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A rising star for the Auburn University basketball team, 19-year-old Tahaad Pettiford, has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Alabama. The news comes amidst the athlete’s consideration of returning to college basketball for another season.
According to reports from ESPN and Yahoo Sports, Pettiford was arrested early Saturday, July 12th, in Lee County, Alabama – the location of the Auburn University campus. He was released on the same day after posting a $1,000 bond.
“We are aware of the situation, and we will handle it internally with Tahaad and his family,” Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl stated in a statement to PEOPLE. “We take these matters seriously and will learn and grow from it moving forward.”
Pettiford, a standout freshman on the Auburn team, recently opted out of the 2025 NBA Draft. He averaged 11.6 points per game during his freshman season and contributed to Auburn securing the top seed in the NCAA tournament, leading the team to the Final Four. Despite being considered a potential Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year, he chose to return for another season.
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