Auburn Assistant Coach Attends ASUN Tournament

Tigers coach defends assistant's presence as 'permissible activity'

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:19pm

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Auburn assistant coach Ian Borders attended the Atlantic Sun (ASUN) tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, which sparked controversy with Queens University coach Grant Leonard. Leonard accused Borders of improperly interacting with players, but Auburn head coach Steven Pearl defended the assistant's actions as 'permissible activity' under NCAA rules.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and gray areas around recruiting in college basketball, particularly with the rise of the transfer portal. While Auburn may have technically followed the rules, the optics of an SEC assistant openly scouting players from a smaller conference tournament have raised concerns about fair play and the lengths programs will go to gain an edge.

The details

According to reports, Borders was spotted courtside at the ASUN tournament, which Queens University coach Grant Leonard criticized as a 'planned recruiting trip' to 'get ahead' of recruiting one of his players. However, Pearl defended Borders' presence, citing an NCAA email that said such attendance would not be prohibited since the teams were unlikely to be future opponents. But Leonard insisted he witnessed the Auburn assistant directly interacting with players, which he felt crossed an ethical line even if it wasn't illegal.

  • The ASUN tournament took place in Jacksonville, Florida on March 5-12, 2026.
  • The NCAA transfer portal for men's college basketball opens one day after the national championship game on April 7, 2026.

The players

Steven Pearl

The head coach of the Auburn men's basketball team.

Ian Borders

An assistant coach for the Auburn men's basketball team.

Grant Leonard

The head coach of the Queens University men's basketball team, which won the ASUN tournament title.

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What they’re saying

“We had an SEC assistant buy a courtside seat for one of our conference tournament games to 'get ahead' of recruiting (one) of my kids.”

— Grant Leonard, Queens University Head Coach

“A basketball staff member attending another conference's basketball tournament would not be prohibited by 11.6 (Scouting of Opponents) since it is unlikely/impossible to be a future opponent at this time of the season.”

— Steven Pearl, Auburn Head Coach

“That blatant, I haven't seen it. Live scouting, in the stands, is one thing. On the floor, in a courtside seat, trying to interact with players? That's very different to me.”

— Grant Leonard, Queens University Head Coach

What’s next

The transfer portal for men's college basketball opens one day after the national championship game on April 7, 2026, which could lead to further developments in this recruiting controversy.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions in college basketball recruiting, particularly with the rise of the transfer portal. While Auburn may have technically followed the rules, the optics of an SEC assistant openly scouting players from a smaller conference tournament have raised concerns about fair play and the lengths programs will go to gain an edge in the highly competitive world of college basketball.