NBA Draft deadline tracker 2024: Latest news on Bronny James, Mark Sears, other notable college basketball stars | Sporting News Canada

Wednesday marks decision day for college basketball players looking to make the jump to the NBA. 

The 2024 NBA Draft is less than a month away. The 30 clubs in the league are gearing up to find their next roster pieces for the future, and prospects are anxiously waiting to hear their fate. Plenty of teams and players have already met, doing due diligence ahead of the selection show. 

Not every prospect currently in the pool of entrants will remain. Wednesday is the final day to remove themselves for draft consideration, as players may elect to instead go back to college for one more year. In the NIL age, that option is more enticing than ever. 

One of the biggest names done with the collegiate scene is Bronny James Jr, the son of Lakers superstar LeBron James. He put his name in for draft eligibility, while also entering the NCAA transfer portal. After debating between the two, he is electing to go the professional route, and there could be plenty of suitors interested in his services, especially considering what selecting Bronny could mean for landing LeBron in free agency. 

MORE: SN’s latest two-round NBA mock draft for 2024

Who has withdrawn from 2024 NBA Draft?

May 29 marks the deadline for players that previously declared for the 2024 NBA Draft, but are electing to go back to college for another year. Prospects have until 11:59 p.m. ET to make their decision. 

This section will be updated with any of the notable players who took their names out of the draft. 

Brooks Barnhizer (Northwestern)

Barnhizer stepped into a starting role for the first time in his junior season and proved to be a major piece for Northwestern, averaging 14.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. With Boo Buie out of eligibility, Barnhizer is set to be a key cog on both ends of the floor for the Wildcats next season.

Johnell Davis (Arkansas)

It wouldn’t have been a surprise to see Davis draw real interest from NBA teams after a terrific final season at FAU, but the guard’s decision to transfer to John Calipari’s Razorbacks in April was a hint that his college career wasn’t over just yet.

Davis averaged 18.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in 2023-24, shooting 48.3 percent from the field, and he was a significant piece of the Owls’ Final Four run in 2023.

Ben Humrichous (Illinois)

Illinois always expected to have Humrichous available after the forward transferred from Evansville, and Brad Underwood now knows definitively after the senior withdrew from the NBA Draft on Wednesday.

Humrichous averaged 14.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in his first season at the Division I level, shooting a stellar 41.4 percent from 3-point range.

Chase Hunter (Clemson)

Hunter tested the NBA Draft waters after his fifth season at Clemson and a surprise run to the Elite Eight, but he announced his return ahead of Wednesday’s deadline.

The experienced guard averaged 12.9 points and 3.2 assists last season, struggling from 3-point range but shooting 50 percent inside the arc. 

Alex Karaban (UConn)

UConn F Alex Karaban announced in a tweet that he is returning to the Huskies for the 2024-25 season and withdrawing from the NBA Draft.

It’s major news for UConn’s three-peat hopes, as Dan Hurley would have lost all five starters from this past season if Karaban stayed in the draft. A projected second-round pick, Karaban started on both title-winning teams but has a chance to really step into a major role as a redshirt junior after taking a step forward this past season.

Caleb Love (Arizona)

Love is returning to Arizona for his final season of eligibility. The former North Carolina star benefited from a fresh start with the Wildcats last season, averaging 18.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting an improved 33.2 percent from 3-point range.

Still a volatile player prone to cold spells, Love helped lead Arizona to the Sweet 16 but struggled in an upset loss to Clemson. His return gives Tommy Lloyd a much-needed familiar face after the losses of Oumar Ballo and Kylan Boswell.

Hunter Sallis (Wake Forest)

Sallis withdrew from the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday, returning to Wake Forest for his senior season. The decision comes as somewhat of a surprise since Sallis was projected to be a late-first or early-second round pick.

The 21-year-old transferred from Gonzaga before the start of last season. He went on to enjoy a breakout year, averaging 18.0 points on 40.5 percent shooting from 3.

If he can put together another sharpshooting season like that as a senior, Sallis’ decision could pay dividends in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Payton Sandfort (Iowa)

Sandfort withdrew from the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday, heading back to Iowa for his senior season. Sandfort was projected to be a second-round pick but the Hawkeyes forward must believe he can increase his stock even more.

Sandfort averaged 16.4 points and 2.8 3-pointers per game while shooting 37.9 percent from 3 this past year.

Mark Sears (Alabama)

Sears withdrew from the NBA Draft on Wednesday, ensuring Alabama will be ranked no lower than No. 2 entering the 2024-25 season.

The fifth-year senior enjoyed a breakout season this year, averaging 21.5 points per game and shooting just under 44 percent from 3-point range. Sears was excellent during the NCAA Tournament, leading Alabama to its first Final Four appearance.

After adding Clifford Omoruyi and Aden Holloway through the transfer portal and bringing back both Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell, Sears will be the focal point of one of the best teams in the nation entering November.

Who has declared for the 2024 NBA Draft?

Players previously put their names for early entry into the 2024 NBA Draft. These prospects can decide whether or not to forego the rest of their college eligibility and officially declare for the draft, or decide to go back to the NCAA for another season. 

This section will be updated with any of the players who decided to remain in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Johnny Furphy (Kansas)

Furphy elected to remain in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The Kansas freshman seemed to have one of the tougher decisions in this year’s class after having an up-and-down lone college season. Only 19 years old, Furphy showed plenty of potential as a 6-9 floor-stretching forward but he only averaged 9.0 points on 35.2 percent shooting from 3.

Furphy could have tried to go back to Kansas, polish his skills and test the draft waters again in 2025 but it appears he’ll try and take advantage of a weaker class this year. He is currently ranked as the 42nd on SN’s latest NBA Draft Big Board.

DaRon Holmes II (Dayton)

2023-24 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and consensus All-American DaRon Holmes is keeping his name in the NBA Draft after a terrific junior season at Dayton.

Holmes averaged 20.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this past season, chipping in 2.1 blocks per game and taking the Flyers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He ranks 21st on SN’s latest NBA Draft Big Board.

Bronny James (USC)

James will forgo his college eligibility and stay in the 2024 NBA Draft, his agent Rich Paul told ESPN ahead of the May 29 deadline.

Despite averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game as a freshman at USC, James’ draft stock has been on the rise following a strong showing at the NBA Draft Combine and Klutch Sports Pro Day in Chicago.

He has gone from a projected undrafted prospect to a potential late first-rounder as the draft grows closer.

David Jones (Memphis)

Jones split his four collegiate seasons between three schools but found a new gear in his final campaign, averaging 21.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game on an otherwise disappointing Memphis team. 

Jones isn’t on SN’s 60-player NBA Draft big board, but he’s forgoing his final season of eligibility and will hope to latch on with a team either late in the draft or as an undrafted free agent.

KJ Simpson (Colorado)

Two-time All-Pac 12 guard Simpson has decided to keep his name in the 2024 NBA Draft. The 6-2 playmaker is looking to capitalize on a strong junior season where he averaged 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He is a projected second-round pick, ranked as the 44th-best prospect in this class on SN’s latest NBA Draft Big Board.

BIG BOARD: Ranking the NBA Draft’s top 60 prospects for 2024

NCAA entrants

International/professional entrants

When is the 2024 NBA Draft?

• Date: Wednesday, June 26, and Thursday, June 27
• Time (ET): 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

For the first time in league history, the NBA Draft will be a two-day event.

The first round will be Wednesday, June 26, and the second round will be Thursday, June 27. Coverage on each night will begin at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.