
College Basketball’s 2026 Draft Landscape: Who Stays, Who Goes
A look at the high‑profile college athletes who have chosen to return to school or enter the 2026 NBA Draft, and how their moves will affect their programs' outlooks.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Keaton Wagler across Basketball, Football.

A look at the high‑profile college athletes who have chosen to return to school or enter the 2026 NBA Draft, and how their moves will affect their programs' outlooks.

Nearly a dozen high‑profile prospects have pulled out of the NBA draft, choosing to return to college and altering the roster landscape for dozens of programs across the country.

Andrej Stojakovic has withdrawn from the NBA Draft and will return to Illinois for his senior season, bringing back a key scorer and defender for a team eyeing a top‑five preseason ranking.

After pulling his name from the 2026 NBA Draft, Andrej Stojakovic will anchor the University of Illinois roster, bringing experience and scoring prowess to a team eyeing a deep NCAA run.

With the Illini poised for a championship run, key decisions on player retention and draft projections could reshape the roster for the 2026‑27 season.

After a season marked by narrow defeats and a depleted shooting roster, the Fighting Illini are banking on new talent and a fortified defense to chase the Big Ten regular‑season title.

With the May 27 withdrawal deadline approaching, a handful of top prospects are weighing the benefits of staying in college against the allure of the NBA draft, a choice that could reshape next season's power balances.

The Cyclones blend returning standouts with new transfers, but the departure of Jackson Kiss leaves a notable gap in their freshman pipeline and impacts future prospects.

A look at how the Fighting Illini’s historic talent‑scouting model is targeting top‑ranked prospects like Moussa Kamissoko, blending past successes with new ambitions.

Illinois basketball has offered a scholarship to Moussa Kamissoko, a 6‑foot‑8 wing rated as the No. 7 overall prospect in the class of 2027, sparking excitement across the recruiting landscape.

With the May 27 withdrawal deadline approaching, the NBA will soon publish the names of players who have chosen to remain in the draft. Many athletes are still weighing their options, while a few have already announced their decisions.

Morez Johnson Jr. announced his departure from college basketball to stay in the NBA Draft, sparking mixed emotions about his impact on Illinois and the program's future prospects.

A look at the rising prospects, their projected selections, and what Stojakovic's decision means for the program.

Illinois has quietly become a magnet for NBA‑ready guard talent, with three of its alumni hearing their names called in the first round of the draft since 2024.

Top draft prospect Keaton Wagler discusses his experiences at the NBA draft combine and his preferences for potential NBA destinations.

As the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline nears, Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic remains undecided, casting uncertainty over the team's roster for the upcoming season.

After capturing the national championship, the Wolverines bring back key talent while adding fresh faces, but a crowded field of contenders makes the road to another title anything but certain.

After capturing a national championship, the Wolverines face a major roster overhaul but bring back key talent and a highly ranked recruiting class, positioning them as contenders with +700 odds.

The latest rankings spotlight a blend of emerging stars, unprecedented monetary deals, and a narrowing gap between elite and lower‑tier prospects, setting the stage for a competitive season and a shifting NBA draft outlook.

Keaton Wagler, once a modest three‑star prospect, has surged to become a consensus All‑American and a top‑10 NBA Draft candidate, guiding the Illini to the Final Four and earning praise from coach Brad Underwood.

Nearly 80 hopefuls gather in Chicago, including several Illinois-linked players, as they vie for a limited number of draft slots.

The 2026‑27 season will see Purdue facing top conference rivals on the road, while key players from Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio State and others return to test the Boilermakers' championship hopes.
The Big Ten has released its 2026‑27 men’s basketball slate, and Purdue’s schedule promises a tougher road ahead compared with the previous year, featuring challenging home and away matchups.

The first‑round selections in the 2026 NBA mock draft promise significant shifts in fantasy basketball value, especially for dynasty leagues that reward long‑term upside.