With the early NBA draft entry deadline set for 11:59 p.m. ET on May 27 to retain remaining college eligibility, several major NCAA stars are weighing whether to return or go pro. Their choices could reshape conference power, rebuild rosters, and swing how the
For the next few days, college basketball’s offseason will feel less like paperwork and more like fate. Most rosters for the 2026-27 men’s season are already assembled, but key players are still stuck on the same fork in the road: return to school, or enter the NBA draft.
The clock is specific. Players deciding whether to keep their remaining eligibility must make their move by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 27. Before that deadline. several prospects got a clearer read on their draft stock at the NBA combine—then had to translate those signals into a choice that could alter an entire season’s storyline.
Koa Peat (Arizona) is one of the most notable names in play. Few expected him to be in this position. but his role in Arizona reaching its first Final Four since 2001—and his ability to bully defenses into 14.1 points per game—gave him a real case to return. Still, his lack of an outside game showed clearly at the combine, and his draft stock fell. Even so, he’s still likely to be a first-round pick. The other option remains on the table: returning to the Wildcats to expand his offensive arsenal.
If Peat comes back, Arizona’s outlook changes quickly. The Wildcats would again be primed as one of the best teams in the country. led by a frontcourt described as relentless. With Peat in place. the expectation is that Arizona’s offense could gain enough additional tools to make him a possible player of the year contender. and the entire competitiveness of the loaded Big 12 would shift depending on his decision.
Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State; in portal) is weighing an even different kind of pressure: money and timing. Teams have been ready to spend heavily to bring him back, and the reasons are unusually concrete. Momcilovic was the best shooter in the country, with 136 made 3-pointers and a 48.8% field goal percentage from deep. With no new college set after leaving Iowa State. the demand to land him on another roster could translate into a bigger payday than the NBA—making the college return look like a straightforward decision.
Coaches around the country are waiting for the official word so they can go all-in. If Momcilovic returns, the argument is that he turns any offense he joins into something lethal.
Andrej Stojakovic (Illinois) is another player whose college impact has already been proven on the biggest stage. He came off the bench for Illinois and was described as the catalyst behind the Fighting Illini making their first Final Four since 2005. His shooting style doesn’t match the volume of his father. former NBA All-Star sharpshooter Peja. but Stojakovic is still able to spot up from mid-range and play through contact.
His role heading into a decision is also tightly tied to what happens next on Illinois’ roster. With Keaton Wagler set to be gone, Stojakovic is positioned to be the top returning scorer. Brad Underwood is expected to give him an elevated role. and the piece Illinois needs to confirm its March run would be Stojakovic returning.
Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor; in portal) brings a different kind of uncertainty: early-round potential versus concerns that emerged after his combine showing. The five-star recruit in the 2025 class could return for another season. In his Baylor freshman season, he set several Baylor freshman records, averaging 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game.
But some concerns about his ball-handling dropped him from a projected lottery pick to a late first-rounder. That’s why his situation reads like one of the biggest toss-ups. If he stays. the idea is that the skills that make him NBA-ready could also be refined across all sides of his game—while the portal’s suitors wait with options.
Allen Graves (Santa Clara; in portal) is framed as a potential sleeper. Graves was West Coast Conference freshman and sixth man of the year on a Santa Clara team that made March Madness for the first time since 1996. He averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, with a 41.3% mark from 3-point range. In terms of long-term pro potential, he has the kind of skill set that could keep a career going.
Still. the combine raised a red flag: he was described as one of the least athletic players at the combine. and that could push some teams away. The decision is tough to predict because Graves can be a late first-rounder. If he returns. he’s currently the second-best transfer available after Momcilovic. and he would likely land in the rotation of a Power conference team.
Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt) is the kind of player whose college excitement doesn’t always translate neatly to the NBA. He averaged 19.5 points. 5.1 assists. and 2.4 steals per game. and he’s known as an energetic presence despite being listed at 6-foot-tall. The combine, however, created doubts, with shaky performances that may have hurt his draft stock.
Vanderbilt’s success last season was described as surprising and tied heavily to Tanner. That sets the stakes for the Commodores: any chance to keep that momentum alive could fade quickly if Tanner decides to enter the draft. Mark Byington put it plainly: “We’re not going to be able to replace him if he doesn’t come back.”.
Meleek Thomas (Arkansas) is connected to a parallel storyline inside the Razorbacks’ guard depth. Darius Acuff Jr. wasn’t the only playmaker for Arkansas; Thomas had his own bright spots. He produced 15.6 points per game and shot 41.6% from 3-point range in John Calipari’s offensive-minded team.
The factor working against him is roster math. This is described as a loaded guard class, with Thomas finding himself behind several others projected to be lottery picks. Still, if he does return, Arkansas could view it as a major stabilizer. The expectation is that Thomas would step into a star role for the Razorbacks. potentially becoming one of the top scorers in the country and helping Arkansas retain the crown in the SEC.
Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State) has already built a case for NBA readiness in one department: passing. He elevated his game in his junior season. becoming the best passer in the country with 9.4 assists per game. while also leading Michigan State in scoring with 15.2 points per game. His combine produced something productive, but he isn’t described as much of a scoring threat.
That limitation would likely shape his pro role into a pass-first fit rather than a primary scorer—something that could affect how productive he is. The prevailing conclusion from the reporting around his decision is that most signs point to Fears returning to college. If that happens. it would keep Michigan State among the Big Ten powerhouses. especially given the departures the Spartans have already had. Tom Izzo’s coaching style is built around continuity. and the idea is that adding another season could make Michigan State even more dangerous with Fears in the lineup.
The choices by a handful of players—some of whom only recently saw their draft stock change at the combine—could determine whether certain programs take another step or have to scramble for replacement pieces. One deadline, a handful of roster decisions, and the 2026-27 season’s shape starts to lock in.
NCAA tournament expansion college basketball NBA draft combine roster decisions May 27 deadline eligibility Arizona Iowa State Illinois Baylor Santa Clara Vanderbilt Arkansas Michigan State