The NBA Draft allows players to test the waters but still return to school. With the deadline here, which players are coming back to college basketball?
We’re less than a month out from the 2023 NBA Draft, but May 31 was an important deadline in the process. You might hear it referred to as NBA Draft decision day, but the simple explanation of it is that players who entered their name into the draft but maintained eligibility to play in college — commonly referred to as “testing the waters” — have until the deadline to determine if they will stay in the draft or return to college basketball.
With some big names like 7-foot-4 Purdue center Zach Edey along with others like Kentucky big Oscar Tshiebwe involved, there were many college basketball and NBA fan bases alike waiting to see which decisions came down on Wednesday.
If you’re looking to, we have you covered with the big names on both sides of the coin with our 2023 NBA Draft decision tracker.
2023 NBA Draft: Notable players returning to college basketball, headlined by Zach Edey
Here’s a look at the most notable players who are going back to college basketball for at least one more year.
- Zach Edey (Purdue Boilermakers)
- Trey Alexander (Creighton Bluejays)
- Reece Beekman (Virginia Cavaliers)
- Johnell Davis (Florida Atlantic Owls)
- Alijah Martin (Florida Atlantic Owls)
- Adem Bona (UCLA Bruins)
- Jahvon Quinerly (Alabama Crimson Tide)
- Tristan de Silva (Colorado Buffaloes)
- Clifford Omoruyi (Rutgers Scarlet Knights)
- Cormac Ryan (North Carolina Tar Heels via transfer portal)
- Tyler Burton (Villanova Wildcats via transfer portal)
- AJ Hoggard (Michigan State Spartans)
- Jaden Akins (Michigan State Spartans)
- Nae’Qwan Tomlin (Kansas State Wildcats)
- Jordan Dingle (St. John’s Red Storm via transfer portal)
- Tristen Newton (UConn Huskies)
- Mark Sears (Alabama Crimson Tide)
- Julian Phillips (Transfer Portal)
- Arthur Kaluma (Transfer Portal)
- Antonio Reeves (Transfer Portal)
- Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois Fighting Illini)
- PJ Hall (Clemson Tigers)
- Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton Bluejays)
There are plenty more decisions that still need to be made. Having said that, when you look at Purdue getting Edey back, Michigan State seeing both Hoggard and Akins return, Illinois getting blessed by the Shannon return, and many more, these are the types of decisions that could have a tremendous effect on the 2023-24 college basketball season.
2023 NBA Draft: Notable players staying in NBA Draft, headlined by Oscar Tshiebwe
Now let’s get into the players who have elected to stay in the 2023 NBA Draft instead of returning to school for one more season.
- Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky Wildcats)
- Andre Jackson Jr. (UConn Huskies)
- Adama Sanogo (UConn Huskies)
- Kobe Brown (Missouri Tigers)
- Olivier-Maxence Prosper (Marquette Golden Eagles)
Frankly, there is a reason that you see way more guys who are testing the NBA Draft waters but maintaining eligibilty. They are normally fringe-ish type of players for the pro level at this stage, but are just seeing where they are at according to scouts.
With that said, there are some big names leaving that could’ve returned, including the 2021-22 Naismath Player of the Year in Tshiebwe, a big loss for Kentucky, and a pair of reigning national champions in Jackson and Sanogo.
For more NCAA basketball and March Madness news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of the latest action.