Auburn Basketball Star Tahaad Pettiford’s Shocking DUI Arrest Sends Ripples Through the Team

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Advertisement”I was happy to go through the process, getting feedback from NBA teams,” Pettiford told ESPN in late May. “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.”Pettiford’s arrest comes less than two months after he announced he was withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning to Auburn for his sophomore season. The 6-foot-1 point guard averaged 11.6 points and 3.0 assists as a freshman, helping lead the Tigers to an SEC regular season title, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and a Final Four appearance.

“We are aware of the situation, and we will handle internally with Tahaad and his family,” Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement to Yahoo Sports. “We take these matters seriously and will learn and grow from it moving forward.”Pettiford, 19, was booked into the Lee County Jail at 12 a.m. on Saturday before being released on a ,000 bond.AdvertisementSo here we are—Auburn’s promising point guard, Tahaad Pettiford, finds himself in a jam early Saturday, arrested in Alabama for alleged DUI. The 19-year-old, fresh off a bold decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return for his sophomore season, was booked at midnight and later released on a ,000 bond. I gotta tell you, this situation’s got layers — not just about the charges, but about what it means for a kid poised to climb basketball’s pro ladder. Coach Bruce Pearl’s statement hints at a serious but private reckoning, showing how much weight these moments carry in the life of a rising star. Pettiford had big plans—his freshman run was stellar, leading Auburn to SEC glory, a top NCAA seed, and a Final Four trip. Pulling out of last year’s draft wasn’t just a gamble; it was a strategic retreat to boost his stock and cash in on the NIL wave surging through college hoops. Pettiford himself admitted the draft wasn’t a sure thing, so he chose the sturdier path back at Auburn. Now, with this arrest, the question looms: how will it affect his journey to becoming a first-round pick in 2026? Hang tight—this story is far from over. LEARN MORE