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Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford was named to the 247Sports All-Freshman Third Team on Thursday. The first-year Tiger, who earned All-SEC Freshman Team honors just a few days ago, was a crucial piece of head coach Bruce Pearl's rotation this season.
The Jersey City, New Jersey native averaged 11.6 points and 3.0 assists per game over 31 contests this season. Despite appearing as a reserve in all but one of those games, Pettiford finished tied for third on the team in points and second among all Tigers in assists.
One of the best sixth men in the nation, Auburn's most aggressively used freshman was a star on the road, consistently keeping his team in games in which the offense went stale. Pettiford's 17.1 points per game in road or nuetral site games against KenPom top 10 opponents rank first on the team.
Other than National Player of the Year finalist Johni Broome, the freshman has arguably been Auburn's most important player in the Tigers' most difficult games. Pettiford's scoring prowess, along with his ability to consistently handle the ball for a historically dominant offense, make him one of the premier point guards in the country.
247Sports analyst Eric Bossi reiterated that when writing about why Auburn's freshman earned Third team honors. Speaking about Pettiford, Bossi wrote "He has brought a ton of energy off the bench and been electric with the ball in his hands. Because of his ability to go on heaters with his jumper, he's been able to blow by defenders off the bounce, get into the lane, and cause a lot of trouble.".
Other than Pettiford, four freshman from the conference earned All-Freshman Team honors. SEC leading scorer Tre Johnson (First Team), Georgia forward Asa Newell (Second Team), Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears (Second Team) and Alabama's Labaron Philion (Third Team) were recognized by writer Eric Bossi, while Duke phenom Cooper Flagg took home Freshman of the Year honors.
Four BIG 10 freshman, Rutgers teammates Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, Maryland center Derik Queen, Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis joined Flagg and Johnson on the First Team. While Pettiford would have loved to finish among the top 10 freshman in the country, his confidence and knack for thriving in the clutch moments may be the highest amidst any first year player.
We'll see if the freshman can keep up his stellar play away from Neville Arena when the Tigers open up their SEC Tournament on Friday against Ole Miss. If Pettiford and company advance, they would be a pair of wins away from clinching both the SEC Regular Season and SEC Tournament Championships for the first time in school history.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter@TheRealBHauch
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Tahaad Pettiford named to 247Sports All-Freshman Team
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The Jersey City, New Jersey native averaged 11.6 points and 3.0 assists per game over 31 contests this season. Despite appearing as a reserve in all but one of those games, Pettiford finished tied for third on the team in points and second among all Tigers in assists.
One of the best sixth men in the nation, Auburn's most aggressively used freshman was a star on the road, consistently keeping his team in games in which the offense went stale. Pettiford's 17.1 points per game in road or nuetral site games against KenPom top 10 opponents rank first on the team.
Other than National Player of the Year finalist Johni Broome, the freshman has arguably been Auburn's most important player in the Tigers' most difficult games. Pettiford's scoring prowess, along with his ability to consistently handle the ball for a historically dominant offense, make him one of the premier point guards in the country.
247Sports analyst Eric Bossi reiterated that when writing about why Auburn's freshman earned Third team honors. Speaking about Pettiford, Bossi wrote "He has brought a ton of energy off the bench and been electric with the ball in his hands. Because of his ability to go on heaters with his jumper, he's been able to blow by defenders off the bounce, get into the lane, and cause a lot of trouble.".
Other than Pettiford, four freshman from the conference earned All-Freshman Team honors. SEC leading scorer Tre Johnson (First Team), Georgia forward Asa Newell (Second Team), Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears (Second Team) and Alabama's Labaron Philion (Third Team) were recognized by writer Eric Bossi, while Duke phenom Cooper Flagg took home Freshman of the Year honors.
Four BIG 10 freshman, Rutgers teammates Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, Maryland center Derik Queen, Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis joined Flagg and Johnson on the First Team. While Pettiford would have loved to finish among the top 10 freshman in the country, his confidence and knack for thriving in the clutch moments may be the highest amidst any first year player.
We'll see if the freshman can keep up his stellar play away from Neville Arena when the Tigers open up their SEC Tournament on Friday against Ole Miss. If Pettiford and company advance, they would be a pair of wins away from clinching both the SEC Regular Season and SEC Tournament Championships for the first time in school history.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter@TheRealBHauch
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Tahaad Pettiford named to 247Sports All-Freshman Team
Continue reading...
