Auburn men’s basketball star Tahaad Pettiford was arrested early Saturday morning in Alabama on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office recent arrests database.

Pettiford, 19, was booked into the Lee County Jail at 12 a.m. Saturday before being released on a $1,000 bond.

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“We are aware of the situation, and we will handle internally with Tahaad and his family,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement to Yahoo Sports. “We take these matters seriously and will learn and grow from it moving forward.”

Pettiford’s arrest comes less than two months after he announced he was withdrawing from the NBA Draft and returning to Auburn for his sophomore season. The 6-foot-1 point guard averaged 11.6 points and three assists as a freshman, helping lead the Tigers to an SEC regular-season title, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and a Final Four appearance.

Had Pettiford remained in the 2025 NBA Draft, he was projected to be selected somewhere in the late first or second round. He instead returned to Auburn in hopes of solidifying himself as a 2026 first-round pick while capitalizing on college basketball’s soaring NIL market.

“I was happy to go through the process, getting feedback from NBA teams,” Pettiford told ESPN in late May. “Going back to Auburn is a better situation for me. I see myself being a higher pick next year. It wasn’t 100% this year, so I didn’t want to take that chance.”

The college football NIL debate just got a lot more heated. Deion Sanders wants salary caps, Dan Patrick thinks that’s naive, and coaches across the country are losing their minds over what recruiting has become. When Coach Prime and a veteran broadcaster can’t agree on the solution, you know this mess is far from over.

Why Does Deion Sanders Want a Salary Cap in College Football?

During the 2025 Big 12 Media Days, Sanders made his case for bringing some order to the chaos. Speaking alongside Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, the Colorado coach expressed frustration with the current system.

“I wish there was a cap,” Sanders said during the roundtable discussion. “Like, the top-of-the-line player makes this, and if you’re not that type of guy, you know you’re not going to make that. That’s what the NFL does.”

Sanders believes the current model creates unfair competition, where less-talented players can secure massive payouts from wealthier schools. His concern centers on talent evaluation getting thrown out the window when money talks louder than ability.

“You got a guy that’s not that darn good, but he could go to another school and they give him a half million dollars,” Sanders added. “You can’t compete with that.”

“All you gotta do is look at the [CFP] and see what those teams spent, and you’ll understand darn well why they’re in the playoffs.”

Deion Sanders on NIL and the current state of college football. pic.twitter.com/y6A5C3dWUP

— ESPN (@espn) July 9, 2025

However, Dan Patrick didn’t buy Sanders’ solution. Reacting on his show, the veteran broadcaster delivered a reality check about what salary caps would accomplish.

“There is a salary cap, but that doesn’t stop collectives or boosters from getting money,” Patrick said. “It’ll be back to the way it was years ago when you paid people under the table. You got NIL, but that doesn’t matter. There’s way too many windows.”

Patrick raised a concern that cuts to the heart of the issue: any attempt at regulation, without robust enforcement, would just push money back into the shadows. This would reintroduce the secrecy and underhandedness that NIL was supposed to eliminate.

What Other Coaches Are Saying About NIL Frustrations?

Sanders isn’t the only coach feeling the heat from the current system. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart expressed similar frustration earlier this offseason, though his approach differs from Sanders’ salary cap proposal.

When asked during a press conference if recruits ask the Bulldogs to match NIL deals from other programs, Smart admitted he shuts those conversations down immediately.

“I’m over that, because if that’s all that matters, you need to send out a bid like they do for jobs and say, supplement your bid, let me take visits, and I’m going to go to the bid and go to the highest bidder,” Smart said. “I really believe there still does matter a relationship. And if relationship doesn’t matter, then I’m probably not going to have a kid that wants to play hard for Georgia.”

Smart also identified what he sees as missing in the current NIL landscape: “But I’ll pay a premium for fire, passion, and energy, because in the market we’re in, there’s a lack of that.”

Smart’s comments highlight a broader concern among coaches that the current system prioritizes financial incentives over the intangible qualities that traditionally defined successful college programs.

Can Anyone Fix the NIL System Before It’s Too Late?

Despite recent changes, the fundamental problems remain unsolved. While the July 1 House v. NCAA settlement allows schools to distribute up to $20.5 million directly to athletes, it doesn’t address the deeper issue. NIL remains uncapped and wide open to interpretation.

Schools with deeper pockets or more aggressive collectives continue to dominate the recruitment battles, and the promise of parity feels further away than ever. Sanders, who connected the dots between spending and success, hasn’t escaped this reality.

Sanders also took issue with the College Football Playoff selection process, pointing to financial clout as a driving force behind which teams consistently make the cut.

“It’s kind of hard to compete with somebody who’s giving $25-30 million to a freshman class,” Sanders said, calling for more transparency and fairness in how players are compensated.

