AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn center Austin Wiley devoted much of last season catching up to his freshman teammates.

Wiley stepped onto campus as an early enrollee midway through the year. He practiced all of two times before playing his first game and was thrown into the starting lineup shortly after that.

Coach Bruce Pearl asked Wiley to “learn where to go and what to do” on the job. There were growing pains as Wiley averaged 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds, but the decision is paying dividends with the team regrouping for summer practice.

“He is now a returning player, he is able to impose his leadership and ownership and kind of say, “hey this is my team now,” Pearl said Sunday.

Wiley worked for much of the practice alongside Chuma Okeke and Davion Mitchell while Pearl walked the newcomers through the team’s basic offensive concepts. A few months ago Wiley needed similar instruction, but now he’s a player the youngsters on the team can turn to for help.

“I love it, it’s great,” Pearl said. “It’s different for him.”

Wiley and Okeke will get extra time to train together trying out for USA Basketball’s U19 team later this month. The combo could be one to watch for Auburn fans thanks to Okeke's inside-outside game. Pearl isn't ready to commit to any pairings, but admits Okeke's versatility will be a nice fit next to Wiley's presence in the paint.

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