After a season leading the nation in scoring and his Yeshiva University team into the record books, Ryan Turell declared for the NBA Draft Tuesday, formalizing his intent to become the first Orthodox Jewish player in the history of the league and one of the few Division III stars to make the leap.
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Turell announced he was turning pro in an interview with ESPN draft czar Jonathan Givony. “Being the first Orthodox Jew in the NBA would mean the world to me, and a dream come true, God willing,” Turell said. “But, just as importantly, it would mean the world to others that never saw this as a possibility.”
Roko Prkacin has withdrawn his name from the 2021 NBA draft. Prkacin was the No. 36 rated prospect in the class by ESPN, which described the withdrawal as a "somewhat surprising move." Prkacin could move into the first round in 2022 with a strong 21-22 season.
As Jonathan Givony of ESPN tweeted and multiple sources confirm, Rokas Jokubaitis will not withdraw his name from the NBA draft. As Givony explained: “Jokubaitis is available to come to the NBA immediately, paying a buyout to Zalgiris, but if a team elects to stash him, he will play for his old coach Sarunas Jasikevicius in Barcelona next season”.
Chinese basketball rising star Guo Haowen announced on Thursday his withdrawal from the 2021 NBA Draft and return to play for CBA club the Shanghai Sharks.
Jeff Goodman: Oral Roberts guard Max Abmas is headed back to school, source told @Stadium.
Jeff Goodman: Kevin Obanor withdrawing from NBA Draft and will transfer from ORU.
Jon Rothstein: Howard's Makur Maker is staying in the 2021 NBA Draft, per his mentor Ed Smith.
Jon Rothstein: USC's Isaiah Mobley is withdrawing from the 2021 NBA Draft process and will return to college, per his IG page. Significant Pac-12 news.
Taylor Eldridge: I'm told by sources that Tyson Etienne is withdrawing from the NBA Draft process and returning to Wichita State for the 2021-22 season. Etienne was the Co-Player of the Year in the American last season. His return makes WSU a contender.
Jeff Goodman: Georgia Tech’s Jose Alvarado told @Stadium he will turn pro and not take advantage of another season in college.
Jon Rothstein: Texas Tech's Terrence Shannon Jr. is withdrawing from the 2021 NBA Draft and returning to college, per his Twitter page. Significant Big 12 news.
Jeff Goodman: SMU’s Kendric Davis will withdraw from the draft and return to school, he told @Stadium
Senior guard Geo Baker, the face of the Rutgers basketball program who led the Scarlet Knights to their first NCAA Tournament in 30 years, will return to Piscataway for one final season, he announced in a video posted on Twitter on Wednesday.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Ohio University junior guard Jason Preston will remain in the 2021 NBA Draft and sign with agent Drew Gross of Roc Nation Sports, Preston told ESPN on Wednesday.
Jonathan Wasserman: Marcus Bagley announces he's returning to college, a sensible move based on his stock. Scouts didn't understand why he skipped scrimmages at the combine. The idea of a 6-8 shooter with D-tools is appealing, but he has more to prove after 38% FG, 34% 3PT in only 12 games.
The Fresno State Bulldogs will now have both of their previous potential NBA Draft-bound standouts back for another season in 2021-22. Days after junior forward Orlando Robinson announced he would withdraw from the NBA Draft pool, junior guard Deon Stroud also reached the same decision.
Utah Valley University men's basketball got some good news Wednesday: Fardaws Aimaq, the nation's leading rebounder, is coming back. After testing the NBA draft, the 6-foot-11, 220-pound center from Vancouver, British Columbia, will return to the Wolverines, where he will be classified as a redshirt sophomore.
Oregon State appears to have set its 2021-22 men’s basketball roster as forwards Warith Alatishe and Maurice Calloo and center Roman Silva pulled their names from the 2021 NBA Draft pool.
Jon Rothstein: Dawson Garcia tells me that he is withdrawing from the 2021 NBA Draft and will return to college next season. Garcia also tells me that he is making a decision soon on his plans for next season. Final List: North Carolina Arizona Illinois Marquette
International prospect Vrenz Bleijenbergh, who last played for the Port of the Antwerp Giants in Belgium, will be reportedly keeping his name in the NBA draft, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
The Jayhawks basketball team gained some additional depth for the upcoming season, as Arizona State transfer Remy Martin withdrew his name from the NBA Draft on July 6.
Sam Vecenie: One of the big takeaways for me from watching the G League Elite Camp stuff was that EJ Onu’s rim protection and shot-blocking definitely translated to the higher level of competition. Announced today he’s staying in the draft. Will be interested to see if he gets his name called
Aaron Wiggins will forgo his final year of eligibility with the University of Maryland, and will keep his name in the 2021 NBA Draft, according to this agent, Mike Whitaker.
His agent, Mike Whitaker confirmed Aaron had two workouts before the July 7th deadline, with the Toronto Raptors on Monday, July 5th, and the Phoenix Suns; which would give him eight workouts so far, in the Pre-Draft process. Wiggins will also participate in a group workout with the Utah Jazz, and Minnesota Timberwolves on July 10th. The process spans four days, with 12 players working out per day, two workout groups at a time.
