With the 10:59 p.m. CT Friday night deadline for prospects to declare for the 2026 NBA Draft now in the rearview, we have a fuller picture of which elite players are going to be on the board.
Our Chicago Bulls possess not one, not two, not three, but four picks between the first and second rounds — including a lottery selection with a 20.3 percent chance of sneaking into the top-four, according to Tankathon.
So which of the top prospects will be sticking around?
We’ve talked about this 2026 NBA Draft class thinning in recent weeks, but that hasn’t exactly played out. Most of the guys in our latest mock draft have declared their intention to turn pro. But there are some noteworthy players who decided to remain in college, as well as some who are being a bit more wishy-washy.
We’ve stratified this list into two tracks.
Some projected first-round or early second-round prospects with lingering eligibility have outright withdrawn from draft consideration already and announced their intentions to return to school. Others, meanwhile, have declared for the draft while opting to retain the NCAA eligibility.
Who’s Out of the NBA Draft
- Adam Atamna, G, ASVEL Basket
- Cayden Boozer, PG, Duke
- Dash Daniels, G, Melbourne United
- Jeremy Fears Jr., PG, Michigan State
- Mouhamed Faye, C, Paris Basketball
- Thomas Haugh, PF, Florida
- Brayon Mullins, SG, UConn
- Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke
- Billy Richmond, SG/SF, Arkansas
- Michael Ružić, PF/C, Joventut Badalona
- Dame Sarr, SG/SF, Duke
- Tyler Tanner, PG, Vanderbilt
Clearly, after winning it all in 2024-25 and enjoying a breakout run this year, Haugh is hoping to cash some NIL checks and win a second NCAA title before going pro — despite being a possible lottery pick.
During his first season as a full-time starter, the consensus All-American averaged 17.1 points on .469/.326/.774 shooting splits, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks a night.
Ngongba, seen as a mid-to-late first-round pick this season, opted to rejoin the Blue Devils for his junior year. More seasoning in the program should help him improve his draft stock. Duke has made a Final Four berth and two Elite Eight appearances during his tenure. Surely he’ll want to help the team advance to a championship game next spring. Freshman point guard Cayden Boozer will stick around another year, too.
Mullins did get all the way to a title game, where he underperformed spectacularly in a 69-63 Connecticut loss to the Michigan Wolverines. The Big East All-Freshman Teamer scored 11 points on a paltry 4-of-17 shooting from the floor and got to the line zero times, stumbling during the exact moment his team needed him most. Now, redemption could be just around the corner.
Among international pro prospects who opted to stay in their current leagues, DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony reports that Melbourne United shooting guard Dash Daniels, ASVEL Basket guard Adam Atamna, Joventut Badalona big man Michael Ružić, and Paris Basketball center Mouhamed “Momo” Faye all decided to stay abroad rather than declare for this year’s draft class.
Who’s Keeping His Options Open
- Amari Allen, SF, Alabama
- Flory Bidunga, C, Louisville
- Elliot Cadeau, PG, Michigan
- Shane Blakeney, G, South Carolina
- Juke Harris, G/F, Wake Forest
- Aday Mara, C, Michigan
- Morez Johnson Jr., F, Michigan
- Luigi Suigo, C, KK Mega Basket
Wolverines champions Cadeau, Mara, and Johnson, freshman Crimson Tide wing Allen, and sophomore Wake Forest swingman Harris are all testing the draft waters while still keeping their NCAA eligibility.
Harris, the 2026 ACC Most Improved Player, revealed on his Instagram that he’s entering the NCAA transfer portal while also exploring draft interest. The deadline to withdraw from draft consideration for players who still have collegiate eligibility is May 27 at 10:59 p.m. CT.
Blakeney, who’s currently at Drexel, has declared for the draft while technically keeping his options open. He’ll transfer to South Carolina if he does stay in college. Bidunga is in the same boat. He’ll transfer to Louisville following an All-Big 12 year at Kansas as a sophomore this past season, where he’s rumored to earn $5 million in NIL money as one of the most dominant centers at the college level.
Suigio has been connected to BYU, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue and St. John’s but is also testing NBA interest.
Among the early entrants for the draft who declared in time for the deadline, Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress reports that it’s unclear whether or not Motiejunas Krivas will be back with Arizona next season. Wildcat Authority’s Jason Scheer suggests that Krivas is expected to stick around in 2026-27.
Chepkevich adds that the fates of potential draft picks like USC guard Alijah Arenas, Arizona small forward Ivan Kharchenkov, and Partizan Belgrade big man Miikka Muurinen all remain up in the air, too.
