Tahaad Pettiford had not yet decided whether he would stay in this year’s draft, but if he did, the Auburn freshman could be a name to watch for the Toronto Raptors in the second round. However, the 19-year-old doesn’t seem willing to go anywhere unless he secures a first-round pick, and for that reason, he has officially withdrawn his name from the 2025 NBA Draft.
Right after that announcement, Auburn basketball fans erupted in excitement, celebrating the news that the New Jersey native is set to return to the program for his sophomore season.
Tahaad Pettiford Breaks the Internet with Shocking NBA Draft Decision
The road to the NBA is never easy, especially for players hoping to become guaranteed first-round picks. Auburn standout Pettiford knows this challenge well. After testing the NBA waters for over a month and impressing at the NBA Draft Combine, Pettiford faced a tough choice. Despite positive feedback from scouts, it wasn’t quite the level he expected. So, he decided to return to Auburn for another season.
The news broke quickly. Auburn Live shared the update on social media, and national basketball reporter Joe Tipton tweeted, “Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford is withdrawing from the NBA Draft process and will return to Auburn next season, source told @On3sports.”
NEWS: Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford is withdrawing from the NBA Draft process and will return to Auburn next season, source told @On3sports.
The 6-1 guard was one one of the top freshmen in college basketball this season. https://t.co/T8uh80aSwA pic.twitter.com/v0Rpfd3VOX
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) May 28, 2025
Pettiford’s numbers speak for themselves. In SEC play, he scored in double figures 12 times in 18 games. That included six of the first seven matchups. He dropped 24 points at Georgia with five three-pointers and followed it up with 21 points in Auburn’s title-clinching win at Kentucky. He also had back-to-back 19-point games against Texas A&M and Alabama to close the regular season.
In the NCAA Tournament, he turned up again. He posted 16 points vs. Alabama State, 20 vs. Creighton, and 23 in a Sweet 16 win over Michigan. Even in the Elite Eight, he scored 10 points against Michigan State. Over five tournament games, he added 18 assists and 15 rebounds to his stat sheet.
However, Tigers fans are happy because the 6’1″ guard was one of the top freshmen in college basketball this season, and head coach Bruce Pearl needed him on the roster. Throughout his college career, his performance has been consistently strong in almost every game.
Having such a talented player who can score for the team is obviously a huge win, which is why fans are thrilled that he is returning to campus for another season.
In the comments section of the report, @vinnychase1764 wrote, “Big news for Jersey City!” @blockxs expressed excitement, saying, “We are definitely returning!” One user added, “Hell yeah. This is a win for college basketball.”
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Meanwhile, @C_will80 commented, “Even though he would’ve been taken, this is great for Auburn.” And @BEAzYBEANz shared, “One of my favorite guards from last year. Great potential 🔥.”
Now, with Pettiford leading the charge, Auburn is poised to be a top-10 team heading into the 2025-26 season. His expanded role under Bruce Pearl could further elevate his draft stock while giving the Tigers a legitimate shot at another deep tournament run.
Hopefully, he won’t need to withdraw from the NBA Draft next time, as we expect a big season from him.
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