The NBA Draft withdrawal deadline has come and gone. We now know who will be returning to college basketball and who will be heading to begin their pro careers. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest decisions that took place over the last day or two and analyze how they impact the upcoming season.
This list will not include players like Johnell Davis (to Arkansas) or Johnny Furphy (to NBA) given that their decision wasn’t really up in the air, and they made the decision that most expected all along.
1- Mark Sears – Returning to Alabama
Alabama was a top 15 team heading into the season with or without the All-SEC point guard returning for another season. Now that we know he is returning, they have a legitimate argument to be the preseason No. 1 team in the nation.
Sears could be the best point guard in college basketball next season and the new-look Crimson Tide are real contenders to cut down the nets in 2025 when I’m not sure that was in the cards without him. The Tide also learned that Jarin Stevenson will also return to Tuscaloosa for another season.
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2- Alex Karaban – Returning to UConn
Three-peat anyone? The rich continue to stay rich as the two-time defending champions received wonderful news on Wednesday. Alex Karaban is returning for a third season at UConn and he will provide stability and All-Big East potential from the four-spot in the lineup.
UConn was already a top five team in the country but keeping Karaban reinforces that the Huskies are going absolutely nowhere. They are expecting to win a third consecutive national title, and who can blame them?
3- Hunter Sallis – Returning to Wake Forest
While the first two returnees on the list were joining stacked rosters with national title hopes, the same cannot be said for Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis, who many expected to remain in the draft.
Wake Forest disappointingly missed the NCAA tournament this past year, but with Sallis back in the fold, they have a great chance to be rectifying that in 2025. Had Sallis stayed in the draft, it could have been quite shaky for Wake Forest. Sallis’ decision to return may have the biggest impact on their respective teams in terms of range of outcomes – likely the difference between a tournament birth or a disastrous season.
4- Caleb Love – Returning to Arizona
The Caleb Love experience will roll on for one final season in Tucson. The enigmatic scoring guard will return to aid Arizona as they go through their first season in the Big 12. This decision was massive for the Wildcats because the Big 12 is a brutal conference filled with numerous great teams. Relying strictly on young players to succeed in that conference is a recipe for disaster.
Love returning is simply massive for Tommy Lloyd due to experience alone. They are no longer hoping that KJ Lewis or Jaden Bradley take a massive leap forward. Arizona now has depth and insurance as they hope to make a significant run in March.
5- Wooga Poplar – Returning to College (Transfer Portal)
Following a disappointing season at Miami, Wooga Poplar has elected to withdrawal from the NBA Draft and return to college, and he is transferring as well. He is currently slated to visit Oregon, but Arkansas and Kentucky were reported as possible destinations as well.
Poplar is an electric scorer. When he is on, he can go for 20 or more on any given night. He will be a tremendous piece to a team, and could even be the missing piece to a team like Oregon that desperately needs a go-to bucket getter.
6- Jaxson Robinson – Returning to College (Transferring to Kentucky)
Jaxson Robinson has had a puzzling draft process according to the mock drafts. Some had him being selected in the 30s, while some had him being drafted in the 50s-undrafted range. That uncertainty was likely the determining factor in the former BYU Cougar’s return to college.
This is massive news considering he has long been linked to Kentucky and his former coach Mark Pope. Now we know, 12 hours after the deadline, that he will indeed head to Lexington.
As previously mentioned, Kentucky desperately needed a go-to scorer and Robinson is just that.
7-Jamir Watkins – Returning to College (Transfer Portal)
One of the last players to withdrawal from the draft, Jamir Watkins is returning to college and is one of the better guards/wings in the portal. He will not be returning to Florida State.
Watkins averaged over 15 points per game and six rebounds while in a Seminoles uniform and will be a tremendous addition to a team this late in the cycle. Like Poplar, Watkins is a player that can come in and fill a void for a team that needs a go-to player. He will be in high demand from most of the best programs in the country.
8- Coleman Hawkins – Returning to College (Transfer Portal)
Perhaps the biggest name left in the portal now, Coleman Hawkins will be in high demand over the next couple of weeks.
Arkansas and North Carolina are among the teams to likely to be involved in this recruitment, and Hawkins is the type of player that changes the trajectory of a season. I am on record stating that I believe he is UNC’s missing piece for a national title, but he could also skyrocket Arkansas, and plenty of more programs, into contention as well.
Hawkins is a great personality and player. It is massive that he is returning to college basketball for a final season.