Top prospect reportedly staying in NBA Draft

Furphy’s had a meteoric rise as a prospect, going from a virtual unknown out of the NBA Global Academy to a projected top-20 pick. According to Givony, Furphy “toyed” with the prospect of returning to Kansas but received enough assurances regarding his draft status that he stayed in.

Furphy didn’t become a full-time starter until mid-January, averaging 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and connecting on 34.9% of his threes after doing so.

On the other hand, former Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins is withdrawing from the draft and will transfer, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania (X link). He’s expected to earn a massive NIL deal wherever he ends up.

When he declared for the draft, it seemed as though Hawkins would be staying in the draft class and foregoing his college eligibility. That is not the case, however, and he’s returning for his super-senior season after spending his first four collegiate years at Illinois. He averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks last year.

Former Florida State wing Jamir Watkins also withdrew from the draft moments before the 11:59 pm Eastern deadline, according to Givony (X link). Like Hawkins, Watkins seemed to be all in on the draft when he entered, so his withdrawal is somewhat surprising.

Watkins averaged 15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals in his junior season at Florida State. He spent the first two years of his college career at VCU and is now in the transfer portal again this offseason.

Here are more of the latest draft decisions from early entrants ahead of the NCAA withdrawal deadline:

Withdrawing from the draft:

• Iowa’s Payton Sandfort is returning to play for the Hawkeyes in his senior season, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein (X link). Sandfort averaged 16.4 points while connecting on 37.9% of his 7.3 three-point attempts last season, establishing himself as one of the best sharpshooters in the class. He ranks No. 46 on ESPN’s best-available list.
• Hunter Sallis is returning to Wake Forest for his senior season after averaging 18.0 points in his first season in Winston-Salem (X link via Rothstein). He ranked as ESPN’s No. 55 prospect after being named to the All-ACC First Team in 2023/24. He played at Gonzaga before transferring to Wake Forest.
• Alabama center/forward Jarin Stevenson joins Mark Sears in their return to the Crimson Tide (X link via Givony). Stevenson, one of the youngest players in the class, helped Alabama to a Final Four appearance this year next to Sears. He averaged 5.3 points in his freshman season and, according to Givony, will be “closely monitored” as a sophomore (X link).
• Overtime Elite center Somto Cyril is departing the program and will play for Georgia next season (X link via Rothstein).

Staying in the draft:

• New Mexico State guard Deshawndre Washington is fully in the draft, according to Rothstein (X link). He averaged 11.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists as a 6’6″ guard. Washington also spent time at Robert Morris, South Suburban (IL) College and Northwest Florida State College.

With the NCAA’s 11:59 pm Eastern deadline passing as of the time of this article, most key collegiate players have determined one way or another whether they’re staying in or exiting the draft. However, there are a few potential draftees who haven’t fully decided one way or another. Harrison Ingram (No. 43 on ESPN’s top 100), Jaxson Robinson (No. 66) and PJ Hall (No. 69) are among the names we are waiting to hear from. It’s important to note that a previous report indicated Ingram planned on staying in but he hasn’t officially renounced his eligibility yet. Robinson’s announcement also made it sound like he was staying in the draft but he has ties to current Kentucky coach Mark Pope and may opt to return and transfer there.

Players didn’t have to announce their intentions one way or another, they just had to submit the paperwork to withdraw from draft by 11:59 p.m.