Connect with us

NIL

NBA draft withdrawal decisions that could impact NCAA basketball

Jeff BorzelloMay 22, 2025, 09:00 AM ET Close Basketball recruiting insider. Joined ESPN in 2014. Graduate of University of Delaware. Open Extended Reactions The final key date of the men’s college basketball offseason is approaching, with the NCAA requiring players who entered the NBA draft to withdraw their names by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday […]

Published

on

NBA draft withdrawal decisions that could impact NCAA basketball

The final key date of the men’s college basketball offseason is approaching, with the NCAA requiring players who entered the NBA draft to withdraw their names by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday if they want to return to college.

A handful of notable players already have announced their decisions, headlined by Boogie Fland, who attended the NBA draft combine for two days before withdrawing and transferring to Florida. Former Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams also announced his withdrawal, becoming the best available transfer in the portal as of this writing. (More on that below.)

There are still at least a dozen stay-or-go decisions that will materially impact the 2025-26 college basketball season, which we’ll run through below.

But before we dive in, two disclaimers:

First, we aren’t including players who were not invited to the combine; it’s considered a telltale sign that when players with NCAA eligibility don’t receive an invitation, they should return to college for another season. Oregon’s Nate Bittle falls into this category.

We’re also not including international prospects such as Neoklis Avdalas and Ben Henshall, both of whom could end up in the NCAA should they withdraw from the draft. They have until June 15 to make their decisions.

There are others who have yet to announce — Texas A&M‘s Mackenzie Mgbako and Penn State‘s Yanic Konan Niederhauser come to mind — but here are the 12 most impactful stay-or-go decisions in the final week before the deadline.


When Uzan entered the NBA draft following the Cougars’ run to the national title game, he was considered a second-round pick and likely to keep his name in the draft. But he struggled at the combine in Chicago, finishing with nine total points on 3-for-12 shooting in the two scrimmages. He wasn’t in ESPN’s post-combine mock draft.

While Kelvin Sampson prepared for Uzan’s departure by signing top-25 recruit Kingston Flemings and Creighton transfer Pop Isaacs, the Cougars would have three starters from a team that won 35 games and reached the championship game if Uzan returns, putting them squarely in the conversation for preseason No. 1.

Milos Uzan’s decision to stay in or withdrawal from the NBA draft could impact Houston’s outlook for 2025-26. John E. Moore III/Getty ImagesLendeborg did nothing to hurt his draft standing at the combine, entering with a late-first-round projection and exiting in a similar position. He measured at 6-foot-10 in shoes with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and had 13 points and nine rebounds in the first scrimmage. The UAB transfer did say he wants to be drafted inside the top 20, though it’s unclear if that means he needs a top-20 guarantee to remain in the draft.

Should Lendeborg make it to Ann Arbor, Dusty May’s team would have a case for a preseason top-five ranking. The Wolverines prepared for his possible NBA decision by bringing in transfers Morez Johnson Jr. (Illinois) and Aday Mara (UCLA), but Lendeborg would give them a proven frontcourt anchor.

After Boogie Fland committed to the Gators, all eyes in Gainesville turned toward Condon. Should Condon return to Florida, the “repeat” talk could officially begin; if he opts to stay in the draft, coach Todd Golden has the frontcourt depth to make it work.

Still, a starting five of Fland, Condon, Xaivian Lee, Thomas Haugh and Rueben Chinyelu would be elite for the defending national champions.

Condon opted not to participate in the 5-on-5 scrimmage portion of the combine, so there wasn’t a huge opportunity for his stock to move dramatically in one direction or the other. The 6-foot-11 forward slotted in at No. 38 in ESPN’s latest mock draft, and most of the intel surrounding Condon suggests he is more likely to return to college.

After starting just one game as a freshman at Auburn, Pettiford had a real chance to move the needle at the combine — and he took full advantage. He had impressive athletic testing and was the best player on the floor in his team’s first scrimmage, finishing with 23 points and eight assists. The performance didn’t earn him a first-round projection, though, rising only from No. 39 to No. 37 between ESPN’s pre-combine and post-combine mock drafts.

