Top 12 NBA Draft Withdrawal Decisions Shaping the 2025-26 College Basketball Season

Explore the pivotal NBA draft withdrawal decisions that will significantly influence the 2025-26 college basketball season, featuring key players like Milos Uzan and Alex Condon.

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 have already 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.

Key Players and Their Decisions

Milos Uzan, PG, Houston

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. However, 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. If Uzan returns, the Cougars would have three starters from a team that won 35 games and reached the championship game, putting them squarely in the conversation for preseason No. 1.

Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan

Lendeborg 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. Should Lendeborg make it to Ann Arbor, Dusty May's team would have a case for a preseason top-five ranking.

Alex Condon, PF, Florida

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

Tahaad Pettiford, PG, Auburn

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. Bruce Pearl will hope Pettiford returns to Auburn, where he could open the season as a preseason All-American.

Otega Oweh, SG, Kentucky

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." 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.

Karter Knox & Adou Thiero, F, Arkansas

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. Both returning to Fayetteville would give Calipari incredible lineup versatility.

Cedric Coward, SF, Duke

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. He is ranked No. 30 in ESPN's mock draft, and some NBA personnel have suggested he might not even last that long.

RJ Luis Jr., SF, transferring from St. John's

PJ Haggerty, PG, transferring from Memphis

Jamir Watkins, SF, transferring from Florida State

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. 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.

Miles Byrd, SF, San Diego State

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. Byrd's return likely would solidify San Diego State as a preseason top-25 team and the Mountain West favorite.

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