It just wasn't meant to be for the Auburn Tigers. Over the weekend, the top overall seed for the NCAA Tournament was hoping to punch its ticket to the title game, but in heartbreaking fashion, Auburn wasn't able to get the job done late against the Florida Gators.
Now, Bruce Pearl is already shifting his focus to next season and bringing in some quality players. Retention is also going to be a focus, as studs often leave at the drop of a hat with the way the portal works these days.
One playmaker Pearl is going to work overtime to bring back is Tahaad Pettiford. Originally on Sunday, it looked like he had announced that he was going to return to the Tigers next season. People had been worried he'd either transfer or leave for the NBA. Pettiford took to social media to clear up reports that he'll be back for sure. The door is still open for him to leave town:
👀 NEWS | Tahaad Pettiford Wants to Run It Back with Auburn Basketball! #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/3K0lqfPfhs
— E2C Network: The Auburn Experience (@E2C_Network) April 6, 2025
not confirmed!!
— Tahaad Pettiford (@tahaadpettiford) April 6, 2025
Auburn freshman Tahaad Pettiford is still undecided on his plans for next season
It sure seemed like he was locked in to play for Auburn in 2025-26, but Pettiford is still keeping his options open. This past season for the Tigers, the standout guard averaged 11.6 points, 3.0 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game.
He was impressive with the ball in his hands, playing beyond his years for Pearl and Co. The Jersey City native is beloved by the fanbase, with countless people hoping that he indeed will make his way back to the team next year. However, things are fully up in the air there.
Pettiford could test the NBA Draft waters and then make a decision. Seeing him transfer to a different college powerhouse would be the worst-case scenario here for Auburn. Soon enough, we'll find out what the youngster has in mind, but a potential return to the team could end up happening here.