Taylor Eldridge: Last two NBA Draft workouts before Wichita State’s Tyson Etienne has to make the final decision of turning pro or returning to college. Etienne will work out for the Raptors today and the Suns tomorrow, then announce on Wednesday.
St. John’s expectations just rose significantly. Julian Champagnie, last year’s Big East leading scorer and all-conference first-team selection, announced Sunday night he is taking his name out of the NBA draft and will return to school for his junior year.
After going through a lengthy NBA Draft process that saw him work out and interview with multiple teams Colin Castleton announced via social media that he would be returning to Florida for his senior season.
Jon Rothstein: Source: West Virginia's Sean McNeil is expected to withdraw from the 2021 NBA Draft and return to school next season.
Iowa men’s basketball guard Joe Wieskamp officially announced Friday he’ll be keeping his name in the 2021 NBA Draft, ending his three-year career as a Hawkeye.
West Virginia guard Miles “Deuce” McBride has played his final game as a Mountaineer. Sources confirmed to MetroNews Friday that McBride informed WVU coach Bob Huggins of his decision to remain in the upcoming NBA Draft and forego his college eligibility.
Nebraska guard Dalano Banton announced Friday that he is staying in the 2021 NBA Draft and will forgo his remaining college eligibility. Underclassmen had until July 7 to announce their intentions to stay in the draft or return to college for the upcoming season.
Jeff Goodman: Texas’ Courtney Ramey told @Stadium he will withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to school. Longhorns are my Preseason No. 3 team in the country.
Jeff Goodman: Ohio State’s EJ Liddell will withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to the Buckeyes next season. Liddell is a potential first-team All-American and Ohio State Is a Preseason Top 15-20 team despite the loss of Duane Washington Jr., to the pros.
Jalen Wilson withdrew from the NBA draft on Friday and announced he would return to Kansas for his sophomore season, providing more experience on the wing for a rebuilt team that should begin among the top five in the nation. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound Wilson averaged 11.8 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds last season, helping the Jayhawks reach the second round of the NCAA tournament.
University of Kentucky senior guard Davion Mintz will withdraw his name from the 2021 NBA Draft and return to UK for the 2021-22 season, the program announced Thursday.
Jeff Goodman: Arkansas’ Stanley Umude has withdrawn from the NBA Draft process, source told @Stadium
Jeff Goodman: Quincy Guerrier told @Stadium he will withdraw from the NBA draft and play at Oregon this season. Huge for the Ducks.
Jon Rothstein: Iowa State's Izaiah Brockington tells me that he is withdrawing from the NBA Draft and will play college basketball next season. Transfer from Penn State.
Kentucky is getting its top basketball scorer back from last season, as guard Davion Mintz has decided to withdraw from the NBA draft and return to school.
A graduate transfer from Creighton, Mintz led the Wildcats in scoring (11.5 PPG) and assists (3.1 APG) in 2020-21 while also averaging 3.2 rebounds per game. This is the first time Kentucky is getting its leading scorer back since Randolph Morris in 2006-07.
Andrew Slater: 7’ Kofi Cockburn, who was a 2nd-team All-American & 1st-team All-Big 10, will enter the transfer portal, while keeping his name in the NBA Draft. @kxng_alpha , who averaged 17.7 points & 9.5 rebounds this season, is exploring all options. He can instantly elevate any program.
Jon Rothstein: Buffalo's Jeenathan Williams tells me that he will withdraw from the 2021 NBA Draft and return to school next season.
Jordan Hall is withdrawing from the 2021 NBA Draft and will return to Saint Joseph’s next season instead of transferring to Texas A&M, a source told College Hoops Today.
Jon Rothstein: Oregon's De'Vion Harmon tells me that he will withdraw from the NBA Draft process. Transfer from Oklahoma.
Jon Rothstein: Marcus Carr is expected to withdraw from the 2021 NBA Draft and return to college next season, per his mentor Vidal Massiah. Carr is also in the transfer portal and will be one of the highest sought after transfers if he decides to leave Minnesota.
Jeff Goodman: BREAKING: Ohio State guard Duane Washington Jr. Will not be returning to school and will keep his name in for the NBA Draft, he told @Stadium. Buckeyes go from Top 10 to Top 25 team — depending if EJ Liddell returns.
Sam Vecenie: Basically from the moment Washington played well in the G League Elite Camp, this was expected by Ohio State. After a good week in Chicago, Washington is seen by most NBA teams as a reasonable two-way contract player due to his shooting.
Jeff Goodman: Former Rutgers guard Jacob Young told @Stadium he will withdraw from the NBA Draft process and play at Oregon this season.
Michael Yero: Kameron McGusty announces that he’ll be returning to Miami. As for Isaiah Wong, he remains heavily undecided. He’s having a workout with the Cleveland Cavaliers today.
Jeff Goodman: Former Clemson guard Clyde Trapp told @Stadium that he has sent in the paperwork to withdraw from the NBA Draft process and play at Charlotte this coming season.
If Keve Aluma hears his named called in the NBA Draft, it won't be in 2021. The former Stephen Decatur athlete has withdrawn from this year's draft after declaring for the event in April.