Bruce Pearl will hope Pettiford returns to Auburn. Pettiford could open the season as a preseason All-American, and he will be the primary playmaker for a team with intriguing transfer additions Elyjah Freeman, Keyshawn Hall and Abdul Bashir on the wings. If Pettiford leaves, Auburn won’t have anyone from last season’s team and could be forced to rely on freshman Kaden Magwood to run the point.

We’ve been under the impression that Oweh ultimately would return to Lexington, but he scored in double figures in each of the combine scrimmages and said he was “going through the process as if I’m all-in.” With that said, he still isn’t projected to be picked despite the solid showing in Chicago.

Mark Pope and Kentucky have added 10 new players this offseason, but bringing back a second-team All-SEC performer such as Oweh potentially would push the Wildcats into the preseason top 10. Without him, Pope will have to rely more heavily on newcomers in five-star freshman Jasper Johnson and transfers Denzel Aberdeen (Florida) and Kam Williams (Tulane).

Initially, it looked as if John Calipari and Arkansas were just waiting on Knox. When Calipari released a social media video with a breakdown of the Razorbacks’ 2025-26 roster, he referenced Knox testing the NBA draft waters — and there was no mention of Thiero, who had entered the draft but showed no indication of a possible return. While Knox was unsurprisingly 50-50 when asked about his stay-or-go decision at the combine, Thiero raised some eyebrows by saying “the door is not completely shut” on a return.

Thiero is No. 34 in ESPN’s mock draft, while Knox isn’t projected to be drafted. Both returning to Fayetteville would give Calipari incredible lineup versatility, and even just one of them returning would likely be enough to put Arkansas in the preseason top 10.

Editor’s Picks

  • 1 Related

    Coward’s commitment to Duke pushed the Blue Devils comfortably inside the most recent iteration of the Way-Too-Early Top 25, but that boost seems as if it will be short-lived. Despite playing in just six games at Washington State after transferring from Eastern Washington, Coward’s stock has skyrocketed over the past few weeks.

    At the combine, he was measured with a 7-foot-2¼ wingspan and shot 72% during the drills, tied for sixth best. He is ranked No. 30 in ESPN’s mock draft, and some NBA personnel have suggested he might not even last that long. Coward said at the combine that “the information is definitely leaning towards staying in the draft.”

    Coach Jon Scheyer has pivoted quickly, however, with the Blue Devils emerging as the favorite to land FC Barcelona wing Dame Sarr.

    With Boogie Fland and Darrion Williams withdrawing, there are now only three portalers who attended the combine and have yet to announce their stay-or-go intentions: Luis, Haggerty and Watkins.

    Luis and Haggerty are the top two players in ESPN’s transfer rankings, with both garnering All-America honors last season. Watkins is the fourth-best available transfer, but he was the best of the trio at the combine. Luis was inconsistent shooting the ball, while Haggerty had turnover and finishing issues even though his counting stats were impressive.

    Watkins had 23 points and five steals in the second scrimmage, showing elite defensive ability. Following the combine, Watkins is the only one projected to be drafted, rising all the way to No. 44 in ESPN’s latest mock.

    Should any of these three return to college, expect a high-level recruitment with programs battling it out to land what could be the missing player for a deep run in the 2026 NCAA tournament.

    Byrd undoubtedly boosted his stock at the combine. One of the best defensive wings in college basketball last season, he checked in with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and shot the ball well, going 5-for-11 from 3 in the two scrimmages while racking up steals and blocks at the other end of the floor. He said he was 50-50 on his stay-or-go decision at the combine, though, and he is ranked No. 43 in ESPN’s mock draft.

    Byrd’s return likely would solidify San Diego State as a preseason top-25 team and the Mountain West favorite. Brian Dutcher brings in three transfers along with ESPN 100 freshman Reese Waters, who redshirted last season after averaging 9.6 points in 2023-24 and will be the team’s most proven offensive player.

