The NBA Draft withdrawal deadline has passed, providing a clear picture of this year's draft field from the college ranks. The deadline brought several notable decisions.
Key Roster Movements
Arizona's Koa Peat decided to stay in the draft, while several SEC stars withdrew and will return to college action next season. Billy Richmond III (Arkansas), Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt), and Amari Allen (Alabama) all removed their names from the draft.
Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State) also opted to return to college, where he has already started a bidding war among top programs for his veteran scoring services.
Amari Allen's Strategic Return
Allen was ranked No. 28 on the last CBS Sports NBA Draft Big Board and was the top prospect to withdraw. His decision mirrors Labaron Philon's path from last cycle — he withdrew from the 2025 draft late, returned to Alabama, and turned himself into a lottery pick.
Allen is a fringe first-rounder in 2026 who will now return to Tuscaloosa to improve his draft stock while proving to NBA decision-makers he can be an effective jumbo initiator at the next level. The weaker 2027 draft class will also benefit his positioning.
Surprise Transfer
The biggest surprise came from Tounde Yessoufou, who not only withdrew from the NBA Draft but also committed to St. John's in one decisive move.
Why Players Are Returning to College
The financial landscape has shifted significantly. The money available in college now exceeds what's typically offered in the pros, making it more sensible for players to return and get paid rather than risk second-round selections or G-League contracts.
Multiple likely first-round selections opted to return or didn't even declare. Patrick Ngongba II (Duke), Moteijus Krivas (Arizona), Braylon Mullins (UConn), and Amari Allen are among those coming back despite first-round grades.
Other notable players returning include Rueben Chinyelu (Florida), Flory Bidunga (Louisville), Jake Harris (Tennessee), Yessoufou (transferring to St. John's), Tyler Tanner, and Billy Richmond.
Draft Depth Impact
The draft depth suffers as a result. There isn't a college player with remaining eligibility beyond No. 31 on the big board — almost everyone who wasn't a virtual lock for a guaranteed multi-year first-round deal opted to return.
The final 69 spots are comprised entirely of college seniors, graduates, or international players. This creates opportunity for college seniors like Tarris Reed Jr., Zuby Ejifor, Joshua Jefferson, and Alex Karaban to have better chances at earning one of the 30 guaranteed contracts.
Following the withdrawals, 13 new names have been added to the top 100 on the updated CBS Sports NBA Draft Big Board.