Auburn wing had a workout with the Hawks on Wednesday

On Wednesday, Auburn wing Allen Flanigan had a workout with the Atlanta Hawks. According to a report from Hawks beat reporter Chris Kirschner, Flanigan was one of several players scheduled to workout for the Hawks. Other players included were Keve Aluma (Virginia Tech), Garrison Brooks (Mississippi State), Jamal Cain (Oakland), Keon Ellis (Alabama), and Jaden Shackelford (Alabama).

The Arkansas native decided that he would test draft waters last week. Along with Flanigan, Auburn center Dylan Cardwell chose to go through the draft process as well. Both will have the option to return or remain in the draft since they didn’t hire an agent.

The expectation is that both will return unless something changes in the near future. All of the players that declared without hiring an agent have until July 7th at 11:59 PM to make their decision on whether they are keeping their names in the draft or returning to school.

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Flanigan’s career at Auburn has been an uphill climb, to say the least. In his freshman season he averaged 3.2 points per game while shooting 39.4% from the floor. However, things turned around in his sophomore season when he averaged 14.3 points per game and shot an effective 45.5% from the floor. This past season was where the uphill climb began. After starting off the season injured, Flanigan returned just in time for conference play. He would make 20 starts for the Tigers while averaging just 6.3 points per game as well as shooting just 39.5% from the floor.

The biggest concern for Flanigan is his turnovers per game. In the past two seasons, he averaged 3.3 and 2.1 turnovers per game respectively. If he cleans that up, he could be a late first-round pick next season. It is likely in his best interest to return for his senior season. Head coach Bruce Pearl has created a culture and foundation for the Tigers’ future.

The opportunity to work out with the Hawks is a great sign.. It likely won’t be his only workout prior to his decision being made. With the injuries and decreased production, it is unlikely that he would get drafted in this year’s draft. If he elects to return in 2022, the team will certainly count on him to play better on both ends of the floor. It is also worth noting that his father Wes Flanigan is a part of the Tigers’ coaching staff. That could sway him back to the Plains for one more year. I would count on Flanigan to return and have his best season yet.