The NCAA moving up the transfer portal deadline to May 1 has allowed college basketball rosters to develop in recent weeks, with most big programs needing just one or two more pieces to fill out their groups 2024-25. But we're not quite ready to close the door on player movement during the spring.
In a week, we'll reach the next big deadline on the offseason calendar: May 29, the last day for student-athletes to withdraw their names from the NBA draft and return to college for another season.
Nearly 140 college players were early entry candidates for the 2024 NBA draft. While many have withdrawn their names or are expected to do so, several could opt for either.
Two players who say they won't return: North Carolina's Harrison Ingram and Clemson's PJ Hall. Ingram told reporters at the NBA combine that he “will stay in” the draft, while Hall said he “closed the door” on his college career.
Additionally, a dozen uncommitted players in ESPN's top 100 transfer rankings are still deciding whether (and where) they will play in college next season: Cam Christie, Coleman Hawkins, JT Toppin, Jamir Watkins, Jaylen Wells, Jaxson Robinson, Wooga Poplar. , Arthur Kaluma, Chaz Lanier, Miles Kelly, Trevon Brazile and Ugonna Onyenso. Everyone but Kelly was invited to the NBA Draft Combine or G League Elite Camp.
Which programs will be most affected by their players' decisions to stay one more season or go to the pro ranks? We'll see.
