Sports Illustrated Ranks 15 Returning Men’s Players After 11:59 p.m. NBA Draft Deadline
Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · May 28
Sports Illustrated Ranks 15 Returning Men’s Players After 11:59 p.m. NBA Draft Deadline
5 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · May 28
Jeremy Fears Jr. of Michigan State topped Sports Illustrated’s post-deadline ranking of the 15 best returning men’s college basketball players, ahead of Florida’s Thomas Haugh and Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner.
The list crystallized after players had until 11:59 p.m. ET Wednesday to withdraw from the NBA draft and keep NCAA eligibility, leaving college programs with a stronger-than-expected 2026-27 talent pool.
Florida placed two players in the top five—Haugh at No. 2 and Alex Condon at No. 5—while Duke also landed two in the top 15 with Patrick Ngongba II and John Blackwell.
Several returnees were viewed as real NBA prospects, including borderline lottery candidate Braylon Mullins at No. 9 and potential first-rounders Ngongba and Arizona center Motiejus Krivas at No. 4.
The ranking underscores how draft withdrawals could reshape next season’s title race, boosting contenders such as Michigan State, Florida, Duke, Michigan and Arizona.
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