GAINESVILLE, FL: According to recent reporting, Florida NBA Draft returnees have positioned the Gators as one of college basketball’s biggest winners following the May 29 withdrawal deadline. The Gators retained key frontcourt pieces while adding elite transfers to create a potential Final Four contender.
Florida NBA Draft Returnees Lead Winners List
The Gators emerged as the clear winner in this year’s draft withdrawal period. Center Alex Condon withdrew from the 2025 NBA Draft to return for his junior season. Condon averaged 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season.
Florida’s frontcourt depth now includes four legitimate options. Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, and Micah Handlogten all return alongside Condon. This gives coach Todd Golden unprecedented size and experience in the paint.
The transfer portal additions make Florida even more dangerous. Princeton’s Xaivian Lee brings 16.9 points and 5.5 assists per game. Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland adds 13.5 points per game from his time with the Razorbacks.
Multiple analysts now project Florida as a preseason top-five team. The combination of returning talent and portal additions creates legitimate championship expectations in Gainesville.
Draft Withdrawal Impact Across College Basketball
Only 106 players entered the 2025 NBA Draft as early-entry candidates. This marks the lowest total since 2015 and represents a massive drop from 353 entrants in 2021.
NIL money has changed the calculus for borderline prospects. Second-round draft picks now weigh guaranteed college earnings against uncertain professional contracts.
Several other programs benefited from late withdrawals:
• Houston retained Milos Uzan (11.4 PPG, 4.3 APG) for his senior season
• Michigan added Yaxel Lendeborg after his UAB season (17.7 PPG, 11.4 RPG)
• Auburn kept Tahaad Pettiford (11.6 PPG as sixth man)
• Kentucky secured Otega Oweh’s return (16.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG)
Duke Among Notable Losers
Duke suffered a significant setback in their pursuit of Washington State transfer Cedric Coward. The forward averaged 17.7 points per game before injury and impressed at the NBA combine with a 7’2″ wingspan and 38.5″ vertical leap.
Coward chose to remain in the draft despite Duke’s recruiting efforts. The Blue Devils pivoted to Italian wing Dame Sarr and reclassified 2026 five-star Sebastian Wilkins.
North Carolina also faced losses with Drake Powell declaring for the draft. “I don’t think I got to showcase [my potential] at UNC,” Powell stated after averaging 7.4 points per game.
The Tar Heels also lost transfers Elliot Cadeau to Michigan and Ian Jackson to St. John’s.
SEC Recruiting Implications
Florida State’s Jamir Watkins (18.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG) and St. John’s RJ Luis (18.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG) both stayed in the draft. Multiple programs missed opportunities to land these proven scorers.
Texas A&M landed Creighton transfer Pop Isaacs after Houston retained Uzan. Isaacs averaged 15.0 points per game in 2023-24 and gives the Aggies a legitimate scoring threat.
The Florida NBA Draft returnees story reflects broader trends in college basketball. NIL earnings increasingly influence player decisions over traditional draft declarations.
Alabama’s Labaron Philon summed up the new reality with his Instagram post: “I’m back.” The guard announced his return minutes before the deadline after averaging 10.6 points and 3.8 assists per game.
