The NBA Draft withdrawal deadline has come and gone, so let's recap yesterday's news.
There's always one big surprise, and this year it came from Tounde Yessoufou shortly after the midnight deadline. The Baylor transfer withdrew his name from the NBA Draft and committed to St. John's. Yessoufou was one of the most dynamic players in the country last year, averaging 17.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He slots into Rick Pitino's starting lineup as the athletic scoring wing the Johnnies were missing.
The other two major decisions were also net positives for college basketball, as Milan Momcilovic and Tyler Tanner announced they are returning to school. Momcilovic is still in the transfer portal and remains uncommitted, but is expected to choose his new school in the very near future. Tanner returns to Vanderbilt with National Player of the Year and championship aspirations.
Amari Allen is returning to Alabama for his sophomore season. He averaged 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game and will be a focal point of the Crimson Tide offense next year.
Billy Richmond is returning to Arkansas, though there was some brief confusion after Jon Rothstein initially reported he was staying in the draft. Richmond made major strides from his freshman to sophomore seasons and will look to position himself for a first-round guarantee in 2027.
Andrej Stojakovic is returning to Illinois for his senior season. Stojakovic was a critical part of the Illini's Final Four run and joins a core of returners that includes David Mirkovic, the Ivisic brothers, and Jake Davis.
Jeremy Fears Jr. is returning to Michigan State for his junior season. He averaged 15.2 points and 9.4 assists last year and is expected to be a preseason All-American.
Arizona's Koa Peat was the lone player to stay in the draft yesterday. Arkansas' Meleek Thomas has yet to announce his intentions as of posting.
With the dust settled on collegiate entries, international players still have until June 13 to make their draft decisions.
Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell introduced a massive bill yesterday aimed at "fixing college sports."
The legislation would seek to grant the NCAA an antitrust exemption, allowing it to enforce rules regarding eligibility, transfers, and player compensation. In addition, the bill caps agent fees, prevents the creation of a "super-league," and prohibits coaches from leaving their teams before the end of a season.
The wide-ranging bill also includes policies that require players to sit out a season if they transfer more than once and prohibit international players from participating if they've earned compensation beyond prize money in their careers. It also caps total compensation and eliminates third-party NIL deals that help schools circumvent the College Sports Commission.
The introduction of the bill is just the first step in a long process that will ultimately require a two-thirds vote in the Senate to pass. For a full breakdown, check out this piece from Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.
More news and notes:
Georgetown landed a commitment from Oklahoma State transfer Vyctorious Miller. Miller averaged 10.8 points per game last season while shooting 37.5% from three, and adds a much-needed shooting threat to the Hoyas roster.
Miami (OH) head coach Travis Steele signed a contract extension through the 2033-2034 season, per a release from the school. Steele led the RedHawks to an undefeated regular season and NCAA Tournament appearance, where they beat SMU in the First Four.
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