The Auburn Tigers are coming off another thrilling season, winning the SEC regular-season championship and advancing all the way to the Final Four, where they ultimately fell to the eventual national champion, the Florida Gators. Auburn was a powerhouse all season, dominating what many considered a gauntlet of an SEC schedule.
One downside of making such a deep tournament run is the impact on recruiting—especially in the transfer portal. Since the portal opens during the NCAA Tournament, teams still competing can find themselves at a disadvantage.
“We are reaching out (to prospects) and saying, ‘Look, we are busy right now. If you’re still available come Tuesday, we have some interest.’ I do recognize that everybody else in my league is on a private plane 12 hours a day recruiting,” Bruce Pearl said.
As with any successful season, Auburn saw the departure of several key players. The Tigers had one of the oldest rosters in college basketball. One notable situation involved freshman Tahaad Pettiford, who had a major decision to make. Upon returning from the Final Four, Pettiford shared his initial thoughts.
“I hope to come back next year and run it back again,” Pettiford said.
Shortly after, Pettiford entered the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. At the combine, players have been scrimmaging and receiving feedback, which is expected to influence decisions. Coach Pearl offered an update on Pettiford’s status.
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“We will get really good information from the NBA and if he decides to come back to Auburn we will be a lot better team...he won't leave unless he's in a really good spot and we will probably know within the next couple of weeks,” Pearl said.
Bringing Pettiford back would be a major boost for the program, adding to what is already an impressive incoming class through the transfer portal.