College players who declared for the 2023 NBA draft as early entrants while maintaining their NCAA eligibility have until the end of the day on Wednesday to either withdraw from the draft or forgo their remaining eligibility. Players who take the latter route could still technically pull out of the draft before the NBA’s June 12 deadline, but wouldn’t have the option of returning to school if they miss the NCAA’s May 31 deadline.
As a result, we’re getting a flurry of updates today on prospects who had been testing the draft waters.
UCLA’s Adem Bona, for instance, has decided to remove his name from the draft pool and rejoin the Bruins for his sophomore year, reports Jonathan Givony of ESPN. Bona, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, had been the No. 48 player on ESPN’s 2023 big board.
Tennessee wing Josiah-Jordan James, the No. 77 player on ESPN’s board, has also decided to pull out of the 2023 draft and will take advantage of his final year of college eligibility, he announced on Twitter. Colorado forward Tristan Da Silva – ESPN’s No. 83 prospect – will head back to school too, as he tells Givony.
While most players announcing decisions today are withdrawing from the draft, that’s not the case for everyone. Memphis forward Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, for instance, has opted to keep his name in the draft and go pro, agent Scott Nichols tells Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports (Twitter link).
In our latest batch of updates, however, Akobundu-Ehiogu is a rarity. Here are several more early entrants who are withdrawing from the draft:
- Jaden Akins, G, Michigan State (sophomore) (Twitter link)
- T.J. Bickerstaff, F, James Madison (senior) (Twitter link via Rothstein)
- Note: Bickerstaff is transferring from Boston College.
- Tyler Burton, F, Villanova (senior) (Twitter link)
- Note: Burton is transferring from Richmond.
- Branden Carlson, F/C, Utah (senior) (Twitter link)
- A.J. Hoggard, G, Michigan State (junior) (Twitter link)
- Clifford Omoruyi, C, Rutgers (junior) (Instagram link)
- Jahvon Quinerly, G, Alabama (senior (Twitter link via Rothstein)
- Cormac Ryan, G, North Carolina (senior) (Twitter link via Rothstein)
- Note: Ryan is transferring from Notre Dame.
- Mady Traore, F, Maryland (freshman) (Twitter link via Rothstein)
- Note: Traore is transferring from New Mexico State.
The one potential positive of the transfer portal and NIL is that it might keep kids from declaring too soon for the NBA draft. The best kids will still be 1 and done (or HS to the NBA when that’s permitted again), but, once it nomalizes, there shouldn’t be as many kids who aren’t ready to be professionals declaring for the draft because of limited college options or the pay check.
Jahvon Quinerly is still in school?? A 25 year-old senior is crazy.
Bona could have been late 1st to mid 2nd rounder if he stayed
Man that Burton kid is transferring around everywhere!! lol