We are past the May 27 deadline, as several athletes made the decision to either chase the NBA draft or improve their draft stock by returning to college for one more season. In the meantime, while several stars decided to return, some to the same program and others to a different program, others officially left for the pros.
Here are the biggest winners and losers from the 2026 NBA Draft withdrawal deadline.
2026 NBA Draft Withdrawal Deadline Verdict
Winners
Duke Blue Devils
Many thought John Blackwell would remain in the draft, but he decided to withdraw. Duke would welcome him with open arms, considering they lost Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans. This addition in itself will go a long way in securing another deep run in March Madness next season.
St. John’s
Few coaches had a better week than Rick Pitino. Former Baylor standout Tounde Yessoufou has withdrawn from the draft to join Pitino’s roster. The five-star recruit from the Class of 2025 could elevate the Red Storm’s potential next season.
Florida Gators
Reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu has opted against staying in the draft to join the Gators’ frontcourt of Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh. The mere sight of this trio will strike fear into the opposition.
Vanderbilt
Tyler Tanner was a holdout till the last day of the deadline, but he finally decided to return to the Commodores. With the transfer portal addition of Washington State’s Ace Glass.
Losers
Arizona Wildcats
Arizona took one of the toughest hits of the deadline cycle as freshman standout Koa Peat elected to stay in the draft. Arizona was not expecting this and some analysts even advised him to return to college for one more year, but it seems Peat thought otherwise.
With Peat gone, the Wildcats now face a much steeper climb in the Big 12.
Apart from this, bubble NBA prospects who still had eligibility remaining can also come under this category if they secure a first or second round selection, where salary probably outweighs how much they could have earned through NIL in college. Therefore, they face intense scrutiny during workouts and interviews. One bad evaluation could turn a projected pick into an undrafted free agent.
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