During Auburn Tigers’ thrilling 2024-25 season, one player began to stand out late—Tahaad Pettiford. Since declaring for the NBA Draft, Pettiford has caught the attention of scouts, sparking plenty of debate over whether he’ll return to Auburn or turn pro. While no one knows for sure, Justin Hokanson recently ranked Pettiford as the No. 39 draft prospect, just behind national standout Johni Broome, placing him in the middle of the second round.
Then came Wednesday’s 5-on-5 scrimmage, where Pettiford truly shined. Kevin Sweeney of SI.com ranked him No. 2 among seven impressive players, praising his explosive 23 points and eight assists. Sweeney noted Pettiford’s elite offensive skills, his ability to score off the dribble, expertly dissect defenses with his passing, and his high pace. Pettiford also impressed athletically, measuring over six feet tall without shoes and posting one of the camp’s top vertical jumps. However, Sweeney also pointed out Pettiford’s inconsistency, referencing a poor showing in Thursday’s game—a reminder of challenges he faced during his freshman year at Auburn.
Thanks to that performance and his measurements, Pettiford jumped from No. 39 to No. 21 on NBADraft.net’s board and moved up to 19th in their 2025 mock draft—a significant rise. Pettiford himself said, “Probably a guarantee, first round. If I get there, my decision will be made,” signaling he’s likely headed to the NBA, according to Sweeney.
Would Auburn fans be thrilled if Pettiford returned? Absolutely, as he’d be one of the top guards in college basketball. But if his words are true, fans should start looking forward to Kaden Magwood, who is next up to carry the torch.