How did the NBA Combine impact Tahaad Pettiford’s chances of returning to Auburn basketball? Head coach Bruce Pearl addressed the situation last Thursday, noting that the program has a contingency plan if the standout point guard chooses to stay in the NBA Draft. Although a backup strategy is in place, Pearl—and most of the Auburn staff—would much prefer Pettiford to return for his sophomore season.
“If he comes back to Auburn, we’ll be a significantly better team,” Pearl said at the Jimmy Rane charity golf tournament.
Now that the combine has concluded, Pettiford has had opportunities to perform in front of NBA teams, participate in workouts, and conduct interviews, suggesting a decision is on the horizon. The final day to withdraw from the draft while keeping NCAA eligibility is May 28.
Pettiford made headlines early in the combine with standout athletic testing and an impressive opening scrimmage. His 42-inch vertical leap ranked second overall, just behind North Carolina’s Drake Powell. He also measured well, standing over six feet tall without shoes and recording an eight-foot standing reach.
His best moment came in the first scrimmage, where he scored 23 points and tallied eight assists on efficient shooting (8-of-16 from the field, 4-of-8 from three), leading all scorers in a 104-80 victory. However, his second scrimmage performance was less impactful—he scored 10 points on 4-of-15 shooting (1-of-8 from deep) and had six turnovers to just three assists.
Following the combine, ESPN’s updated mock draft projected Pettiford as the 37th pick, landing in the second round with the Detroit Pistons.
Speaking again on Monday after ESPN’s projection, Pearl reiterated that if Pettiford secures a first-round guarantee, he should remain in the draft. Otherwise, a return to Auburn is expected.
“He’s really in the same spot he’s been all along,” Pearl said at the Fore the Children golf classic. “If he gets a first-round spot, he should go. But if he and his family don’t believe he’ll land in the 20s, he’ll likely come back.”
Given the latest projections, a guaranteed first-round selection seems uncertain, suggesting Auburn has a strong chance to retain Pettiford. Still, Pearl mentioned that there are players ready to step in if Pettiford leaves, though he didn’t disclose any names.
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