4-star PG Tahaad Pettiford planning visit to Kentucky; decision coming in April
Kentucky men’s basketball is still patiently waiting to add its first commit from the class of 2024, but there are plenty of talented options out there that are high on the Wildcats’ radar. One of those prospects is four-star Tahaad Pettiford, a 6-foot point guard who recently included UK in his Top 7 at the beginning of the new year. The Hudson Catholic (NJ) product earned a scholarship offer from the Kentucky coaching staff over the summer and the two sides continue to stay in contact.
In fact, KSR has learned that Pettiford, who is ranked as the No. 23 overall high school junior in the On3 Consensus, is planning an official visit to Kentucky (likely for a game visit) ahead of his expected decision date this spring.
At the 2023 Hoophall Classic this weekend in Springfield, Mass., Pettiford made the trip with his team despite being sidelined with a torn meniscus that he suffered a couple of months ago (he is expected to return within the next three weeks). KSR was able to talk with him after Hudson Catholic beat Springfield Central 43-41 in the Saturday nightcap.
Pettiford revealed that he intends to take visits to Kentucky and Kansas before making his decision sometime in April. He’s only taken one of his five allotted official visits so far this season, which went to Auburn back in September. All three of Kentucky, Kansas, and Auburn cracked Pettiford’s Top 7, as did Ole Miss, Seton Hall, UCLA, and UConn. Pettiford also took an unofficial visit to watch UConn play Creighton on Jan. 7.
With a trip to Lexington in the works, one can assume the ‘Cats are near the top of his list. Pettiford regularly talks with Kentucky associate coach Orlando Antigua and said over the summer that his game reminds head coach John Calipari of former Wildcat point guard and current NBA star, De’Aaron Fox.
“My relationship with Coach (Calipari) and Coach Antigua, it’s really good,” Pettiford told KSR on Saturday. “When they first started recruiting me, they didn’t offer, they were texting me, but Coach Cal told me he wanted to come and see me in person and I got to meet with him in person during one of the live periods, speak with him.”
Shortly after meeting Calipari is when the official offer came in. Like most top-ranked recruits, Pettiford has aspirations of making it to the NBA, thus the appeal for him with Kentucky. He believes Calipari is one of the coaches who can help him reach that dream.
“I feel like if Coach Cal is one of the best, who wouldn’t want to be coached by one of the best?” Pettiford said.
Also high on Pettiford’s list is the Auburn Tigers. He enjoys the constant energy that head coach Bruce Pearl provides on and off the hardwood, which is different from the way Calipari approaches coaching. But that being said, Pettiford is a fan of both personalities and how those coaches teach their players, even if the two styles are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
“I feel like Bruce Pearl, he’s just more outgoing. I feel like Coach Cal, he’s just more about getting his business done,” Pettiford said of the two head coaches. “Coach Pearl, he likes to mix it in with fun. Coach Cal is more strictly like get it done. And that’s the difference between them but either way, they both want the best for you, so it really doesn’t matter at the end of the day.”
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