Auburn Basketball: Tahaad Pettiford Withdraws from NBA Draft, Returns for Sophomore Season
Auburn basketball guard Tahaad Pettiford has made a significant decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to the Tigers for his sophomore season, he announced on Tuesday. The decision comes after a successful draft combine where he worked out with six different teams and tested the waters for a potential first-round pick.
“I was happy to go through the process, getting feedback from NBA teams,” Pettiford told ESPN. “Going back to Auburn is a better situation for me. I see myself being a higher pick next year. It wasn’t 100% this year, so I didn’t want to take that chance. Being a short guard, it won’t be easy to play in the league, but I know I can do it. It’s maybe not the right time.”
Pettiford’s decision to return to Auburn is a significant one, as he is the only key player from last year’s group to do so. The Tigers have landed several notable pieces in the transfer portal, including UCF forward Keyshawn Hall, Mississippi State forward KeShawn Murphy, and Texas Tech guard Kevin Overton. Additionally, Auburn also landed forward Filip Jovic out of Serbia on Wednesday.
Last season, Pettiford averaged 11.6 points and three assists in nearly 23 minutes per game with the Tigers, earning a spot on the SEC’s All-Freshman Team and helping lead the team to the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. The Tigers went 32-6 last season and reached the Final Four, though they fell to eventual national champion Florida in the semifinal.
With Pettiford returning, Auburn will have a “robust” NIL package waiting for him, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. Specifics of that deal aren’t known, but Pettiford is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 draft. The first round of the NBA Draft is set for June 25, and the deadline for players to withdraw from the draft and return to college is on Wednesday night.
Pettiford’s decision to return to Auburn will undoubtedly give the Tigers a boost as they look to compete for another NCAA championship next season. The Tigers will be looking to build on their impressive performance from last year and with Pettiford back in the fold, they will have a strong chance of making another deep run in the NCAA tournament.
