Auburn's Tahaad Pettiford projected to NBA Eastern Conference power in latest mock draft
Pettiford showed up in big games for the Tigers during the 2024-25 season. He averaged 11.6 points per game and three assists. He shot well from beyond the three-point line with a shooting percentage of 37%. His ballhandling ability sets him apart from most point guards in college basketball. Pettiford is not just one of the best in the SEC but will be one of the top point guards in all of college basketball.
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Pettiford had plenty of stellar performances, but one of his best was a 70-68 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens on January 18th. He scored 24 points for Auburn with Johni Broome out of the lineup due to injury. It is a good example of what could be a regular occurrence as the focal point of the offense this season.
The combo guard also had big performances in the NCAA Tournament in the second round versus Creighton and the Sweet 16 versus Michigan. Pettiford scored over 20 points in both games in helping the Tigers gain victories. Before withdrawing from 2025 NBA Draft Pettiford did participate in the NBA Draft Combine. That experience should have added to the development of an already great player.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: CBS Sports projects Tahaad Pettiford to Celtics in 2026 NBA Draft
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