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One of the most interesting storylines of the 2026 NBA Draft is not the players in the class but those who decided to return to college.
This year, only 71 players declared as early entry candidates to turn pro. Among that list, 42 received invitations to participate in the NBA draft combine in Chicago. All of these prospects who were early entry candidates are currently receiving feedback from evaluators on whether or not they should turn pro or return to the NCAA.
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Obvious early entry candidates projected within the top 20, including NBA draft combine breakout star Cameron Carr, were not included in this list.
Other early entry candidates not currently projected inside the top 20 but who said before the combine that they plan to turn pro, including Chris Cenac Jr. and Tounde Yessoufou, were also not included.
German-born guard Jack Kayil, who committed to Gonzaga, was not at the 2026 NBA Combine because he is playing overseas in Serbia. However, per Jonathan Givony, he will stay in the draft rather than play in the NCAA.
Thomas Haugh (Florida), Braylon Mullins (UConn) and Patrick Ngongba II (Duke) are among those who were widely considered potential first-round picks but opted to not enter the pre-draft process. Others, including Pryce Sandfort (Nebraska), Alex Condon (Florida), Joseph Tugler (Houston) and David Mirković (Illinois), made the same decision.
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Players can remain as early entry draft candidates through 11:59 p.m. ET on May 27 if they want to maintain their collegiate eligibility or they can decide to join the players above who opted to return to college.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.
See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.
Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ranking-top-22-stay-ncaa-202454350.html
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Publish date : 2026-05-14 20:24:00
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