    Continue Reading
    Click to comment

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    NIL

    Greg McElroy gives subtle reality check to $3 million QB after his high profile move

    The top high school quarterbacks in the country can demand millions of dollars before playing a snap of college football. Lofty NIL contracts have found their way into the high school recruiting ranks. What was typically used to keep a starter in the fold, schools are now shelling out large portions of their NIL war […]

    Published

    on


    The top high school quarterbacks in the country can demand millions of dollars before playing a snap of college football.

    Lofty NIL contracts have found their way into the high school recruiting ranks. What was typically used to keep a starter in the fold, schools are now shelling out large portions of their NIL war chests to sign what they believe to be superstars.

    And ESPN analyst Greg McElroy believes there is more pressure on those young quarterbacks, like Michigan five-star true freshman Bryce Underwood, as a result of the shift.

    Underwood marked a major recruiting win for the Wolverines, who flipped the nation’s No. 1 quarterback from LSU after offering an NIL deal reportedly worth $10.5 million over four years.

    The Belleville (Michigan) High School standout finished his high school career with a 50-4 record, two state championships and the state record for passing touchdowns (146).

    Underwood holds an On3 NIL valuation of $3 million entering his first season at Michigan and has already partnered with Hollister and Barstool Sports.

    “I think Bryce Underwood is making a lot more money than pretty much everybody,” McElroy said Thursday on Always College Football.” … But there’s been a handful of guys that have not lived up to the expectations and the weight of the NIL expectations, because I do think – now in the era of the NIL – the expectations are higher and the pressure is higher as well.”

    The expectation is that Underwood revives a Michigan offense that was one of the worst in the country last season. And it’s safe to assume the nation’s 131st passing offense will improve behind a talent like Underwood, but there will likely be growing pains as he adjust to pressures of major college football.

    The Undwerwood era at Michigan is slated to begin at home against New Mexico on Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock).



    Link

    Continue Reading

    NIL

    Ashton Jeanty named finalist for NIL award

    Ashton Jeanty dominated on and off the field during his junior season at Boise State, leading college football in carries (374), rushing yards (2,601) and rushing touchdowns (29) while ranking near the top of NIL valuation charts.  Jeanty, who was taken sixth overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft, is one […]

    Published

    on


    Ashton Jeanty dominated on and off the field during his junior season at Boise State, leading college football in carries (374), rushing yards (2,601) and rushing touchdowns (29) while ranking near the top of NIL valuation charts. 

    Jeanty, who was taken sixth overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft, is one of five finalists for Top-Earning Male Athlete of the Year in the 2025 NIL Store Awards. 

    Cooper Flagg (Duke men’s basketball), Dylan Harper (Rutgers men’s basketball), Cam Skattebo (Arizona State football) and Braden Smith (Purdue men’s basketball) are the other finalists. 

    Jeanty is also a finalist for Merch Moment of the Year for his The Boogeyman T-shirt. The other finalists for Merch Moment of the Year are Johnny Kinziger (Illinois State men’s basketball), Derik Queen (Maryland men’s basketball), Jack Sawyer (Ohio State football) and the St. John’s men’s basketball team. 

    The 5-foot-8, 211-pound Jeanty recorded 1,970 yards after contact during his record-smashing junior season while forcing 164 missed tackles. His 2,601 rushing yards rank second on the FBS all-time single-season rushing list behind Barry Sanders. 

    With Jeanty leading the way, Boise State finished 12-2 overall and reached the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. Jeanty placed second in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Colorado’s Travis Hunter. 

    Jeanty wrapped up his Boise State career with 750 carries for 4,769 yards and 56 total touchdowns. A two-time MWC Offensive Player of the Year, Jeanty won the 2024 Maxwell Award (college football player of the year) and Doak Walker Award (best running back in college football).

    Jeanty and the Raiders agreed to a fully guaranteed four-year,  $35.9 million rookie contract in May. He is the second-highest-paid running back in the NFL behind Philadelphia Eagles superstar Saquon Barkley ($36 million guaranteed). 

    Boise State beach volleyball star Nora Hayd is also a finalist for a pair of NIL Store Awards. 

    Hayd is up for Top-Earning Female Olympic Athlete of the Year and Most Innovative Design Collaboration for her Goth T-shirt. 

