Auburn’s Cardwell Returns Home for Crucial Final Four Clash

ATLANTA — Dylan Cardwell will return to the court where he once watched the Atlanta Hawks play as a child, stepping into a pivotal matchup for Auburn basketball. The top-seeded Tigers will face No. 2 seed Michigan State for a coveted spot in the Final Four on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. at State Farm Arena.

Cardwell, a defensive powerhouse and Atlanta native, describes this return as a ‘full-circle moment’ in his basketball journey. However, his path to becoming a starting player has been anything but simple, filled with unexpected challenges and resilience.

Growing up in Augusta, Cardwell attracted attention from colleges due to his impressive 6-foot-10 frame and physical style of play. He started at Evans High School before transferring to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, a well-known basketball prep school, for two seasons. His final high school year was spent back at McEachern High School, where he aimed to play with future NBA talent such as Sharife Cooper.

However, Cardwell’s dreams were put on hold when the Georgia High School Association deemed him ineligible to compete due to transfer issues. Auburn coach Bruce Pearl expressed deep frustration over the situation, saying, ‘Terrible. Poor kid, single mom, all he tried to do was go to McEachern… and somehow, because he didn’t transfer the right way, they made the kid ineligible. Shame on them.’

Despite not playing during his senior year, Cardwell remained focused and committed. Cooper, who shared the court with Cardwell at Auburn later, recognized his determination and leadership, noting, “He practiced every day, came on time, and was the loudest person on the bench every game!”

Cardwell committed to Auburn in May 2020, amidst rising expectations for the team, which had just reached its first Final Four since 1986. As a freshman, he averaged 3.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in limited minutes but continued to work hard, even as a more prominent center, Walker Kessler, was recruited for the following season.

As Cardwell played a supporting role during his sophomore year, he remained patient when the team recruited another standout center, Johni Broome, who proved to be an asset for the Tigers. Pearl highlighted Cardwell’s steadfastness, stating, ‘What do most guys do? Flee, but not Dylan Cardwell. He stays another year with Johni, always coming off the bench.’

This season, both Cardwell and Broome have started every game, forming a formidable frontcourt for Auburn. The team is currently leading the SEC with an impressive average of six blocks per game. Broome’s standout performance of 22 points and 16 rebounds helped propel Auburn past No. 5 Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen.

Though Cardwell recorded just one point in that game, his contributions were felt. He logged nine rebounds and three assists along with a plus-19 rating, underscoring his value to the team. ‘Dylan Cardwell blows away every analytic that’s out there,’ Pearl said. ‘He dominates the boards, he’s the best defender on the floor, he doesn’t turn the basketball over.’

Cardwell embraced his role on the team, referring to himself as the ‘glue guy,’ and even made a light-hearted pitch for a potential NIL deal with Gorilla Glue. ‘Without glue, you can’t build things, and I just try to be the glue guy for this time,’ he explained.

Looking back at his journey, Cardwell takes pride in what he has achieved at Auburn, including winning three championship rings. ‘Two regular season, one SEC Tournament… More coming soon,’ Cardwell stated confidently, as he prepares for the next challenge on his home court.