Who Stayed? Who Left? And How It Shapes The 2026-27 College Basketball Season

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?

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Decision: Fears will return to Michigan State. (source)

Impact: Fears announced he will return to the Spartans for his fourth season. The All-American point guard averaged 15.9 points and a nation-leading 9.4 assists per game in 2025-26. His decision to stay in East Lansing significantly boosts Michigan State’s outlook, as the Spartans will enter the year as a top-10 team and a legitimate national championship contender.

Tounde Yessoufou

Decision: Yessoufou will return to college and transfer to St. John's. (source)

Impact: After waiting until the final minutes to enter the transfer portal, Yessoufou followed suit and didn't announce his decision to stay in college or enter the NBA Draft until after the deadline. Then, in a surprising move, it was reported that not only would Yessoufou return to college, but he would transfer to St. John's to play for legendary head coach Rick Pitino. With a core of returning guard Ian Jackson, Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman and Yessoufou, St. John's possesses the firepower to once again be one of the top teams in the Big East next season. 

Koa Peat