2026 NBA Draft early entry tracker: Full list of declarations, withdrawals, returns

The 2026 NBA Draft received fewer early entry candidates than usual as more prospects opted to return to college basketball with lucrative NIL deals.

With only 71 candidates, it marked the lowest number in more than two decades. But not all received an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. For those who did, after meeting with scouts and team executives, players used that feedback to decide whether to remain in the draft or return to college.

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Several players opted to return to college before the pre-draft process even began, a trend viewed as beneficial to both the NCAA and NBA.

Thomas Haugh (Florida), Braylon Mullins (UConn) and Patrick Ngongba II (Duke) are among those who were widely considered potential first-round picks but opted not to test the waters. Others, including Pryce Sandfort (Nebraska), Alex Condon (Florida), Joseph Tugler (Houston) and David Mirković (Illinois), made the same decision.

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2026: Michigan Wolverines

(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2026: Michigan Wolverines

(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2025: Florida Gators

(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2024: Connecticut Huskies

(Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2023: Connecticut Huskies

(Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports)

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2022: Kansas Jayhawks

(Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports)

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2021: Baylor Bears

(Grace Hollars, IndyStar)

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2019: Virginia Cavaliers

(Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball national champions since 1960

2018: Villanova Wildcats

(Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)

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March Madness: Men’s college basketball…

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Publish date : 2026-05-27 22:42:00

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