From Auburn Undercover
For the fourth time in the last five years, Auburn can boast a McDonald's All-American in its recruiting class, as 5-star point guard signee Tahaad Pettiford was named to this year's roster Tuesday.
Pettiford is the fourth McDonald's All-American at Auburn since Bruce Pearl arrived, as he joins Aden Holloway, Jabari Smith, Sharife Cooper, Korvotney Barber and Frank Ford as the program's all-time honorees.
In the final update of the 247Sports rankings for the 2024 cycle, Pettiford received a bump up from No. 25 overall to No. 22 during his senior season at Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.). That increase moved him up the No. 1 point guard in the country in the 247Sports Composite ranking.
Pettiford committed to Auburn last February, then signed in November. He's rated as the No. 5 signee in program history.
"Tahaad is a very unique player," Pearl said when Pettiford officially signed. "He is a gifted scorer with an unlimited range. Instant offense. He has tremendous speed, quickness and athletic jumping ability. Tahaad is a very tough cover and uses that athleticism to be a pest defensively."
Pettiford has been teammates in various circuits with Auburn's other 2024 signee, 4-star small forward Jakhi Howard, who also received a bump in the 247Sports rankings Monday from No. 85 to No. 69.