Tahaad Pettiford, a guard for the Auburn Tigers, witnessed a substantial increase in his draft ranking during the NCAA Tournament, even though he spent the most of the 2024–25 collegiate basketball season on the bench.
The rookie helped Bruce Pearl and Auburn reach the Final Four by averaging 15.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game across five March Madness games.
Shortly after the conclusion of his season, Pettiford maintained his eligibility and declared for the 2025 NBA Draft. However, he has stated that he will only play for Pearl if he decides to go back to school.
In an ESPN interview, Pettiford stated, “If I return, it will be to Auburn.” “I am unable to escape this kind of circumstance. I will roll with BP since I have complete faith in him. To me, loyalty is crucial.
Pearl concluded by saying that if Pettiford made a comeback, he would be given a starting position.
“If he does come back, he’s going to have to play an expanded role, which I know is something that is exciting to him and probably exciting to our fan base, too, because we’ll get to see more of him,” Pearl said. “He’ll be a starter. More will be revealed about him.
Pettiford will have to decide before the NCAA withdrawal date of May 28.
