Note #063: Tahaad Pettiford (Earning His Stripes)

Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford enters his junior year with the Tigers in 2026-27, an even larger role awaiting him.

Let's start by parsing his sophomore 2025-26 season, his second with the team.

The 6'1" Pettiford, in 38 GP (32.3 MP/G), put up:

• 15.4 PPG
• 3.8 APG
• 3.0 RPG
• 1.1 SPG
• 0.6 BPG

Since 1947-48, two NCAA Division I men's players that were 6'1" or shorter, besides Pettiford, averaged 15+ PPG, 3.5+ APG, 3+ RPG, 1+ SPG, 0.5+ BPG in their sophomore season:

1. Domonic Jones (2001-02) - 16.1 PPG, 3.9 APG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG (32 GP, 34.8 MP/G)
2. Trey Burke (2012-13) - 18.6 PPG, 6.7 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 0.5 BPG (39 GP, 35.3 MP/G)

If we remove the height ceiling, and add in a 35 GP floor, five other sophomores besides Pettiford and Burke meet the criteria:

15-17 PPG
1. Jamont Gordon (2006-07) - 16.0 PPG, 5.3 APG, 7.1 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG (35 GP, 32.3 MP/G)
2. Manny Harris (2008-09) - 16.9 PPG, 4.4 APG, 6.8 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG (35 GP, 32.9 MP/G)

17-20 PPG
3. Jarrett Culver (2018-19) - 18.5 PPG, 3.7 APG, 6.4 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG (38 GP, 32.5 MP/G)

20+ PPG
4. Cameron Payne (2014-15) - 20.2 PPG, 6.0 APG, 3.7 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG (35 GP, 32.2 MP/G)
5. D'Marcus Simonds (2017-18) - 21.2 PPG, 4.4 APG, 5.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG (35 GP, 34.9 MP/G)

Besides the sophomores Gordon (Mississippi State) and Pettiford, four other SEC players since 1947-48 have met the above per game benchmarks (still min. 35 GP):

Seniors
1. Willie Anderson Jr. (1987-88) - 16.7 PPG, 4.0 APG, 5.1 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 1.4 BPG (35 GP, 33.2 MP/G)
2. JD Notae (2021-22) - 18.3 PPG, 3.7 APG, 4.6 RPG, 2.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG (36 GP, 33.1 MP/G)
3. Walter Clayton Jr. (2024-25) - 18.3 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.7 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG (39 GP, 32.6 MP/G)

Freshmen
4. John Wall (2009-10) - 16.6 PPG, 6.5 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG (37 GP, 34.8 MP/G)

Notae was 6'1" like Pettiford.

Note #055 on top 10 2026 Draft pick Mikel Brown Jr. is a House of Payne.