Pettiford to withdraw from draft, return to Auburn
Tahaad Pettiford is withdrawing from the 2025 NBA Draft and will return to Auburn for his sophomore season, he announced on Instagram.
"I was happy to go through the process, getting feedback from NBA teams," Pettiford said, per ESPN's Jonathan Givony. "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 averaged 11.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and three assists in 38 games for the Tigers last season. He received SEC All-Freshman and NCAA All-Region honors for his efforts.
Pettiford started just one game in 2024-25 but should see an expanded role next season. He's expected to be Auburn's primary playmaker as the only returning player from last season's overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The 19-year-old had two 20-plus-point showings in March Madness en route to Auburn's Final Four appearance. He will enter next season as a projected first-round pick in the 2026 draft.
"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."
Auburn also landed a commitment from big man Filip Jovic on Wednesday. The Serbian averaged 12.2 points and 3.9 rebounds for Mega SuperBet in the Adriatic League last season.