With more deals, expanded playoffs, and rising stakes ahead, the question remains: Can the NCAA, or any new governing body, get a grip before the gap between the haves and have-nots grows too wide to close? With SEC and ACC Media Days scheduled, more voices against the NIL and transfer portal will be heard.

Mikel Brown Jr. has not only been the talk of the town of Louisville basketball, but he has also been the talk of college basketball. After his first 24-point performance for Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Cup, he quickly became the nation’s favorite point guard.

The Cardinals have a legitimate shot at the 2026 National Title, and a lot has to do with Louisville’s 5-star point guard. Brown is an elite playmaker who can shoot from well beyond the arc, possesses exceptional court vision, plays at his own pace, and can take over the game when needed.

Well, after his spectacular showing in Switzerland for Team USA a Louisville Cardinals fan page “Louisville Sports Live” posted on X stating ” Mikel Brown Jr. is the best freshman at UofL since….” and well one of the best players to ever wear a red and black jersey responded, and he gave the 5-star freshman extremley high praise.

Related: Louisville basketball’s Mikel Brown Jr. proves he’s the best PG in college basketball

Donovan Mitchell sends legendary praise to Mikel Brown Jr.

Louisville legend and now NBA superstar Donovan Mitchell quickly responded to the social media post, giving high praise to Brown with just one word.

“Ever?” Mitchell stated.

And well he might not be wrong. Brown is the second-highest commitment in Louisville history, according to 247Sports. He ranks as high as the No. 6 overall player in the 2026 cycle and the No. 1 point guard in the class.

Mitchell is a Louisville legend who still proudly represents the University of Louisville Cardinals. He played for Louisville from 2015 to 2017 before declaring for the NBA Draft after his two seasons. The six-time NBA All-Star holds the record for most NBA All-Star appearances from Louisville alums, and also has the most career points scored in the NBA with 13,320.

To hear Mitchell state that Brown is the best Louisville basketball commit ever is high praise, but it also gets the fans and program even more excited for what is to come this upcoming season.

Brown is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, which would make him the first Cardinal selected as a top-five pick in an NBA Draft since Pervis Ellison in 1989.

The incoming 5-star phenom looks to shatter history books and guide Louisville to its first NCAA Tournament win since Mitchell did back in 2017. However, his goals don’t just stop there, as he has made it clear that he wants to win and raise a banner in KFC Yum! Center and make his one-year run with Kelsey special.

Related: Mikel Brown Jr. brings Louisville exactly what they’ve craved since Donovan Mitchell

For all the latest on Louisville basketball’s offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.

As the anticipation builds for the MLB Draft this weekend, all eyes are on the talented high school players poised to make their mark in professional baseball. This year’s draft class features a crop of exceptional young athletes with the potential to become future stars in Major League Baseball. From standout pitchers to versatile position players, these high school prospects are drawing significant attention from scouts and teams alike.

The 2025 MLB Draft begins at 5 p.m. CT on Sunday, July 13 on ESPN.

Top 10 high school draft prospects

These are the top 10 high school prospects heading into the 2025 MLB Draft, according to MLB.com.

1. SS/3B Ethan Holliday – Stillwater (Okla.)
The younger brother of former No. 1 overall pick and Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holiday, Ethan was named Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year in June. He led the Pioneers to a 25-8 record and a berth in the state tournament. Holliday hit .611 as a senior with 19 home runs and 64 RBI. He signed with Oklahoma State in November.

2. RHP Seth Hernandez – Corona (Calif.)
Hernandez was homeschooled through his sophomore year of high school but quickly made up for lost time once he arrived at Corona. He earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors in June after posting a 0.39 ERA with 105 strikeouts. Hernandez has signed with Vanderbilt.

3. SS Eli Willits – Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.)
Baseball is in Willits’ blood. His father, Reggie, played in the majors and is currently the associate head coach for Oklahoma. Willits’ older brother, Jaxon, just wrapped up his sophomore season with the Sooners. It should come as no surprise that the 6-foot-1 shortstop is committed to play for Oklahoma, but Willits should hear his name called early on Sunday.

4. SS Billy Carlson – Corona (Calif.)
Carlson’s calling card is his defense but he’s no slouch at the plate, either. He also has an impressive arm and touched the mid-90s when pitching for the Panthers. Carlson flipped his commitment from Vanderbilt to Tennessee in October.

5. SS JoJo Parker – Purvis (Miss.)
The 2025 Gatorade Mississippi Player of the Year, Parker hit .489 with 13 home runs and 35 RBI. Parker, along with his twin brother Jacob, led Purvis to a 29-8 record and the Class 4A state title game. He committed to Mississippi State nearly four years ago.

