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Auburn Tigers star point guard Tahaad Pettiford was arrested in Alabama on Friday night on drunk driving charges, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Department.
Pettiford, 19, who withdrew from the NBA draft despite shining at the combine, was part of the Auburn team that made it to the Final Four this year in his debut season.
The New Jersey native was booked into jail in Lee County around midnight Saturday morning before being released on a $1,000 bond.
Alabama law states that any person under the age of 19 with a blood alcohol content of 0.2 percent or more can be charged with DUI.
His coach, Bruce Pearl, told AL.com in a statement, "We are aware of the situation and we will handle internally with Tahaad and his family. We take these matters seriously and will learn and grow from it moving forward."
Pettiford is due to return to Auburn in the Fall for his sophomore year. Last season, he managed 11.6 points and three assists per game.
His Name, Image, and Likeness package at Auburn is worth $2 million, according to CBS Sports.
The All-American managed 23 points during a combine scrimmage where he was regarded as one of the best prospects present.
According to the CBS report, Pettiford's decision to return to school was due to the likelihood that he would not be selected in the first round of the draft. He is projected to join the Boston Celtics in 2026.
Pettiford grew up in Jersey City and attended Hudson Catholic High School. Following news of his arrest, NJ.com reports that he had been back in the Garden State working out during the summer.
Teenage NBA Prospect Charged With Drunk Driving in Alabama first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 12, 2025
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