Tahaad Pettiford established himself as one of the top freshmen in college basketball during his debut season with the Auburn Tigers. However, Auburn’s NCAA Tournament run came to an end in the Final Four with a 79-73 loss to SEC rival Florida.
While Pettiford is hopeful to return next season, the Tigers will have to move forward without All-American senior Johni Broome. UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall could help fill that gap, but Auburn’s in-state rival isn’t standing still.
Alabama—fresh off an Elite Eight appearance—landed a big addition of their own, securing a commitment from Miami transfer Jalil Bethea.
Tahaad Pettiford, who shared the court with Jalil Bethea in the Aces Elite Classic All-American Game during high school, had a playful reaction to Bethea’s transfer to Alabama.
“Come onnnn,” Pettiford commented, sparking intrigue among fans.
Both were highly regarded members of the 2024 recruiting class—Pettiford a four-star prospect ranked No. 29 overall, while Bethea earned five-star status and ranked No. 7 via 247Sports.
Bethea’s freshman year at Miami had its ups and downs. He appeared in 31 games, starting 16, and averaged 7.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, shooting 36.8% from the field.
Meanwhile, Pettiford turned in a far more impactful freshman campaign, averaging 11.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists off the bench for Auburn. If he returns for his sophomore year—as expected barring any major changes—head coach Bruce Pearl could elevate him to a starting role.
Looking ahead, potential head-to-head matchups between Pettiford and Bethea could become must-watch SEC showdowns. With Bethea possibly stepping in as Alabama’s replacement for Mark Sears, a new chapter in the Auburn-Alabama rivalry could be taking shape.