Ranking the 15 Best Returning Players in Men’s College Basketball After NBA Draft Deadline
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- The NBA draft withdrawal deadline on Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET is crucial for players wishing to retain NCAA eligibility, impacting both NBA teams and college basketball rosters for the 2026-27 season.
- The 2026 NBA draft class is highly regarded, but several top players have chosen to return to college, bolstering the talent pool for the upcoming college basketball season.
- Notable returning players include Duke’s John Blackwell and Patrick Ngongba II, Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau, Florida’s Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh, and Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., all expected to significantly influence their teams.
- Several players, such as Braden Huff (Gonzaga), Matas Vokietaitis (Texas), and Motiejus Krivas (Arizona), bring strong frontcourt presence and are key to their teams' prospects for success.
- The mix of returning talent and transfer portal additions suggests a highly competitive and exciting 2026-27 college basketball season ahead.