Dec 30, 2020; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard JD Notae (1) is blocked by Auburn Tigers guard Justin Powell (24) during the second half at Auburn Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn guard Justin Powell attempts a shot against Memphis in Atlanta on Dec. 12, 2020.
Nov 30, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights guard Tony Johnson Jr. (1) drives for the net as Auburn Tigers guard Justin Powell (24) defends during the first half at Addition Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Justin Powell (24) looks to shoot the ball as UCF Knights guard Darin Green Jr. (22) defends during the first half at Addition Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2020; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Justin Powell (24) makes a three point basket over Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Drew Timme (2) during the first half at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2020; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Justin Powell (24) drives to the basket as Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Corey Kispert (24) defends during the second half at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn guard Justin Powell (No. 24) makes a move against St. Joseph’s Rahmir Moore (No. 11) during the Third-Annual Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off Thanksgiving Day at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers ,Thursday,Nov.26,2020.(Photo/Chris Tilley)
Auburn guard Justin Powell (No. 24) takes on Saint Joseph’s during the Third-Annual Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off Thanksgiving Day at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers ,Thursday,Nov.26,2020.(Photo/Chris Tilley)
Auburn guard Justin Powell (No. 24) fights for position with St. Joseph’s forward Taylor Funk (No. 33) during the Third-Annual Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off Thanksgiving Day at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers ,Thursday,Nov.26,2020.(Photo/Chris Tilley)
Auburn guard Justin Powell looks to pass to center Babatunde Akingbola (No. 13) while defended by St. Joseph’s Taylor Funk (No. 33) in Fort Myers, Florida, on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020.(Chris Tilley Photo/Chris Tilley)
Auburn center Dylan Cardwell (No. 44) and guard Justin Powell (No. 24) look on as St. Joseph’s forward Taylor Funk (No. 33) dunks during the Third-Annual Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off Thanksgiving Day at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers ,Thursday,Nov.26,2020.(Photo/Chris Tilley)
Auburn coaches Ira Bowman and Wes Flanigan along with director of operations Chad Prewett and assistant director of operations Mike Burgomaster celebrate with guard Justin Powell (No. 24) as they take on Saint Joseph’s during the Third-Annual Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off Thanksgiving Day at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020.(Photo/Chris Tilley)
North Oldham’s Justin Powell (24) drove against Bardstown defenders during the King of the Bluegrass tournament at Fairdale High School in Louisville, Ky. on Dec. 19, 2019.
North Oldham’s Justin Powell, who earned the tournament’s Bob White MVP award, had 22 points and 10 rebounds against Ballard in the Kings of the Bluegrass championship game Monday night at Fairdale High School. Powell is an Auburn signee. Dec. 23, 2019
North Oldham’s Justin Powell went for two of his 22 points, who earned the tournament’s Bob White MVP award. He also had 10 rebounds. Dec. 23, 2019
Male guard Tyren Moore drives past North Oldham guard Justin Powell during the semi-final game of the 39th annual King of the Bluegrass tournament. Dec. 22, 2019
Male center Kaleb Glenn prepares to block the shot of North Oldham guard Justin Powell during the semi-final game of the 39th annual King of the Bluegrass tournament. Dec. 22, 2019
Male center Kaleb Glenn tries to defend the driving North Oldham guard Justin Powell during the semi-final game of the 39th annual King of the Bluegrass tournament. Dec. 22, 2019
Male guard Tyren Moore looks to score as North Oldham guard Justin Powell tries to keep him contained during the semi-final game of the 39th annual King of the Bluegrass tournament. Dec. 22, 2019
Bardstown’s JJ Traynor (20) defended North Oldham’s Justin Powell (24) during the King of the Bluegrass tournament at Fairdale High School in Louisville, Ky. on Dec. 19, 2019.
North Oldham’s Justin Powell (24) tried to maintain control of the ball while being hounded by Bardstown defenders during the King of the Bluegrass tournament at Fairdale High School in Louisville, Ky. on Dec. 19, 2019.
Bardstown’s Trevon Tree Pope (22) battled for a rebound against North Oldham’s Justin Powell (24) during the King of the Bluegrass tournament at Fairdale High School in Louisville, Ky. on Dec. 19, 2019.
Trinity’s Jamil Hardaway, 23, and Justin Powell, 15, watch as Scott County celebrates their 54-53 victory in a first round game of the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16 basketball tournament played at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. Wednesday March 14, 2018. (Photo by Gary Landers)
23/23 SLIDES
Bruce Pearl joked Friday that if Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is able to play in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, he might give Justin Powell a hard time.
Mahomes suffered a concussion on Sunday and cleared the NFL’s protocol Friday. The freshman Auburn guard suffered a concussion late in the first half of Auburn’s Jan. 2 loss at Texas A&M and has not played since.
Quickly, though, Pearl made clear that he wouldn’t do that. Concussions have different levels of severity. They affect every person differently. Powell is still dealing with his.
That’s why it appears likely that he will miss a sixth consecutive game Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN2), when Auburn (8-7, 2-5 SEC) plays at South Carolina (3-4, 1-2).
UPDATE: Powell was officially ruled out Saturday morning, per a team spokesman.
“Mentally, he’s struggling because he wants to be out there,” Pearl said. “But you can’t be out there if you still have symptoms and you’ve got headaches. He’s doing the best he can.”
Justin Powell after breakout game vs. South Alabama
UP NEXT
Powell was averaging 11.7 points on 42.9% shooting at the time of his injury. His 6.1 rebounds per game still lead the team, and his 4.7 assists rank behind only Sharife Cooper, who joined the lineup for the first time four games ago.
It’s not clear when they will, either. Pearl said the only time he sees Powell during the week is when players come in for COVID-19 testing – concussion protocol dictates that he is not allowed to be at practice unless he clears certain hurdles.
Powell did do that once, on Jan. 11, before Auburn’s game at Georgia. He progressed through the protocol enough that he was able to at least move around a little bit on the floor. But he didn’t respond great to that, Pearl said, and was shut down again.
He remains day to day.
“I do think he’s getting closer to moving again,” Pearl said. :But he’s not there yet.”
Auburn will welcome him back whenever he is. Cooper was excellent in Wednesday’s loss at Arkansas, scoring 25 points on 9-for-19 shooting, but he had to play 37 minutes. That includes all but 72 seconds of the second half with Allen Flanigan – technically the third-string point guard – in foul trouble.
Powell’s return would give the Tigers a player capable of spelling Cooper at point guard as well as a dangerous outside shooter to pair with the five-star freshman.
Josh Vitale is the Auburn beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can follow him on Twitter at @JoshVitale. To reach him by email, click here.