6. SS Steele Hall – Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.)
Hall was named Mr. Baseball in June by Alabama sportswriters after hitting .484 with eight home runs and 35 RBI this year. He is in line to be the first Alabama high school player to be drafted in the first round since the Los Angeles Dodgers selected Maddux Bruns out of UMS-Wright in 2021.

7. SS Daniel Pierce – Mill Creek (Ga.)
Pierce comes from a baseball family, as his father was his coach at Mill Creek. The 6-foot shortstop is coveted for his speed but has also impressed with his mental makeup up and approach at the plate. Piece committed to Georgia during his sophomore year of high school.

8. SS/2B Kayson Cunningham – Johnson (Texas)
Cunningham’s trophy case is already full of accolades but there’s always room for more. The Texas commit earned USA Baseball’s Player of the Year award in 2024 after hitting .417 for Team USA at an 18U World Cup qualifier. Gatorade named him the Texas Player of the Year in June.

9. LHP Kruz Schoolcraft – Sunset (Ore.)
Schoolcraft was a true two-way standout this season for the Lancers but his work on the mound is what has caught the attention of scouts. He was dominant as a pitcher, posting a 0.52 ERA with 82 strikeouts over 40 innings of work this year. Schoolcraft was equally dangerous at the plate, hitting .521 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI.

10. 3B Gavin Fien – Great Oak (Calif.)
Fien’s brother, Dylan, was a seventh-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft. Gavin will certainly hear his name called earlier than that this weekend after hitting .400 with 11 RBI in eight games with USA Baseball’s U18 team last year.

How to watch the MLB Draft

Date: Sunday, July 13, 2025
Time: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Coca-Cola Roxy, Atlanta, Ga.
TV Channel: ESPN
Streaming: MLB.com

Where to watch the MLB Draft on TV:
You can watch the 2025 MLB Draft starting at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN, MLB Network and MLB.com.

Earlier this week, Chicago Sky star and former LSU standout Angel Reese was named the WNBA edition cover athlete for the upcoming video game NBA 2K26. Now, the franchise is supporting one of the league’s brightest young players.

The Sky set up t-shirts featuring Reese’s cover on seats for every fan attending Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Lynx. Check out the photo below, which shows the free giveaway for loyal Chicago fans, as it’s a pretty sweet deal. The WNBA shared it to X.

As the NBA Summer League got started, all eyes turned to Las Vegas for one of the most anticipated debuts in recent memory. Cooper Flagg was gearing up for his first game with the Dallas Mavericks as they took on Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

It lived up to the billing. In the process, it turned into a huge TV ratings victory for ESPN with impressive viewership numbers.

The game averaged 955,000 viewers and peaked at 1.1 million, according to Sports Media Watch. In the process, it became the fourth-most watched NBA Summer League game on the network – trailing only Zion Williamson’s debut in 2019 (1.6 million), Victor Wembanyama’s debut in 2023 (1.39 million) and the Lakers vs. Boston Celtics matchup in 2017.

Flagg’s first game with the Mavericks brought out plenty of star power at the Thomas & Mack Center, and he had a solid showing. He totaled 10 points to go with six rebounds, four assists and three steals in 31 minutes of action. However, after the game, he made it clear he wasn’t very happy with his performance.

“Not up to my standard,” Flagg told ESPN’s Katie George after the game. “I’m going to regroup, I’ll be alright. You know, this new feeling, new environment, new teammates. But the guys held it down. … They had my back. I didn’t have my best game, but I’m just going to keep growing moving forward.”

On the flip side, James played 21 minutes as he gets ready for his second NBA season with the Lakers. He had eight points, two rebounds and two assists while also getting the task of guarding Flagg in the matchup.

After the first quarter, James broke down what he saw from the former Duke star. He pointed out the difficulty of guarding his size and athleticism, which helps Flagg get to the basket with ease.

“He’s just a quick, powerful big,” James told George after the first quarter. “We’ve got to do everything we can to stop him and slow him down. But he’s a great player and he’s going to get his sometimes. Just got to do a great job of [slowing] him down.”

Cooper Flagg, Bronny James were two top names in college

Bronny James and Cooper Flagg both arrived in the NBA as the biggest names on their respective draft boards. James ended his lone year at USC with a $3.2 million On3 NIL Valuation, which at the time ranked No. 1 in the college basketball NIL rankings. The son of LeBron, he built a strong social media following, which played a role in that figure.

Flagg, meanwhile, arrived at Duke this past year as the top recruit in the country and led the Blue Devils to the Final Four. As a result, his On3 NIL Valuation soared to $4.8 million, which also ranked No. 1 in the college basketball rankings and No. 2 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.

As a result, the buzz grew quickly when the NBA scheduled the Lakers and Mavericks to square off in the NBA Summer League opener. It certainly lived up to the billing as the Mavs held on for a thrilling 87-85 victory to start things off.