As the deadline for college players to withdraw from the 2024 NBA Draft approached Wednesday night, the decisions of many draft hopefuls impacted the college basketball hierarchy heading into next season.
In the final hours before the clock struck midnight, some big names announced they would be returning to campus in the fall. UConn’s Alex Karaban will rejoin the Huskies in pursuit of a third title. Fromer Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Hunter Sallis will return to Wake Forest after earning All-ACC honors last season. Two KeynoteUSA Top 100 players, Coleman Hawkins and Jamir Watkins, are two of the biggest names in the transfer portal, as both also withdrew from the draft. Florida Atlantic guard Johnell Davis withdrew his name to transfer to Arkansas, and Daron Holmes II, the Atlantic-10 Co-Player of the Year, opted to remain in the draft just before Wednesday’s deadline.
In total, five KeynoteUSA All-Americans will return to their respective schools next fall after testing the draft waters: North Carolina’s RJ Davis, Auburn’s Johni Broome, Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson, Arizona’s Caleb Love and Alabama’s Mark Sears .
The West Coast Conference pecking order began to take shape as some of the league’s most impactful players made their career decisions. Here’s a look at the WCC players who chose to stay or withdraw from the draft:
MICHAEL AJAYI, GONZAGA: RETIRE
The Bulldogs officially welcomed the 6-foot-7 All-WCC wing after he withdrew his name from draft consideration in the final hours before the deadline. Ajayi apparently caught the attention of some NBA teams with his measurements and played in the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Illinois, earlier this month, although he opted to play his final year of college eligibility with a likely top-10 team. preseason. Scouts will likely keep an eye on Ajayi during his senior year.
JONATHAN MOGBO, SAN FRANCISCO: ELIGIBLE DRAFT
San Francisco’s 2025 NCAA Tournament aspirations took a hit earlier this week when Mogbo, the reigning WCC Newcomer of the Year, announced he will keep his name in the NBA Draft player pool. The 6-foot-8 forward showed his versatility as a kind of forward on offense who could bring the ball up the court and execute plays. Mogbo’s tenacity on the boards (10.1 rebounds per game, a WCC-high last season) and overall athleticism (fifth-fastest three-quarter-court sprint of any 2024 combine participant) significantly increased his stock in the draft. Mogbo is ranked No. 42 on KeynoteUSA’s Top 100 Available Players.
ADAMA BAL, SANTA CLARA: RETIRE
Bal’s return to campus means the Broncos will return five of their top six scorers from last season’s team that finished fourth in the WCC standings. The 6-foot-6 French guard was named to the All-WCC first team after posting 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game last season. Pairing him with LSU transfer Carlos Stewart, a former All-WCC guard with Santa Clara two seasons ago, will likely be the route Herb Sendek takes when he assembles his starting five.
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