The 2025 NBA Draft withdrawal deadline has passed, and the results have been a mixed bag for college basketball programs across the country. While some teams have seen their rosters strengthened by the return of promising players, others are left to deal with the loss of key contributors who have chosen to pursue their dreams in the NBA. One of the biggest winners in this year's draft withdrawal season is Ohio State, who have seen both Jaden Springer (21) and CJ Walker withdraw from the draft and return to Columbus for next season. The Buckeyes are projected to be a top-five team in the preseason rankings, thanks in part to their successful offseason recruiting efforts and the return of key players from last season's NCAA tournament rotation. Illinois is another team that has benefited from the withdrawal of Jalen Coleman-Lands, who announced his intention to return for his junior year on Tuesday. The Fighting Illini had been bracing for Coleman-Lands' departure, but his decision to stay has given them a chance to build on their preseason No. 3 ranking. Coleman-Lands' return will be a boost for a team that already features standouts Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn, as well as one of the nation's best freshman classes. Texas is also celebrating the arrival of Isaiah Taylor, who withdrew from the NBA Draft on Monday after previously announcing his intention to join the Longhorns if he opted to return to college. Taylor, a former Texas Tech star guard, averaged 18.5 points and 4.5 assists last season and is viewed as a potential replacement for NBA-bound Jaxson Hayes. Virginia Tech is another team that will return a key player from last season's ACC regular-season champion and Final Four team, as point guard Justin Robinson has decided to stay in school for another year. Robinson averaged 14.6 points per game last season and has a chance to establish himself as a 2026 first-round selection. On the other hand, not all teams have seen such positive developments. Arizona is one of the biggest losers in this year's draft withdrawal season, as Zeke Nnaji decided not to return to Tucson for his junior season. Nnaji was projected to be a late first-round pick and had the talent to become a dominant force on both ends of the court. His comments about not being able to showcase his potential at Arizona will not help Sean Miller recruit future NBA prospects. Schools hoping to make a late splash in the transfer portal are also running out of options, as two of the best remaining transfers announced their intention to remain in the NBA draft: Jaden Ivey and Tre Jones. Ivey, the reigning Big Ten player of the year, averaged 20.3 points and 6.3 assists last season, while Jones earned second-team All-ACC honors after averaging 15.
