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Stay or go.
That was the question facing a handful of key college basketball players who entered their names in the 2026 NBA Draft pool.
Players like Flory Bidunga, Rueben Chinyelu and John Blackwell entered the NBA Draft process this spring while preserving their college eligibility. The three standouts ultimately decided to return to college, while others waited until shortly before the Wednesday, May 27, deadline to announce their final decisions.
Who will return to college, who will go pro, and how will their decisions alter the landscape of college basketball heading into the 2026-27 season?
Decision: Fears will return to the state of Michigan. (fountain)
Impact: Fears announced that he will return to the Spartans for his fourth season. The All-American point guard averaged 15.9 points and 9.4 assists per game, leading the nation in 2025-26. His decision to remain in East Lansing significantly improves Michigan State’s prospects, as the Spartans will enter the year as a top-10 team and a legitimate national championship contender.
Decision: Yessoufou will return to college and transfer to St. John’s. (fountain)
Impact: After waiting until the final minutes to enter the transfer portal, Yessoufou did the same and did not announce his decision to remain in college or enter the NBA Draft until after the deadline. Then, in a surprising move, it was reported that Yessoufou would not only return to college, but would also transfer to St. John’s to play for legendary head coach Rick Pitino. With a core of guard Ian Jackson, Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman and Yessoufou, St. John’s possesses the firepower to once again be one of the Big East’s top teams next season.
Decision: Peat will remain in the NBA Draft. (fountain)
Impact: Peat will take his talents to the NBA and officially become a top player. The former five-star prospect enjoyed a successful freshman season in Arizona, averaging 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while helping the Wildcats reach their first Final Four since 2001. Peat joins fellow freshman Brayden Burries as a 2026 NBA Draft hopeful. Meanwhile, Arizona must replace several key departures, including Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka and Anthony Dell’Orso. The Wildcats will lean on returners Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov, along with North Carolina transfer Derrick Dixon, Washington transfer JJ Mandaquit and incoming freshman Caleb Holt.
Decision: Momcilovic will return to college and transfer from Iowa State. (fountain)
Impact: The nation’s top 3-point shooter will return for his fourth season of college basketball. Momcilovic spent three years at Iowa State, averaging 16.9 points per game while leading the nation in three-point shooting at 48.7% during his junior season with the Cyclones. Following the season, he entered both the NBA Draft pool and the NCAA transfer portal. With his decision to stay in college, Momcilovic becomes one of the best uncommitted transfers on the market. He will provide his next team with elite shooting and veteran leadership capable of altering the landscape of top contenders for the 2026-27 season.
Decision: Tanner will return to Vanderbilt. (fountain)
Impact: Tanner will remain in college for his third season with the Commodores. He made one of the biggest leaps of any sophomore last season, improving from 5.7 points per game to 19.5 and from 1.9 assists per game to 5.1. He led Vanderbilt to its first NCAA tournament victory since 2012, although the streak ended after his half-court buzzer sounded in a loss to Nebraska. Tanner could also enter the season as a candidate for the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the nation’s top point guard. After four of Vanderbilt’s top five players in minutes played graduated, the Commodores added Washington State transfer Ace Glass, Missouri transfer Barrett and Nebraska transfer Berke Buyuktuncel. Still, Tanner’s return is the most significant development, as it substantially raises Vanderbilt’s ceiling for the 2026-27 season.
Decision: Allen will return to Alabama. (fountain)
Impact: Allen garnered feedback from NBA scouts, but ultimately decided to return to Alabama for his sophomore season. He could follow a similar path to Labaron Philon Jr., who tested the professional waters after his freshman year with the Crimson Tide, returned to school and now projects as a likely lottery pick. Allen, a versatile guard with good size, averaged 11.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game as a freshman. With Philon’s departure, he is expected to take on a prominent role in Alabama’s defense.
Decision: Richmond will return to Arkansas. (fountain)
Impact: Arkansas wing Billy Richmond III will reportedly return to college for his junior season. Richmond averaged 11.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game off the bench in 19 of the Razorbacks’ 37 games during the 2025-26 season. A versatile player, Richmond showed intensity and effort on the defensive end while displaying a high basketball IQ on offense. He will also provide a veteran presence for a roster that includes highly touted freshmen Jordan Smith Jr., JJ Andrews and Abdou Toure.
Decision: Thomas will remain in the NBA Draft (fountain)
Impact: Thomas waited until after the official NBA Draft withdrawal deadline to announce his decision, but the freshman standout ultimately decided to remain in the draft and begin his professional career. Thomas, a former five-star prospect, averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists on 43.5% shooting from the field in his lone season at Arkansas. Head coach John Calipari will look to a talented freshman class to once again lead the way for his team next season.
Decision: Able will remain in college and will transfer from NC State to North Carolina. (fountain)
Impact: After one season with the Wolfpack, Able will head about 25 miles west to Chapel Hill to play for the Tar Heels. He averaged 8.8 points in 21.8 minutes per game off the bench in every game for NC State last season. However, it was a tumultuous year in Raleigh that ended with first-year head coach Will Wade, who recruited Able, leaving for LSU immediately after the season. Amid the instability, Able never fully showed his potential, although he still received praise from NBA scouts. A second college season and a change of scenery could help turn that promise into more production and, ultimately, more recruiting capital.
Decision: Stojakovic will return to Illinois. (fountain)
Impact: Stojakovic will remain in college for one more season with the Illini. After stops at Stanford and Cal, he transferred to Illinois, where he averaged 13.5 points per game during his junior season. After starting 21 of the team’s first 23 games in 2025-26, Stojakovic embraced and flourished in a sixth-man role as the Illini advanced to the Final Four. With their decision to return, Illinois retains most of its core outside of guards Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell and will look to build on its deep postseason momentum.