    The 6-foot-1 Hayd is entering her junior season with the Boise State beach volleyball team. She is a graduate of Bothell High School in Washington. 

    The NIL Store launched in 2021 in Chicago. According to its website, the NIL Store “serves as a merchandising solution for student-athletes and schools across the country. The NIL Store operates with the firm belief that every student-athlete has an opportunity to capitalize on their NIL and should earn industry-leading payouts.”

    MORE BOISE STATE NEWS & ANALYSIS



    Link

    Continue Reading

    NIL

    Lord Nil

    Off-Broadway News Lord Nil: 7 Deadly Sins Sets Off-Broadway Dates Alberto Oliva will direct the production featuring the international escape artist. International escape artist Lord Nil will play a six-week engagement in Lord Nil: 7 Deadly Sins later this summer at Stage 42. Nil, who will be joined by a cast of 10 to be announced, will play the […]

    Published

    on

    Lord Nil

    Off-Broadway News

    Lord Nil: 7 Deadly Sins Sets Off-Broadway Dates

    Alberto Oliva will direct the production featuring the international escape artist.


    International escape artist Lord Nil will play a six-week engagement in Lord Nil: 7 Deadly Sins later this summer at Stage 42.

    Nil, who will be joined by a cast of 10 to be announced, will play the Off-Broadway venue July 21-August 31. Opening night is set for July 27. The 70-minute production, press notes state, is a theatrical escape experience “rooted in ancient symbolism, raw
    physical danger, and psychological suspense.”

    The creative team also includes director Alberto Oliva, artistic supervisor Thomas Caruso, choreographer Stefano Alessandrino, composer Erik Ventrice, costume designer Guiseppe Magistro, lighting designers Tudor Micu for The Light Guy SRL and Jamie Roderick, sound designers Drew Levy and Kevin Sweetser, and video and screen content designer Dan Mitrea for Digital Maverick SRL. 

    In a statement Nil says, “What scares me is to fail. Escape is not guaranteed. If I fail to make an escape… the consequences are unimaginable.” Producer Rainer Hackl adds, “No
    one alive today has seen a show like this. It simply does not exist.
    Everything the audience sees is real. These are not illusions; there are
    no safety measures, and no hidden tricks.”

    Born in Italy, Lord Nil is a writer,
    illusionist, and escape artist, who made his American TV debut on America’s Got Talent.

    The limited engagement will also have production management by Duncan Northern, general management by Visceral Entertainment, and company management by Tim Sulka for Visceral Entertainment.

    Lord Nil: 7 Deadly Sins is produced by Hackl, The Artist Management in association with Impossible Escapes LLC. 

    Tickets are available at LordNil.com or Telecharge.com.

    Continue Reading

    NIL

    Analysts Expose Why College Football's Transfer Portal Money Is 'Out of Whack'

    In college football today, it’s a commonly known fact that programs have to spend large sums of money to attract recruits, especially those in the transfer portal. The amount of money that programs spend in the transfer portal is hard to comprehend. We saw figures like $4 million being thrown out about Miami Hurricanes transfer […]

    Published

    on

    Analysts Expose Why College Football's Transfer Portal Money Is 'Out of Whack'

    In college football today, it’s a commonly known fact that programs have to spend large sums of money to attract recruits, especially those in the transfer portal. The amount of money that programs spend in the transfer portal is hard to comprehend.

    We saw figures like $4 million being thrown out about Miami Hurricanes transfer Carson Beck and $2 million being spent by the UCLA Bruins to bring in Tennessee Volunteers transfer Nico Iamaleava.

    While paying this money has become commonplace in college football, one analyst believes almost none of these players are worth what they are being given.

    Tom Luginbill Breaks Down Why Transfer Portal Spending Is Out of Control

    While colleges have no choice on how much they spend in the transfer portal, as there is no salary cap and no real regulation, ESPN’s Tom Luginbill believes that the price tag often doesn’t match the talent.

    In an interview on the “Craig and Company” podcast, Luginbill explained why he doesn’t believe these portal players deserve to be paid as much as they are.

