The dream season of Auburn basketball came to an end at the hands of the now-national champs. Something has hung heavy in the air since then- all fans know the next season is set to be a bit of a reset. With Johni Broome, Dylan Cardwell, Miles Kelly, and more heading out, the Tigers already have big shoes to fill. And if there was anything that promised a sigh of relief, it was their shining hope, the freshman Tahaad Pettiford. He was supposed to take the reins and lead the charge. That’s what we all thought. But..

Pettiford has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, too, though he’s keeping his college eligibility intact. Not super shocking, considering the freshman just had a ridiculously good NCAA tourney run, averaging 15.2 points and 3.6 assists. One of the best freshmen in the country, no doubt. And testing draft waters is basically a rite of passage at Auburn at this point. Broome and Cardwell did it too.

And if you’re wondering where Bruce Pearl stands, well, he’s already putting NBA teams on high alert. The coach straight up reposted the team’s announcement with a “You go show ‘em Tahaad. I wouldn’t hesitate drafting you in the first round right now! If they don’t, you come back and we run it back!” 

Even the young hooper himself told fans at Neville Arena on Sunday after the loss, “I hope to come back next year and run it back again.” The crowd was buzzing, hearts full… until the internet got involved. Just a day earlier at the Alamodome, he said he wasn’t ready to comment on his return. And when those “run it back” quotes started spreading like wildfire on social media, he was quick to reply “not confirmed!!” to multiple posts on X. 

The silver lining is if Pettiford does return to college hoops, he’s all Auburn. He told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, “If I return, it will be to Auburn. I can’t leave this type of situation.” So it’s a waiting game until May 28.

But Pearl’s warning is not just a warning, he’s daring the league to sleep on him. “I just think that Tahaad feels prepared. He’s got a great stroke, and he’s always played against older players,” he recently said. “He’s been playing guys older than him his whole life. So, what’s the difference in the NCAA Tournament?“

If Pettiford comes back next season, Auburn might just be the team to beat. Think preseason No. 1 vibes—a squad with Final Four experience, a coach who knows how to win, and a guard who’s already making defenders look silly. And the SEC? Tahaad called it a “gauntlet”, and honestly, it’s only making them better.

In the meantime, he’s probably gunning for a combine invite to feel out his stock. And fans must be hoping he does come back. He was the Tigers’ third-leading scorer with 11.6 points and 3.0 assists per game. During the Tigers’ Final Four run, he leveled up, dropping 23 on Creighton and 20 on Michigan. Now, while Bruce is (secretly) manifesting Pettiford’s return and has cleared his intentions, he’s also not sitting around waiting. 

Bruce Pearl snatches one from Mark Pope’s plate

The man’s on a mission, and he’s already picked up a huge piece from the portal. Because this Auburn squad wasn’t packed with blue-chip recruits. Just one five-star and two top-100 guys. Compare that to Duke or Houston, who have a full buffet of elite talent. 

But Auburn has figured out its own recipe. And it’s heavily seasoned with transfer portal spice. Steven Pearl said it best: “You’ve got to bring in pieces that fit with what you currently have.” Enter Keyshawn Hall. The 6’7″, 235-pound forward from UCF who just led the Big 12 in scoring with 18.8 points a night. He can even splash from deep at 35%. Auburn needed a weapon, and they got one. Now, fans can’t stop raving about it on social media.

Sure, this will be Hall’s fourth stop (UNLV to George Mason to UCF), but nobody is counting when you’ve got production like that. And get this…Kentucky thought they had him. On3’s Joe Tipton said Hall was set to Zoom with Coach Pope, and everyone just assumed he’d be rocking blue and white next. After all, Pope does have a track record. Well, not this time.

Initially, it seemed like Kansas and Auburn were locked in a tight race for his commitment, with Kentucky holding a slight edge in the art of chasing. But Bruce Pearl sealed the deal, pulling off a recruiting coup. Now, the focus shifts to what other moves Pearl and Auburn have up their sleeves—and how the roster shapes up for the upcoming season.