Ever since the final buzzer sounded at the Alamodome, one thing has been on the minds of Auburn basketball fans. Will Tahaad Pettiford return?
On Wednesday afternoon, a long-awaited verdict was reached. The freshman standout announced via Instagram that he will be returning to the Plains for his sophomore season.
Pettiford averaged 11.6 points per game and shot 36% from behind the arc while coming off the bench last season for Bruce Pearl’s squad.
The guard played a huge role in Auburn’s historic run to the Final Four, averaging 15.2 points per game during the NCAA Tournament. In the second round against Creighton, he led the way for the orange and blue with 23 points.
The highlight of the Jersey City, NJ native’s postseason magic was the Tigers’ second-half comeback in the Sweet 16 over Michigan, where he scored 15 points down the stretch.
Last month, Pettiford announced that he would enter the 2025 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. During the NBA draft combine, he drew a ton of attention on the first day. He finished day one of the scrimmage with 23 points, eight assists, and shot 50% from downtown. However, day two was a different story as he showed his inexperience, committing six turnovers.
After mulling his options for over a month, he informed Pearl and his staff that he would be withdrawing from the NBA Draft and coming back to Auburn.
"I was happy to go through the process, getting feedback from NBA teams," Pettiford said in an interview with 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.”
"I plan on putting all the tools that teams told me to work on together and get better overall," Pettiford said. "Going back to Auburn and trying to win another championship, do what we did this year."
Pettiford, the only returning player from Auburn’s Final Four run, will be the team’s leader on offense next season, and is expected to be on a short list for potential SEC Player of the Year.
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Rory is a freshman majoring in journalism sports production. He started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @RorymGarvin
