At halftime, Auburn found itself in an unexpected dogfight. Michigan—against all odds—was matching the Tigers blow for blow, locked in a 30-29 slugfest. Freshman Tahaad Pettiford had already found his groove, but Auburn needed more than just flashes. They needed a takeover.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Down by nine in the second half, the Tigers flipped the switch and flipped the script, torching Michigan 78-65 in the Sweet 16. A 39-17 avalanche in the final 12 minutes sent Auburn storming into the Elite Eight for just the third time in program history. Pettiford and senior Denver Jones delivered 20 points each, while Johni Broome’s 22-point, 16-rebound masterclass kept the foundation strong.

But it was Pettiford’s electric second-half takeover that had everyone talking—especially about his NBA future. Imagine a freshman turning Michigan’s defense into traffic cones while NBA scouts scramble to update their big boards—that’s the Tahaad Pettiford story unfolding right now.

Basketball Analyst, Kevin O’Connor fanned the flames, posting on X: “Tahaad Pettiford is 14th on my big board. Probably too low.” Given his clutch shot-making and fearless execution, it was hard to disagree. This take comes after he had already made his prediction on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” two days ago, saying, “You say [Johni Broome’s] their second-best player, but I think secretly it could actually be Pettiford”.

He went 6-for-9 from the field, a perfect 2-for-2 from the line, and dished out two assists—all while delivering dagger after dagger. A step-back three to ignite the rally. Two ice-cold bombs from Jones. Then came the moment: Pettiford lost the ball, snatched it back, buried a three, and sealed the night with a ruthless and-one. Auburn senior Dylan Cardwell summed it up the best: “My ‘holy crap’ moment was definitely the fadeaway and-1 foul from Tahaad. I’ve never seen anything like that.” Fans didn’t hold back either.

Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford: From underrated freshman to NBA draft riser? Fans think so!

One fan, declared, “Tahaad is a top 10 draft pick!!!” And after that performance, they just might be right. Kevin O’Connor, a respected basketball analyst, ranked Pettiford 14th on his board, while Sports Illustrated labeled him a potential second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman chimed in, noting, “Tahaad Pettiford is doing his best to build a case around creativity, shotmaking and touch that’s sharp enough to offset disadvantages of being 6’1”, 175 pounds.” But size be damned—his second-half stat line of 15 points, including a three-point play that left Michigan reeling, screams lottery potential.

Another fan kept it simple: “He is a freshman. Yeah.” And that’s the funny thing—Pettiford wasn’t supposed to be this good this soon. Ranked 35th in ESPN’s Top 100 with an 88 grade, he entered college as a four-star recruit. Yet, his numbers this season tell a compelling story—averaging 11.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 42.5% from the field. For comparison, UConn’s Liam McNeeley—a projected lottery pick—averages 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on 38.1% shooting. Pettiford might not have the same draft buzz yet, but his efficiency and fearless play are catching eyes.

Against Creighton in the second round, he dropped 23 points, six rebounds, and three assists, proving he’s a nightmare for top competition. Also, he has scored 15-plus points in five of his last seven games. And he is just 19! Younger than Auburn’s starting five, averaging 23.2 years.

One fan summed it up best: “Tahaad Pettiford will have a good career in the NBA. What a player.”

Coach Bruce Pearl saw it too, as he said, “Just the kids’ will to win. Denver got heated up. Tahaad got heated up. We went to them, and they delivered”. Broome wasn’t far behind, echoing the same, “(Pettiford) does whatever it takes to win. We need a spark, he gives the spark..There’s not too many freshmen who can take over a game like he can.”

But raw talent alone won’t get him there. A closer look at the box score shows he still has work to do. In his 29 minutes against Michigan, Pettiford went 7-for-14 from the field, 2-for-7 from deep, and tallied one block, one steal, and three assists. Most of his damage came in the second half—just one field goal and a free throw in the first. So, if he bulks up and hones his defense; his ceiling could rival top-15 picks—or higher, if his 19.5-point tournament average holds.

And while fans are already dreaming about Auburn’s potential championship run—one fan posted, “Auburn vs. Duke gonna hit like crack in the championship”—Pettiford and the Tigers need to get through the Elite Eight first. Next up: Michigan State, a disciplined Big Ten foe that’ll test Auburn’s chaos with physicality. If they do advance, a potential rematch with Duke looms large. On Dec. 5, 2024, Duke edged out Auburn 84-78, with Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Proctor, Kon Kneuppel, and Isaiah Evans proving too much for Pettiford, Chad Baker-Mazara, Miles Kelly, and Johni Broome.

Now, Pettiford has a chance to rewrite that script—and maybe, just maybe, prove he belongs in that one-of-the-best conversation.