Tigers sign JUCO forward

Auburn added to their 2012 basketball signing class on Tuesday, as the Tigers signed Sharief Adamu, a 6-foot-8 forward from Georgia Perimeter College.

Auburn began showing interest in Adamu within the last two weeks and Adamu unofficially visited Auburn last Sunday. He made his decision shortly after.

"Coach (Tony) Barbee and coach (Tony) Madlock showed me a great time and a family environment. The facilities are great and I felt like it was a great opportunity," Adamu said. "It was really nice, really nice."

Adamu attended Stone Mountain High School in Georgia before enrolling at Alabama State and playing his freshman season. Adamu then transferred to Georgia Perimeter and earned offers from UAB, Mississippi State and Missouri State among others, and was receiving heavy interest from the likes Georgetown, Georgia, Arkansas and South Florida.

As a freshman at Alabama State in 2010-2011, Adamu averaged 4.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 16.7 minutes-per-game. Adamu felt as the season progressed, he had an opportunity to play at a higher level of college basketball, resulting in his transfer to Georgia State. Adamu averaged 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks per game at Georgia Perimeter, he says.

Adamu will arrive to Auburn as a junior with two years to play.

Auburn likens Adamu to a Kenny Gabriel-type player. Gabriel was Auburn's leading scorer and rebounder last season and presented the Tigers' with incredible versatility.

"They like me like Kenny Gabriel, they are losing a big piece of what they did last year. They want me to come in and not be the next Kenny Gabriel, but just to be myself and really make a mismatch at that four position. Taking guys off the dribble, posting up a smaller defender," Adamu said.

Auburn has endured a great amount of attrition during Barbee's first two seasons. A majority of the players signed over the last two years are no longer with the program, but Adamu isn't concerned.

"I was sitting down talking with coach Barbee, I wasn't worried about that situation. I felt like a lot of those situations happened for different reasons, but you just have to come in with the right mind set. I'm ready to make the best of this situation and try and produce and turn Auburn into something special," said Adamu.

With the signing of Adamu, Auburn now has signed seven players for the 2012 class, but the Tigers still have one scholarship open after dismissing forward Josh Langford and guard Cedrick McAfee two weeks ago.

Adamu said he will report to Auburn during the second summer semester.