4-star Tahaad Pettiford breaks down Auburn official, talks future visits

On3 imageby:Jamie Shaw10/18/22

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Tahaad Pettiford is the No. 22 player in the 2024 On3 Consensus. Playing up in age group, the 6-foot-0 point guard averaged 13.3 points with the New Heights Lightning organization on Nike’s EYBL 17u Circuit.

“I’m a short guard who can get to the rim and finish above the rim,” Pettiford told On3. “I like to get up the floor and go; I can get a stop when my team needs one, and like to get my teammates involved. I’ve recently started watching a lot of De’Aaron Fox. I just love the way he knows how to create space and use his body. It creates space for an open shot, and also, you know if they overplay him, he knows how to just one move get by them.”

The four-star was a recent invitee to the USA Basketball Junior National Team October Minicamp, where On3 caught up with Tahaad Pettiford to talk about his recruitment.

“I just took my first official visit to Auburn,” Pettiford said. “I don’t have any other visits set up yet, but I’m trying to set something up with Kentucky, Kansas, Tennessee, and probably UCLA.”

Pettiford talks recruitment

Auburn: “First of all, I didn’t even know it was in Alabama; I thought it was in Atlanta. It’s a small town, but everybody’s all about the school and the players. Everybody showed love for the basketball team, for all the sports, really. They’re so supportive. Everybody there wants to see you strive and be the best player you can be.

“They like that I’m a fast point guard; that I like to get up the floor and go, and also that I like to play defense. I’m quick, so they like to get stops and let their players get up and go. They don’t like to run sets, and he said I remind him a lot of how they like to play.

Kentucky: “You know, it’s Coach Cal (John Calipari). So, for him to call me a lot, text me, and make sure I’m good, he’s one of the best coaches to ever do it. He’s always checking up on me and telling me how to improve my game so he can see me playing for him in a few years.”

UCLA: “It’s Coach (Darren) Savino, you know, they show a lot of love, too, every day. They always check in to make sure my family and I are good. Coach also wants to see me strive and help me be the best that I can be.”

Kansas: “I actually spoke to them recently, and they told me they like how I can score the ball and also how I can play defense. They said they think my game could translate into how they play.

Tennessee: “I don’t really speak to Tennessee as much, but when I do speak to them, they tell me that they just love the way how I get players involved and that’s what they need.”

In Pettiford’s words

“We’re trying to work things out before the season,” Pettiford said. “I will probably get at least one more visit in before the season. And then, let everything sit down and get back to it next summer. Right now, I’m probably looking to commit before next school year.

“I’m looking for a school where I can play my game, but also have players around me that want to be great, and I want to get to work with them. I like to get out and go, run a few sets once in a while, but, you know, I like to get out and go.

But also, I want to go to a school that’s going to help me become the best player I can be and take care of me and my family. That’s all I really hear.”

Scouting report

Tahaad Pettiford is a quick-on-quick point guard. He has a crafty, but explosive handle that gets him to his spots on the floor. He does not dance with the ball, it is one or two dribbles and go. The 6-foot-0 guard has a quick-twitch burst that gets him above the rim. His team will run back-door lobs for him in the half-court. He has a tendency, at times, to get one-dimensional, looking to score or attacking with his head down, but he has some electricity in his play-making. Pettiford is a lefty. He plays with the utmost confidence. The shot is more of a set shot, and while he could shoot better off the bounce, it has to be respected. His quick athleticism and burst give him upside to defend the point of attack. There is an aggressive edge to his game.