The NCAA Basketball Tournament is about to end, with only the Final Four round and the national championship game remaining. So, a lot of players and coaches’ minds are already on what’s next. This means making career choices and rebuilding rosters for the 2026-27 season.
As in all college sports, but with a particular emphasis in basketball, players are now considering whether to return or declare for the draft of their professional draft. Unlike college football, which requires players to have played at least three seasons at the college level, the NBA Draft only requires players to be 19 years old and one year removed from their high school graduation.
In practice, this means that many prospects use college sports as a way to showcase themselves for a season and then leave for the NBA. Even if others remain for longer, schools are always at risk of losing their players to the NBA. Hence, the list of returning players for college basketball is always a highly sought-after one among fans.
NCAA Basketball Returning Players Tracker: Men’s Basketball Players Returning for 2026-27
Here’s the list of players who have so far confirmed their return, or are seriously considering it.
| Player | Program | Position | 2026-27 Year | Key Notes |
| Elliot Cadeau | Michigan | G | Senior | Confirmed return; pivotal player for the Michigan Wolverines. |
| JT Toppin | Texas Tech | F | Junior | Suffered ACL injury in February 2026. His return for the start of the 2026-27 is doubtful. |
| Trey McKenney | Michigan | G | Sophomore | Confirmed return; projected to jump into the starting lineup this season |
| Jeremy Fears Jr. | Michigan St. | G | Junior | Led the nation in assists (9.1 per game); expected to return for his junior year and third season as a starter. |
| Nolan Winter | Wisconsin | F | Junior | Undecided about whether to return for a fourth and final season with Wisconsin. Third-best scorer for the Badgers in 2025-26, with 13.1 points per game. |
| Alex Condon | Florida | F | Junior | Undecided about his return for his senior season with the Florida Gators. Second-best scorer this season for the team, with 15.1 points per game. |
The list is always open to changes, as most college basketball players are allowed to declare for the NBA Draft. The most likely scenario is that we will have to wait until a few weeks before the NBA Combine in May to know who will stay and who will leave college basketball.
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