    “All of this money is being thrown around, and you’re sitting there saying, ‘Is anyone in college football who isn’t Cam Ward or Jalen Milroe last year, is anyone worth $800,000 to $1 million?’ Have they shown they’re worth that yet?” Luginbill said.

    It’s a valid point, as aside from a select few players in the portal each year, the vast majority of transfers have little experience and have not proven to be top players at their position.

    Still, schools will pay them ridiculous amounts of money because these transfers are often the only option for these programs to improve their roster over the offseason.

    Not only is the money inflated due to the low amount of available instant impact talent each offseason, but programs do not have to divulge how much they offer a player, leading to schools bidding in the dark and often overspending.

    RELATED: College Football Analyst Reveals Simple Fix That Could Change Everything, Fix Transfer Portal

    Due to this, Luginbill believes portal spending needs more regulation and transparency, and that an NFL free-agency model would improve the transfer portal market, where players would be paid at their actual value.

    “The NFL has rules, and the information on what everyone is making is public,” Luginbill said. “So the market is set. You know who’s the highest paid guy, you know who’s the lowest paid guy, you know who’s performed, who’s underperformed, who’s overperformed. So the market gets set through verifiable evidence. That’s not what happens in this world we’re living in.”

    The House v. NCAA settlement, allowing programs to pay their players directly through a revenue-sharing model, should help fix some of the transfer portal’s most significant problems. Still, Luginbill’s call for more transparency and a complete market reset will take time.

    Continue Reading

    NIL

    CBF Picks Knapp For All-America Team

    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Adding to his already impressive list of accolades, North Carolina ace Jake Knapp earned yet another All-America honor on Wednesday afternoon as the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) listed him among the nation’s best.    Named the CBF’s National Pitcher of the Year just a few weeks prior, his third first-team All-America selection […]

    Published

    on


    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Adding to his already impressive list of accolades, North Carolina ace Jake Knapp earned yet another All-America honor on Wednesday afternoon as the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) listed him among the nation’s best. 
     
    Named the CBF’s National Pitcher of the Year just a few weeks prior, his third first-team All-America selection gives him five AA nods thus far this postseason. He was also on the NCBWA and ABCA first teams, the Perfect Game second team, and Baseball America’s third. 
     
    Knapp was phenomenal this season in battling back from Tommy John surgery that took away his 2024 campaign. His 14-0 record is both the best in the country and the best in program history, as he finished with the most wins without defeat ever by a Tar Heel. He wrapped up his season with a 2.02 ERA in 102.1 innings pitched, two complete games, 88 strikeouts, and only 16 walks.

    His 0.86 WHIP was third best nationally and just .03 away from breaking the program record. He went over a month in the heart of the season without allowing a walk, going 27 straight IP across four starts. He would not allow a free pass in six of his appearances, including four of his last five.

     



    Link

    Continue Reading

    NIL

    Utah vs. BYU

    Chris Hill was poolside Wednesday afternoon when he answered the phone, relaxing after a round of golf. The former Utah athletic director’s playing partner? His longtime counterpart in Provo, ex-Brigham Young AD Tom Holmoe. “When Tom announced his retirement, I told him we’d play a round to celebrate,” Hill explained. (Holmoe stepped down this spring […]

    Published

    on

    Utah vs. BYU

    Chris Hill was poolside Wednesday afternoon when he answered the phone, relaxing after a round of golf. The former Utah athletic director’s playing partner? His longtime counterpart in Provo, ex-Brigham Young AD Tom Holmoe.

    “When Tom announced his retirement, I told him we’d play a round to celebrate,” Hill explained. (Holmoe stepped down this spring after two decades in charge of BYU athletics.)

    “Tom and I always got along. People don’t understand that because of the whole Utah-BYU thing. But the schools had a lot in common, and they still do. They’ll vote the same way on a lot of Big 12 stuff.

    “But there are some differences, obviously.”

    Hill and Holmoe spent most of their round — call it the Holy Fore! — chatting about their families, but they talked shop, as well.

