Auburn Faces Roster Turnover, But All Eyes Are on Tahaad Pettiford and the Transfer Portal
Auburn basketball is undergoing a major transformation this offseason, with nearly the entire rotation from last season’s Final Four run no longer in place. One of the most important names still up in the air is freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford, who declared for the NBA Draft while keeping his NCAA eligibility intact. Though his explosive playing style could entice professional scouts, head coach Bruce Pearl appears to be optimistic that Pettiford will eventually return for his sophomore season.
While Auburn waits for Pettiford’s decision, the coaching staff remains active in the transfer portal, specifically looking to add more depth and versatility to the frontcourt. According to AuburnUndercover, Louisville transfer James Scott—a 6-foot-11 forward—will soon visit Auburn. Last season, Scott averaged 7.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for the Cardinals, and he would be the fourth frontcourt transfer Pearl has landed this offseason.
The Tigers have already lost Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell, two experienced big men who used up their eligibility, creating a major gap in the paint. In response, Pearl has brought in several reinforcements: KeShawn Murphy from Ole Miss, Elyjah Freeman from Division II, and Keyshawn Hall from UCF, who may become the team’s offensive focal point. Hall, at 6-foot-7, is the smallest of these new additions but brings scoring upside.
In the backcourt, Auburn has so far only added Kevin Overton, a 6-foot-5 guard from Texas Tech who primarily plays off the ball. Pearl seems focused on increasing the team’s length and athleticism across the board—likely a reaction to the size mismatches Auburn experienced last season, particularly with JP Pegues, a smaller transfer from Furman who struggled at times.
Still, there’s an issue Pearl hasn’t solved: who will handle the ball and run the offense?
James Scott isn’t the answer there. His value comes as a traditional big man. Nearly 87% of his scoring came in the paint last year, and he recorded an elite effective field goal percentage of 75.9%, which ranks in the 99th percentile. Defensively, he was also a major presence around the rim—opponents shot just 34.2% in the paint when he was on the floor, compared to 44.1% when he was off.
In short, Scott could be a valuable two-way contributor for Auburn, but like most of Pearl’s recent additions, he’ll need a playmaker to set him up.
Among the newcomers, only Hall has shown some ability to create offense for himself, but even he posted a relatively modest 15% assist rate at UCF. That’s still far better than Overton’s 6.8% assist rate, which further highlights the absence of a true point guard on this new-look roster.
In addition to Broome and Cardwell, Auburn also lost key guards Miles Kelly and Denver Jones, both of whom finished their college careers. Yet so far, Pearl has not brought in a primary ball handler to replace them. That leaves two possibilities: either Pearl is placing a lot of trust in incoming four-star freshman Kaden Magwood, or he is banking on Tahaad Pettiford returning.
Pettiford, despite being known for his scoring instincts, made notable strides during his freshman campaign and showed flashes of growth as a floor general. If he decides to withdraw from the draft and rejoin the Tigers, especially alongside a fortified frontcourt that could include Scott, Auburn would instantly return to national contender status with Final Four potential.
If he stays in the draft, though, Auburn could find itself in a precarious position—loaded with size and talent but missing the most critical piece: a player who can orchestrate the offense.
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