The cool thing about the transfer portal is that it’s a second chance for many of those who felt like they were under-recruited the first time around.
Johni Broome can definitely say that, becoming one of the most feared interior players in the country over the last two seasons. He helped Morehead State make the tournament in 2020-21 and brought them back to the conference tournament title game in 2021-22.
“Me getting there, I kinda had a chip on my shoulder to prove to everyone who didn’t offer me. There was a little bit of audacity towards teams for looking over me,” Broome told The Portal Report, “It (the influx of offers now) just shows that all my hard work has paid off. It’s a blessing.”
Broome only had four offers out of high school, now he has essentially every Power 5 school after him. Broome committed to Morehead State on his first visit, now he can sit and ponder his offers. He won’t need much time to adapt to wherever he goes. He had no problem at Morehead.
In his first game, he scored 11 points against Kentucky. Two games after that, he had his first double-double, picking up 25 points and 12 rebounds against Norchad Omier and Arkansas State.
Broome would continue to grow from there, shutting down some big named players and finishing the season ranked 24th in offensive efficiency and 39th in defensive efficiency. The Eagles also won 19 of their final 20 games of OVC play, a lot of which Broome was double teamed. That was no problem though as he finished his freshman season averaging 13.8 points and 9 rebounds per game.
“Facing those players, you kinda go against different challenges every and every night,” Broome said.
Those challenges continued in the NCAA Tournament but that was no problem. He scored 10 points and picked up 9 rebounds against West Virginia in the Round of 64, following a 27 point and 12 rebound performance in the OVC title game.
The next season was the same-old Broome, picking up 112 offensive rebounds on the season while averaging a double-double at 16.8 points and 10.5 rebounds. In one game against UT Martin, he scored 19 points and blocked 12 balls. It didn’t matter what side of the court he was on. The ball was going to find him.
“That’s a lot of pickup, open gym. Just knowing where the basketball’s going to hit the rim,” Broome said.
Broome finished this past season with 22 double-doubles. In the conference title game, he scored 32 points.
It’s safe to say that he left a mark on the Morehead State program.
“Me going to Morehead, I don’t regret it at all,” Broome said, “So it’s a blessing I’d say to see the recognition.”
This upcoming weekend, Broome will take a visit to Auburn University, potentially following it up with one at the University of Kentucky.
He is expected to release his top schools early in the week.
