Why so few college basketball players declared for the 2025 NBA Draft
The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that 106 players have filed as early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2025 presented by State Farm, which will be held Wednesday, June 25 (First Round) and Thursday June 26 (Second Round) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New… pic.twitter.com/e4mr12UrBa — NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 29, 2025 The 2025 […]
The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that 106 players have filed as early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2025 presented by State Farm, which will be held Wednesday, June 25 (First Round) and Thursday June 26 (Second Round) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New… pic.twitter.com/e4mr12UrBa
The 2025 NBA Draft may look a little bit different than previous years because the college basketball landscape is changing rapidly and dramatically.
Collegiate prospects who fully exhausts their college eligibility and international prospect who turns 22 years old in the calendar year of the draft are considered automatically eligible. But all other prospects had until April 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET to declare as early entry candidates.
There were only 106 names that appeared on this list, which is actually a shockingly low number. For comparison, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, that is the lowest total number of initial early entry candidates since 2015. The NBA received as many as 363 candidates just four years ago in 2021.
Among those 106 names, meanwhile, only 73 played college basketball last season.
Then, from that group, those players have until May 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET to withdraw from the draft if they wish to play in the NCAA next season. After the 2025 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, many of them will ultimately take that opportunity.
From the 73 collegiate players who will at least test the waters of the 2025 NBA Draft, 29 of them (e.g. Darrion Williams, Boogie Fland, RJ Luis, PJ Haggerty) are also in the transfer portal. Even within that group, 19 of those players (e.g. Yaxel Lendeborg, Chad Baker-Mazara, Tayton Conerway, and Silas Demary Jr.) have already made commitments to new schools.
The reality is that many of the best players in college basketball can earn more money on name, image, and likeness deals as collegiate stars than they would have in the first year of their rookie contracts or two-way deals in the pros.
For example, Texas Tech’s J.T. Toppin will reportedly receive more than $4 million from NIL to return to Texas Tech. That is more than whoever becomes the No. 19 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft will receive on his rookie scale deal, and that is higher than where Toppin was projected in most mocks.
This is the real NIL story. Guys knowing they don’t have to turn pro to make money. Top earners in CBB making money comparable to late first round picks. Players getting more time to develop. This is a great thing for everyone: players, teams, coaches and the NBA. This matters. https://t.co/lkgOkEwLK4
Some other notable names who did not appear on the early entry list include Alex Karaban (who will return to UConn) and Ian Jackson (who will transfer from North Carolina to St. John’s).
This is good news for talent evaluators, good news for college basketball fans, good news for NBA pro teams, and good news for college basketball players.
While it might mean a longer journey to the NBA unless you are a bona fide top pick like Cooper Flagg, the current system allows for more development time while still receiving a big paycheck.
Meanwhile, for more prospect coverage, here is our latest NBA mock draft at For The Win.
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Minnesota women’s coach Dawn Plitzuweit gets 2-year contract extension with raise
Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota women’s basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit has received a two-year contract extension that was approved Thursday by the university’s board of regents. Plitzuweit is 47-29 over two seasons at Minnesota, including 13-23 in Big Ten play, with leading scorer Mara Braun missing much of them with foot injuries. The Gophers […]
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota women’s basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit has received a two-year contract extension that was approved Thursday by the university’s board of regents.
Plitzuweit is 47-29 over two seasons at Minnesota, including 13-23 in Big Ten play, with leading scorer Mara Braun missing much of them with foot injuries. The Gophers capped Plitzuweit’s second year by winning the WBIT championship. They have not appeared in the NCAA Tournament since 2018.
The new deal, which covers the next six seasons through 2031, gives Plitzuweit a raise of roughly 7% to bring her base salary to $900,000 for 2025-26, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune, with annual increases of $30,000. That’s in the middle of the pack in the 18-team Big Ten, which sent 12 of them to the NCAA Tournament this year.
Plitzuweit was hired away from West Virginia, where she spent one season, to replace Lindsay Whalen. Plitzuweit is the 13th head coach in the program’s history.
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Urban Meyer Names College Football Teams Who Will Become A ‘Feeder System’
The House v. NCAA settlement has finally been approved by Judge Claudia Wilken, marking the start of the revenue-sharing era in college football. One of the biggest changes after the settlement was the creation of the College Sports Commission, which will be responsible for enforcement. The commission named former MLB executive Bryan Seeley as the […]
The House v. NCAA settlement has finally been approved by Judge Claudia Wilken, marking the start of the revenue-sharing era in college football. One of the biggest changes after the settlement was the creation of the College Sports Commission, which will be responsible for enforcement.
The commission named former MLB executive Bryan Seeley as the CEO after the settlement was approved. Despite the goal of this new commission, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer offered a bleak outlook for Group of Five programs in this new age of college football.
Meyer stated that mid-major schools would ultimately become a feeder league to the top schools in the sport, a trend we have seen since the new transfer portal rules were passed a few seasons ago.