Jeff Goodman: Winthrop’s D.J. Burns has decided to withdraw from the NBA draft process, he told @Stadium. Talented big man who helped lead the Eagles to the NCAA tourney last season.
Jeff Goodman: Stetson’s Christiaan Jones has withdrawn from the NBA draft process and will return to school, he told @Stadium.
Jeff Goodman: Marquette’s Dawson Garcia told @Stadium he has entered the transfer portal, and is still going through the NBA draft process. Would be a huge pickup if he opts to transfer elsewhere.
Keve Aluma, who entered the NBA Draft in April, is returning to the Virginia Tech men's basketball team. Aluma, who made the All-ACC second team as a fourth-year junior, said Thursday in a phone interview that withdrawing from the draft and rejoining the Hokies was a "pretty simple" decision. "It's not like I was all over the draft boards," he said.
Purdue said Thursday that center Trevion Williams has decided to withdraw from the NBA draft and will return to campus for his senior season this fall.
I spoke to Aaron Wiggins’ agent, Austin Walton, earlier this morning, and he mentioned that interest from NBA teams had increased significantly in recent days. He continued to explain to me that Wiggins and his family have decided to preserve his college eligibility in order to keep the door open for a return back to Maryland next season. However, if things keep trending up, and he is provided a certain level of assurance, it is certainly possible that Wiggins stays in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Jeff Goodman: North Carolina big man Armando Bacot will return to Chapel Hill and withdraw from the NBA Draft process, he told @Stadium.
Jon Rothstein: Matthew Mayer is returning to Baylor next season, per @DraftExpress. Was an early entry candidate to the 2021 NBA Draft. Will be a massive breakout guy in 21-22.
Kofi Cockburn recently had a workout with the Boston Celtics, and is continuing to improve his stock ahead of the 2021 NBA Draft on July 29th. The former Illini center also told us at WCIA, he’s not coming back for his junior year. “I’m sorry I won’t be coming back,” says Cockburn. “I’m 100% in now.”
Georgia Tech’s roster for the 2021-22 season will include the reigning ACC Tournament MVP. After declaring his intent to test NBA draft waters in late March, Yellow Jackets guard Michael Devoe announced his decision to come back Tuesday.
Jon Rothstein: Liberty's Chris Parker tells me that he has signed with an agent and plans to stay in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Kofi Cockburn, a 7-foot, 285-pound center, has done everything but come right out and say that he's remaining in the 2021 NBA Draft and won't be returning to Champaign. The Jamaica native made a post on Instagram on Tuesday with a heartfelt caption, signaling that his time with the Illini is over. "Extremely happy to have been apart of and represented a program like this, I enjoyed every single day I spent in Champaign and I am proud of the growth I had while I was there, words can't express how much I love the Illini and I wouldn't trade that part of my journey for the world," Cockburn wrote.
Liz Mullen: Mississippi State G D.J. Stewart Jr. has signed with @ISEBasketball for representation in the NBA Draft on- and off-the-court. NBA agent David Bauman is repping on the court. ISE agents Parker Cain & Travis King are repping him for marketing & all other endeavors.
Marc J. Spears: The NBA says 353 players -- 296 players from colleges and other educational institutions and 57 international players -- have filed as early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2021. The NBA Draft, which is on July 29, still only has 60 total selections. pic.twitter.com/mWDJWJQudP
Nebraska's Dalano Banton wants to test the NBA waters. The fifth-year junior guard announced Monday that he plans to declare for the NBA Draft. He will not hire an agent, which makes him eligible to return to college.
The 2021 NBA Draft scheduled to take place in late July is getting closer and the early entries list is slowly getting completed with many European talents showing up on it. Some of the more notable names that most recently entered include Yoan Makoundou, Tarik Biberovic, Nikos Chougaz, Ariel Hukporti, and Uros Trifunovic.
Baylor basketball's Jared Butler announced Sunday that he is declaring for the NBA draft after recently graduating from the university. The announcement comes as he graduated as a junior and still had two years left of eligibility.
Real Madrid’s Carlos Alocen has declared for the 2021 NBA draft, reports ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
Serbian-Croatian forward Mario Nakic has declared for the 2021 NBA draft, agent Misko Raznatovic tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
Another Raznatovic client is declaring for the draft, according to Givony, who tweets that 6’9″ Croatian wing Boris Tisma has entered the draft pool. Tisma, 19, played for Real Betis in the Spanish League this season, though he saw limited action.
From the time Georgia Tech forward Moses Wright declared his intent to enter the NBA draft, the possibility of him deciding to withdraw and come back for his second senior season was remote. It’s no longer merely a strong likelihood that he’ll stay in the draft, but a certainty, according to Tech coach Josh Pastner. “He’s all in,” Pastner told the AJC on Friday night. “Moses is going to stay in the draft.”
UCLA’s basketball roster remains in flux after redshirt junior forward Cody Riley and senior guard Chris Smith submitted their names for NBA draft consideration while preserving their ability to return next season.
Meanwhile, sophomore guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. has committed to returning to the team for at least one more college season, an athletic department spokesman said Friday.
