The NBA Draft withdrawal deadline has officially passed. Players had until May 29 to decide whether to stay in the draft or return to college. Following that, the final draft pool is set, and teams will now focus on individual workouts and final evaluations leading up to the NBA Draft.
During this process, several teams lost key players, while others benefited from notable draft withdrawals as top talent returned to their schools. Let’s take a closer look at which teams gained the most and which ones lost their main leaders.
Winners
Michigan Wolverines
Following Yaxel Lendeborg’s decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft, many saw it as a big win for UAB. But to everyone’s surprise, he chose to join the Michigan Wolverines. With his unexpected move, the Wolverines became one of the luckiest programs in the mix.
Yaxel Lendeborg changes the #B1GMBBall landscape by withdrawing from the NBA Draft to join @umichbball. 🔥@TheAndyKatz reacts to the news ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/pDsM9GSEMs
— Big Ten Men’s Basketball (@B1GMBBall) May 27, 2025
Standing at 6’9” with a 7’4” wingspan, Lendeborg is a polished scorer and was almost a confirmed first-round pick. We wouldn’t be surprised if his decision helps Michigan reshape the Big Ten hierarchy in the upcoming season.
Florida Gators
Florida has seen a lot of movement in and out of its roster this offseason, but after everything settled, the Gators came out as clear winners. A big reason for that is Boogie Fland’s arrival.
The former Arkansas star brings much-needed scoring and playmaking to Florida’s backcourt. Another major win is Alex Condon’s decision. He withdrew from the NBA Draft and chose to return to Florida. There’s nothing bigger than keeping an NBA-caliber player on your roster for another season.
Auburn Tigers
Auburn also landed a major win in the NBA Draft withdrawal process. Tahaad Pettiford, who was projected to be picked in the top 25, decided to return to school instead of turning pro. Now, the explosive guard, who averaged 15.2 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game in the NCAA Tournament, is poised to bolster the Tigers’ backcourt once more. With him staying, Auburn stays right in the thick of the SEC title race.
Losers
Arkansas Razorbacks’
Arkansas, under head coach John Calipari, took a serious hit as Boogie Fland transferred to Florida. Actually, they took a double hit at once — Adou Thiero also remained in the NBA Draft, where he’s expected to be selected within the top 30 picks.
Meanwhile, Florida has already started to flex its strength with Fland in the lineup, making their roster even stronger. Now, the Razorbacks’ last hope of recovery lies in the transfer portal. If they miss out, they could lose everything heading into the upcoming season.
Duke Blue Devils
Duke lost Cedric Coward, who had transferred from Washington State but ultimately decided to stay in the NBA Draft after boosting his stock at the NBA Combine.
Cedric Coward shooting it in the NBA draft combine side-mid-side drill pic.twitter.com/HIJg1czs0t
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 13, 2025
His departure leaves Duke scrambling for replacements, as they never expected the 21-year-old to leave the program so soon. Meanwhile, the NBA Draft becomes the true winner, as another high-potential prospect officially joins the draft pool.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Yanic Konan Niederhauser was one of Penn State’s top forwards. After an impressive showing at the NBA Draft Combine, he officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft.
Last season, he averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. Unfortunately, with his departure, Penn State has lost a key leader for the upcoming season.
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