With the departure of Aden Holloway at the conclusion of last season, five-star, number two overall point guard in the nation Tahaad Pettiford was the perfect recruit to round out Bruce Pearl’s 2024 recruiting class.
Pettiford, the 6-foot-1 point guard from Jersey City, NJ, is an electrifying two-way player with the ability to find the holes in any defense above the rim and behind the three-point line.
Pettiford is no stranger to the bright lights as he played against some of the most competitive competition the nation had to offer during highschool in Jersey City. In addition to his highschool competition, Pettiford played in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, one of the most competitive and respected youth basketball circuits in the country. He averaged just under 20 points per game at Hudson Catholic Regional High School and 16.7 points per game for the New Heights Lightning in the Nike EYBL circuit.
Pearl is extremely excited to see what Pettiford can do this season wearing the orange and blue, saying Pettiford is a 'very unique player' with 'limitless range'. Additionally, Pearl sees Pettiford more as a shooting guard due to his unique abilities in the paint.
Pearl expects Pettiford to be more of a scorer than a facilitator for the Tigers this season, but nonetheless, an important component to a team with national title hopes. This might come as a surprise to some fans as Pettiford is listed as, and was recruited as a point guard, but Pearl is 'going to try to play him off the ball and let him do what he do: get buckets'.
With Pettiford’s role as more of a shooting guard, he will be sitting behind returning senior Denver Jones at tipoff. Jones, who had some incredible moments that season including a seven three-point performance against Georgia in the SEC tournament, will be a great role model for Pettiford to learn from.
Jones spent a lot of time behind the three-point line last season for the Tigers and while we anticipate his contribution to increase, expect his play style to open up the defense for Pettiford to exploit when Jones comes off the floor.
Pettiford has the ability to take games over with his flashy handles and capability to score at will. Pettiford played alongside some of the nations best in New Jersey, including Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, and Elliot Cadeau, all of who were consensus 5-star recruits and are now playing at the collegiate level.
With the return of key players like Chad Baker-Mazara and All-American Johni Broome, Pettiford will be the perfect addition to check into the game in clutch moments or when the Tigers are in need of a spark.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Charlie is a sophomore from Mendham, New Jersey. He is majoring in journalism and started with The Plainsman in spring 2024.
