Who's Returning to School? Tracking NBA Draft Decisions Ahead of the Deadline.

Decision time is here for Johnny Juzang, Ochai Agbaji, Aaron Wiggins, Hunter Dickinson, Max Abmas and more.
Who's Returning to School? Tracking NBA Draft Decisions Ahead of the Deadline.
Who's Returning to School? Tracking NBA Draft Decisions Ahead of the Deadline. /

The 2021 NBA draft withdrawal deadline for NCAA players is nearly here.

By 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 7, players who have maintained college eligibility who want to return to school for another season must formally pull out of the draft. 

Several underclassmen have announced in recent days, including E.J. Liddell (returning to Ohio State), Jalen Wilson (returning to Kansas), Julian Champagnie (returning to St. John's), Armando Bacot (returning to North Carolina), Duane Washington Jr. (staying in the draft) and Eric Ayala (returning to Maryland).

Final decisions are trickling in as remaining players solidify their future plans. Check back here as we track the key moves throughout Wednesday's deadline.

Michigan's Hunter Dickinson
Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports

Kofi Cockburn: RETURNING

The big man is pulling his name out of the draft, but the question now remains: What's next? Last week, the Illinois star entered the transfer portal, opening the door for him to return to college but at a new destination. The Illini remain an option, but he'll now be arguably the most sought-after transfer on the market.

Warith Alatishe, Maurice Calloo: RETURNING

Big news for Oregon State, the surprise of the 2021 men's NCAA tournament. Two key players are coming back to school, and additionally, Jon Rothstein reports senior center Roman Silva will use his extra year of eligibility and has also withdrawn from the draft.

Hunter Dickinson: RETURNING

In what's not a big surprise, Michigan gets a major boost as its potential All-America center opts to return to Ann Arbor. Dickinson will anchor what could be a preseason top-five Wolverines team. Michigan had already received news that Coastal Carolina transfer guard DeVante' Jones, who also entered the draft, will play his final year of college.

Jaden Shackelford: RETURNING

A key cog from Alabama's Elite Eight squad, Shackelford is coming back to college ... but maybe not back to Tuscaloosa, after recently entering the transfer portal. 

Isaiah Wong: RETURNING

The 6' 3" Wong is heading back to Miami for his junior year. After averaging 17.1 points as a sophomore, he'll look to help the Hurricanes rebound from a 10-win season. 

Ochai Agbaji: RETURNING

Per ESPN, Agbaji will remain a Jayhawk after testing the professional waters. He joins Jalen Wilson, who recently announced his own return to Lawrence, and completes a loaded Kansas roster that will enter 2021–22 with high expectations.

Aaron Wiggins: GOING

Days after teammate Eric Ayala announced he will play his senior season, Wiggins took a different path, telling ESPN Monday he will stay in the draft. It's a significant blow for a Maryland team that had been getting top-10 buzz, but Wiggins took the opportunity he received with the NBA G League Elite Camp and ran with it.

Kendric Davis: RETURNING

Davis opts to return to SMU for his senior season, per Stadium, after starring for the Mustangs in 2020-21. Davis averaged 19.0 points, 7.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game across 17 contests, helping lead SMU to a berth in the NIT.

Jose Alvarado: GOING

After leading Georgia Tech to its first NCAA tournament berth in 11 years, Alvarado has opted to remain in the draft, according to Jon Rothstein. Alvarado was the 2021 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 15.2 points and 2.8 steals per game. He played in 106 games and averaged nearly 35 minutes per game during four years at Georgia Tech.

Marcus Bagley: RETURNING

Bagley announced on his Twitter page that he's withdrawing from the draft and will return to Arizona State after previously entering the transfer portal. Bagley played in just 12 games for Arizona State last season as a freshman, missing time due to injury. He averaged 10.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 34.7% on three-point attempts.

Jason Preston: GOING

Preston has opted to stay in the draft and sign with Roc Nation Sports, according to ESPN. Preston helped lead Ohio to the second round of the NCAA tournament, as the Bobcats knocked off No. 4 seed Virginia in the first round. Preston averaged 15.7 points and 7.3 assists per game.

Terrence Shannon Jr.: RETURNING

Shannon announced via his Twitter page that he's returning to Texas Tech for his junior season. The 6'6" guard was the team's second-leading scorer last year, averaging 12.9 points per game on 35.7% shooting on three-point attempts.

Tyson Etienne: RETURNING

Etienne will return to Wichita State for his junior season, he announced on his Twitter page. The 6'2" guard was the Co-Player of the Year in the American Athletic Conference after averaging 16.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

Isaiah Mobley: RETURNING

Mobley will come back to USC for his junior season, he announced on his Twitter page. The former McDonald's All-American averaged 9.9 points and 7.3 rebounds last season, helping lead the Trojans to the Elite Eight.

Max Abmas: RETURNING

Abmas is reportedly going back to school, according to ESPN. Abmas helped lead Oral Roberts to the Sweet Sixteen as a No. 15 seed in last year's NCAA tournament. He averaged 24.6 points per game on the season, leading the nation in scoring and winning the Summit League Player of the Year award.

Johnny Juzang: RETURNING

Juzang announced on his Instagram page that he's returning to Westwood for his junior season. The 6'6" wing was the breakout star of the NCAA tournament, averaging 22.8 points per game during UCLA's run to the Final Four.

Cody Riley: RETURNING

Riley will return to UCLA for his senior season, the school announced. Riley started 31 games for the Bruins last season as a key member of their Final Four run. He averaged 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Scotty Pippen Jr.: RETURNING

Pippen announced via his Instagram account that he's returning to Vanderbilt for his junior season. Pippen averaged 20.8 points and 4.9 assists per game last season, ranking second in the SEC in both categories.

More NBA decisions we're awaiting:

Marcus Carr (transfer portal)

More College Hoops Coverage:

• Stay or Go? Examining Key NBA Decisions
SI's Top 10 Recruits Will Have Major Impact in College
• Jalen Duren Breaks Down His Top Five


Published
Molly Geary
MOLLY GEARY

Molly Geary is an associate editor for SI.com. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Geary has worked for the company since 2014.