Stay or go.
That was the question facing a handful of key players in college basketball who entered their names into the 2026 NBA Draft pool.
Players such as Flory Bidunga, Rueben Chinyelu, and John Blackwell entered the NBA Draft process this spring while preserving their college eligibility. All three standouts ultimately decided to return to college, while others waited until just before the Wednesday, May 27, deadline to announce their final decisions.
Who is set to head back to college, who will move on to the pros, and how will their decisions alter the landscape of college basketball heading into the 2026-27 season?
Impact: Thomas waited until after the official NBA Draft withdrawal deadline to announce his decision, but the freshman standout ultimately chose to remain in the draft and begin his professional career. A former five-star prospect, Thomas 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 freshmen class to once again lead the way for his team next season.
Decision: Able will stay in college and transfer from NC State to North Carolina. (source)
Impact: After one season with the Wolfpack, Able will head roughly 25 miles west to Chapel Hill to play for the Tar Heels. He averaged 8.8 points in 21.8 minutes per game while coming 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 — departing for LSU immediately after the season. Amid the instability, Able never fully showcased his potential, though he still earned praise from NBA scouts. A second college season and a change of scenery could help turn that promise into greater production, and ultimately, higher draft capital.
Decision: Stojakovic will return to Illinois. (source)
Impact: Stojakovic will stay in college for another 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 made a Final Four run. With his decision to return, Illinois retains the majority of its core outside of guards Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell and will look to build on its deep postseason push.