Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford has announced his decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to the Tigers for his sophomore season, as reported by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. Pettiford, who averaged 11.6 points and three assists last season, believes that returning to Auburn will better position him for a higher pick in the 2026 draft, supported by a “robust” NIL package. He is the only key returning player from last season’s team, which reached the Final Four, while Auburn has also secured notable transfers to bolster their roster.