    There was no shortage of topics, what with the chaotic state of college sports, life in the Big 12, the landmark House vs. NCAA lawsuit settlement and BYU’s sudden success on the field (and court).

    The era of unchecked NIL has gone exceedingly well for the Cougars, who possess one of the richest donor bases in the country. They aren’t alone — not even in the Big 12. Texas Tech, with funding from oil billionaire Cody Campbell, has acquired football and basketball talent at a rate that exceeds historical norms.

    “As a Utah guy, yeah, I’m concerned,” Hill said. “You look at the dollars, and it’s just the reality. Utah has great support, and Utah will be fine. But it’s no secret that BYU has more wealth.”

    The Big 12 hopes to end the unchecked NIL sooner than later. Along with the ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC — the named defendants in the House antitrust lawsuit — the conferences created the College Sports Commission (CSC) to clean up a marketplace that, for four years, has been tantamount to pay-for-play.

    Under the CSC structure, all deals worth at least $600 must be reported to NIL Go, a technology platform created by Deloitte that will determine whether contracts fall within a reasonable range of compensation. Rejected deals can be tweaked and resubmitted. There’s even a pathway to arbitration.

    Led by Bryan Seeley, a former chief investigator for Major League baseball, the CSC will have the authority to punish schools for playing athletes whose deals were not approved.

    At least, that’s the plan.

    “There will be challenges,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark explained in early June, following the House settlement. “But we’re very confident.

    “Our schools want rules. We’re providing rules, and we will be governed by those rules. And if you break those rules, the ramifications will be punitive.”

    Not everyone is convinced the CSC will effectively rein in pay-for-play and create a market of legitimate NIL, where the dollars paid match the services performed.

    “In theory, it’s fine,” Hill said. “If they can enforce it, then it’s a different ballgame. But I’m skeptical. I just think they are going to get sued again and again until they can collectively bargain.”

    Many share Hill’s gloomy outlook. The House settlement has not been codified by Congress. The NCAA does not have antitrust protection. Dozens of states have their own NIL laws on the books.

    There is nothing and no one to stop an attorney from suing the CSC after an NIL deal is rejected. Why should a technology platform created by a company that’s paid by the conference be allowed to determine the reasonable range of compensation for services rendered?

    The market determines the market, unless … the rules of the road have been collectively bargained.

    You don’t see compensation lawsuits in the NFL or NBA, which have collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) between the leagues and the players’ unions.

    But there are CBAs in college sports because there are no unions in college sports. In order to form a union, the athletes must be employees, and the schools do not want athletes to be declared employees.

    For many university presidents, athletic directors and conference executives, athlete employment is a non-starter.

    Hill disagrees.

    “Students can be employees,” he said, referring to non-athletes who work while attending college. “I don’t know what the problem is. Just call them athlete-workers. There’s no reason why they can’t be employees.

    “The NCAA is going to get sued again and again until there’s a CBA. I don’t see the end of it until they are employees with a union and contracts and buyouts.”

    The timing of Hill’s golf game with Holmoe wasn’t lost on the man who led Utah athletics for 31 years: It came one day after BYU’s latest recruiting success.

    On Tuesday, the Cougars secured a commitment from five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons, a rising senior at Folsom (California) High School who will join the team in the spring of 2027, following a one-year church mission.

    Lyons, who picked BYU over Oregon, is part of a recruiting class that ranks third in the Big 12.

    This, after the Cougars landed AJ Dybantsa, the No. 2 basketball recruit in the class of 2025.

    And after they reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in more than a decade.

    And after they won 11 football games.

    In the world of unchecked NIL, talent follows the dollars. With Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith and others lending their support, BYU has possessed the dollars needed to acquire talent at the highest level.

    Hill circled back to the College Sports Commission — the great equalizer, in theory.

    “If that’s the reality, then I don’t think there will be much difference between the schools,” he said. “But I think (the commission) will get sued. And I’m worried about it.”


    *** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to wilnerhotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716

    *** Follow me on the social media platform X: @WilnerHotline

    Continue Reading

    Most Viewed Posts

    Trending