Former Ohio State, Florida head coach Urban Meyer / Brett Davis-Imagn Images
“They become a feeder system for the big boys,” Meyer said. “It’s still beautiful football. The MAC, I coached there for two years, it’s fantastic because everybody had the same players. So it was really a coach’s league. Some leagues you have the best teams are so much better than the other teams. But what happens? The reality is you’re going to develop a player and he’s going to leave.”
As he noted, Meyer began his head coaching career at the Group of Five level with Bowling Green in 2001. He was 17-6 over his two seasons before accepting the same role at Utah, where he led the Utes to an undefeated season in 2004.
His early coaching success led to his national championship runs as the head coach at Florida and Ohio State. He finished his career with an 187-32 overall record, winning three national titles and seven conference championships. Meyer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025.
This would be nothing new for the Group of Five programs, which lose talent each season to the transfer portal. The issue extends to the FCS level, where multiple All-American and All-Conference players transfer up to the FBS level each year.
One perfect example is former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah, who made headlines this offseason with his transfer to Duke. He will reportedly receive $8 million over the next two seasons, which would make him the highest-paid player in college football.
Anonymous SEC Coach Reveals The Most ‘Effectively Run’ Team In College Football
The expectations ahead of Steve Sarkisian’s fifth season at Texas couldn’t be any higher. Next season will mark the beginning of the Arch Manning era, in which the sophomore is already the projected favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. The Longhorns have made back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, winning their first two CFP games in […]
The expectations ahead of Steve Sarkisian’s fifth season at Texas couldn’t be any higher. Next season will mark the beginning of the Arch Manning era, in which the sophomore is already the projected favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
The Longhorns have made back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, winning their first two CFP games in program history last season. Their run ended with a disappointing loss to Ohio State in the CFP semifinals.
There’s no question that Texas has adjusted well to the new NIL era of the sport. This sentiment was echoed by anonymous head coaches who spoke with Athlon Sports ahead of the 2025 college football season.
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian embraces Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) / Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“This program is one of the most effectively run in terms of personnel, NIL, and the new era of the sport,” an anonymous SEC coach said.
Another coach mentioned how Texas is professionalizing better than most other programs, while highlighting the potential of the program if Manning lives up to the hype in his first season as a full-time starter.
“If Manning blows up and goes to the league next year, this is still the program to chase,” an anonymous coach said. “They’re professionalizing in a way other programs aren’t.”
The on-field success has transferred to the recruiting trail as the Longhorns signed the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class. The class was headlined by five-star safety Jonah Williams and defensive tackle Justus Terry. According to On3, the Longhorns’ 2025 recruiting class had an NIL value of almost $200K, which was the second-highest valuation in the SEC.
Texas will kick off the season against Ohio State in one of the most-anticipated games of the year. Kickoff is scheduled for Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. CT on FOX. It will also be the host site for ESPN’s College GameDay as Lee Corso makes his final appearance on the flagship show.
Federal judge denies Zakai Zeigler’s push for fifth season of eligibility
The U.S. Department of Justice and NCAA both told Zakai Zeigler to get a job. Now, a federal judge has ruled against the former Tennessee guard — doesn’t it feel great to say that? — and siding with all that is good in this world. Zeigler’s request for a preliminary injunction that would allow him […]
The U.S. Department of Justice and NCAA both told Zakai Zeigler to get a job. Now, a federal judge has ruled against the former Tennessee guard — doesn’t it feel great to say that? — and siding with all that is good in this world.
Zeigler’s request for a preliminary injunction that would allow him to play a fifth season of college basketball has been denied, On3’s Pete Nakos reports, ending his career as a Volunteer and starting his pursuit of going pro in something other than sports.
He initially filed a lawsuit against the NCAA regarding his eligibility back in May, alleging that the rule permitting just four seasons of competition in a five-year window is “in an unlawful restraint of trade under federal and state antitrust laws.” In the same lawsuit, he alleges his NIL valuation for the upcoming season would fall between $2 million and $4 million based on his value as an “upperclassman with a proven performance record and high visibility, especially in a high-profile conference like the SEC.”
The NCAA responded by saying Zeigler’s push for a fifth year — and anyone else doing the same — hurts future student-athletes, particularly incoming freshmen in need of those roster spots the post-graduate players out of eligibility are trying to take. He felt it would allow him to not only earn one final lucrative NIL deal in college, but he’d also continue his pro development. They said if he “had a viable path to the NBA, given his resume, he would already be a viable prospect. After all, NBA scouts would have seen him play in 138 collegiate contests. … There is no evidence that one more season of participation in college basketball is necessary (for Zeigler to play professionally)” considering he’s already met the age and experience requirements to enter the draft, but passed multiple times in favor of a degree.
“While Plaintiff focuses only on what that means for himself, he does so to the detriment of the entering student-athletes who dream of being the next Zakai Zeigler,” the NCAA said. “… College athletics is a means to a better end for student-athletes — not the end itself.”
The back-and-forth was so egregious the U.S. Department of Justice even decided to get involved — a first in eligibility cases. They asked the court to apply a “flexible rule-of-reason approach” when hearing the case while considering the NCAA v. Alston ruling in 2021 regarding the violation of antitrust laws, making it clear eligibility rules help maintain fairness and academic standards. Following those rules can prevent schools from gaining unfair athletic advantages and distinguish them from professional sports.
