Serenading Sharife: Auburn fans show the love to star guard, send message for next season

Auburn fans may have seen the last of star guard Sharife Cooper on Saturday following a win over Mississippi State, 78-71. But the fans gave Cooper one more lasting memory as he considers his plans for next season.

It’s been an up and down season for Cooper, who was initially declared ineligible, then ultimately played in 12 games before he was sidelined with an ankle injury. His first game was against Alabama, and he helped Auburn get its first SEC win against Georgia.

Before he got hurt in the game against LSU, he led the team with an average of 20.2 points per game. In the games he played, Auburn scored, on average, 10 more points. He also pitched in 8.1 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 12 games.

Cooper did not dress on Saturday, and even though his freshman season is now over, he was still on the minds of Auburn faithful inside the arena as they chanted “one more year” as the players left the court. Auburn’s self-imposed ban from the post season made this game the final matchup of the season.

If Cooper decides to return, it’s already been projected that Auburn would begin next season as a top 10 team.

Fans chant one more year at Sharife Cooper as the team walks off the court for the final time this season. pic.twitter.com/wbBC2bydRQ

— Jake Weese (@TheJakeWeese) March 6, 2021

Auburn finished its regular season today with a home win over Mississippi State. Tigers will be a Top-10 team to start next season if Sharife Cooper returns to school.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 6, 2021

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.