AUBURN, Ala.—Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford is one of 20 players to be named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches preseason watch list for the 2026 NABC Division I Player of the Year award, the association announced Thursday.
It marks the third consecutive year an Auburn player has appeared on the NABC preseason watch list as Pettiford joins Johni Broome who appeared on the watch list prior to the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Broome was a finalist for the award last season.
The 2026 NABC Division I Player of the Year – to be selected by a nationwide vote of Division I head coaches at the conclusion of the regular season – will be announced the week of the 2026 Men’s Final Four.
A preseason first team All-SEC selection, Pettiford leads Auburn against 2025 NCAA Tournament team and American Athletic Conference Champion Memphis in Atlanta Thursday in both team’s final exhibition prior to the regular season opener on Monday, Nov. 3.
2026 NABC Division I Player of the Year – Preseason Watch List
Nate Ament, Tennessee
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Alex Condon, Florida
Donovan Dent, UCLA
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's
PJ Haggerty, Kansas State
Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Alex Karaban, Connecticut
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Otega Oweh, Kentucky
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
Labaron Philon, Alabama
Braden Smith, Purdue
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Milos Uzan, Houston
Darrion Williams, North Carolina State