Today, U.S. District Judge Katherine A. Crytzer agreed.
“This Court is a court of law, not policy,” Crytzer said in the denial. “What the NCAA should do as a policy matter to benefit student athletes is beyond the reach of the Sherman Act and TTPA and by extension, this Court.”
Zeigler’s representation, to no one’s surprise, said they disagreed with the decision and would continue to fight for his right to play.
“We are disappointed the Court declined to grant a preliminary injunction on the basis that the NCAA does not directly control NIL compensation, just days after the House settlement confirmed they would do exactly that,” Litson PLLC and the Garza Law Firm said. “This ruling is just the first chapter of what we believe will ultimately be a successful challenge. We intend to press forward and are evaluating the best path ahead for Zakai.”
Keep on trying, it’s not gonna work. Your time is done. Goodbye Zakai, it was nice. Hope you find your paradise — as long as it’s not on a college basketball floor.
Ohio State has 36 varsity sports. So how will it handle revenue sharing and NIL?
COLUMBUS, Ohio — College athletic departments across the country have long been preparing for approval of the House v. NCAA settlement, which is ushering in a new revenue-sharing era of college sports. Few have more decisions to make than Ohio State, which boasts 36 Division I sports teams. So what will the Buckeyes do when […]
COLUMBUS, Ohio — College athletic departments across the country have long been preparing for approval of the House v. NCAA settlement, which is ushering in a new revenue-sharing era of college sports. Few have more decisions to make than Ohio State, which boasts 36 Division I sports teams.
So what will the Buckeyes do when revenue sharing takes effect July 1 and $20.5 million can be shared with athletes?
Much of the department’s energy has gone to finding the correct model for an athletic department that has been firm in its commitment to keeping all of its varsity sports. The model, which athletic director Ross Bjork broke down with reporters Thursday, includes spending $18 million across four sports: football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball.
Though Bjork wouldn’t divulge how much each program is getting, he did say Ohio State chose those four sports based on its own metric-based system.
“The sports are popular, the Big Ten is a leader in volleyball and we want to get better,” Bjork said. “Coach (Jen) Flynn Oldenburg is working on a plan to get us back on track. With the attention we can receive, the Columbus market, volleyball is a booming sport and the Covelli Center is an amazing atmosphere.”
The other $2.5 million will be used to fund 91 new scholarships the department is adding for its 36 sports. According to the settlement, every new scholarship must count against the $20.5 million cap, with a maximum value of $2.5 million.
Bjork, who is nearing the one-year mark as Ohio State’s athletic director, is a fan of the newest change to college athletics.
“The main thing is clarity,” Bjork said. “Does it solve everything? Does it solve the employment piece? No, it doesn’t. Does it address Title IX and how that plays out? No, it doesn’t. So it’s not perfect, but it’s progress that we never had. It’s transformational progress.”
Ohio State’s plans don’t stop with the $20.5 million cap. On Tuesday, Ohio State announced the creation of the Buckeye Sports Group, a new name, image and likeness entity that takes the Buckeyes’ NIL efforts in-house. It will be run jointly by the athletic department and Learfield’s Ohio State Sports Properties to facilitate contracts and deals with athletes.
The days of NIL collectives like The Foundation and The 1870 Society working independently are gone, though they will serve in an advisory capacity to the new group.
While the settlement gives every athletic department in the country a set revenue-sharing cap, athletic departments can facilitate NIL deals with companies as long as the amount is based on a “fair market value.” Every third-party deal that exceeds $600 is subject to approval through a clearinghouse established by the College Sports Commission.
Ohio State should be well positioned to take advantage of the new rules, given its historical success, its status as the reigning national champion in football, its revenue as a premier program in the Big Ten and its large fan base, both locally and nationally. Bjork cited the fact that Columbus is the 14th largest city in the United States with 16 Fortune 1,000 companies and 50 companies that employ over 1,000 people. That’s a large base to begin with from an NIL perspective.
“Part of the analysis was how do we continue to capitalize on the brand and the city?” Bjork said. “The really cool thing is they may not have gone to school here, they lived in Ohio, went to school here, moved away, but they are Buckeye fans. Countless people I run into are in that category. It’s how do we reach those people? How do we do a statewide tour? Those are all things we’re mapping out.”
The job of the NIL entity will be to take the companies that are doing deals with Learfield and the Ohio State Properties already and match them with athletes, while also finding new companies to create partnerships with. The companies will pay the athletes, but the Buckeye Sports Group will help arrange the deal.
“We think we are in a really competitive spot, and if you layer in the third-party NIL environment, we are in a competitive spot,” Bjork said. “Now we have to orchestrate that, arrange that and make sure it meets fair market value. Ohio State football is a built-to-last championship brand. That’s not going away.”
In addition to funding 91 new scholarships across its varsity sports, Ohio State will also be able to help find NIL deals for the athletes in sports that may be overlooked. When Ohio State began thinking about its model, one of the first things it said was that it was not going to cut a sport.
“It’s the right thing to do based on legacy, history and an opportunity for those young people,” Bjork said.
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