by the program, highlighting both his shooting ability and overall offensive versatility.
According to Pearl, Olsen possesses elite shooting talent that makes him one of the top perimeter threats in college basketball. His size at 6-foot-8, combined with a quick and high release on his jump shot, should make him a difficult matchup for defenders and allow him to thrive in Auburn’s offensive system.
However, Auburn believes Olsen brings much more than outside shooting to the floor. The coaching staff sees him as a complete offensive player who can score at all three levels. In addition to stretching defenses from long range, Olsen has shown the ability to attack the basket, finish through contact, and create opportunities in the mid-range game. That versatility could make him a key weapon in Auburn’s frontcourt rotation.
Defensively, Auburn is optimistic about Olsen’s potential to contribute on that end as well. His combination of length, size, and athleticism gives him the flexibility to guard multiple positions, which is highly valued in Auburn’s defensive scheme. The Tigers believe his versatility will allow them to deploy him in various lineup combinations depending on matchups.
Olsen’s commitment marks yet another significant portal addition for Auburn this offseason. He joins recent transfer pickups Thomas Dowd from Troy Trojans men’s basketball and Owen Freeman from Creighton Bluejays men’s basketball, giving the Tigers a growing list of experienced newcomers expected to play major roles next season.
As Auburn continues to reload its roster, Olsen appears poised to be one of the centerpiece additions of the class. His proven scoring production, elite perimeter shooting, and multi-positional versatility make him a potentially ideal fit for the Tigers’ system.
With transfer portal season still ongoing, Auburn may not be done adding pieces. But the addition of Olsen further reinforces the program’s determination to remain among the top contenders in the SEC and nationally heading into the 2026–27 campaign. For now, the Tigers have landed one of the portal’s premier shooters—and a player who could make an immediate impact in Auburn’s lineup.
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