Winners and Losers: UConn Scores Big as Memphis Star Stays in NBA Draft 2024

Winners and Losers from the NBA Draft Withdrawal Deadline

Wednesday was a cardinal day for academy basketball as underclassmen had to adjudge whether to break in the NBA Abstract or acknowledgment to academy to accumulate their NCAA eligibility.

Abounding top players fabricated their decisions aloof afore the deadline, bringing accuracy to the 2024-25 academy basketball season.

Winners College Basketball as a Whole

The action as a accomplished emerged as a champ on Wednesday. Several notable players chose to acknowledgment to college, deepening the aggressive landscape. Among these were All-Americans Caleb Love from Arizona and Mark Sears from Alabama. Both players accept already had absorbing academy careers, extensive Final Fours and earning alone accolades.

Their decisions to acknowledgment for their fifth and final seasons are affiliated to Zach Edey's impactful best to break at Purdue for a fourth year in 2023. These allotment are acceptable to accept a cogent access on the accessible season.

Alabama: Sears and Stevenson Stay

Alabama anchored a above achievement aback Mark Sears appear he would abjure from the NBA Abstract and acknowledgment to school.

Sears was a standout amateur aftermost season, and his acknowledgment positions Alabama as a abeyant preseason No. 1 team. Additionally, Jarin Stevenson, a key amateur in Alabama's Elite Eight achievement over Clemson, will additionally be back. Stevenson, who mostly came off the bank as a freshman, is accepted to booty on a above role. With these returns, Alabama looks assertive for accession abysmal clash run.

Arizona: Love Returns

Arizona accustomed a massive accession with Caleb Love chief to return. The Pac-12 Amateur of the Year is set to advance Arizona into its new era as it joins the Big 12. Love’s return, alongside a able roster, positions the Wildcats as favorites for the Big 12 appellation and potentially the Naismith Academy Amateur of the Year award.

His acquaintance and administration will be invaluable as Arizona transitions to a new conference.

UConn: Karaban Stays

UConn admirers breathed a blow of abatement as Alex Karaban absitively to return. After him, UConn would accept absent all starters from their 2023-24 lineup. Karaban, who averaged 13.3 credibility and attempt 37.9% from three, will ballast the Huskies as they aim for accession civic title.

His acknowledgment keeps UConn in the civic chat and provides adherence to the team's lineup.

Texas Tech: Toppin Signs

JT Toppin's accommodation to accompany Texas Tech was a above win for the program. The Mountain West Rookie of the Year explored the NBA Abstract but ultimately chose to comedy for the Red Raiders.

His attendance will decidedly accession Texas Tech, which is attractive to body on a able 23-11 admission division beneath drillmaster Grant McCasland. Toppin’s size, skill, and abeyant accomplish him a key amateur to watch.

Wake Forest: Sallis Returns

Hunter Sallis afraid abounding by opting to acknowledgment to Wake Forest rather than access the NBA Draft.

After a able division with the Demon Deacons, averaging 18 credibility and 4.1 rebounds, Sallis is now a top adversary for ACC Amateur of the Year.

His acknowledgment bolsters Wake Forest’s hopes for the accessible division and adds a cogent abhorrent blackmail to their lineup.

Iowa: Sandfort Stays

Iowa’s arch scorer, Payton Sandfort, appear his acknowledgment aloof afore the deadline. Sandfort, who averaged 16.4 credibility per bold and attempt 37.9% from above the arc, gives Iowa a cogent boost.

With the aggregation accident its additional and third top scorers, Sandfort’s acknowledgment is acute for their abhorrent outlook. His acquaintance and scoring adeptness will be basic for Iowa’s success.

Losers

Memphis: Jones Stays in Draft

Memphis faced a setback as David Jones absitively to break in the draft. Jones, who led the AAC in scoring with 21.8 credibility per game, was assertive to be the AAC Preseason Amateur of the Year.

His abandonment leaves a cogent gap in Memphis' lineup, abacus burden on drillmaster Penny Hardaway to acquisition a acceptable replacement. The Tigers will charge to await on their new recruits and transfers to ample the void.

Illinois: Hawkins Transfers

Illinois saw Coleman Hawkins abjure from the abstract but advertise his accommodation to transfer. Hawkins, a able forward, played a key role in Illinois’ Elite Eight run aftermost season.

His abandonment to accession academy leaves Illinois analytic for a backup to ample his shoes. Hawkins’ adeptness to amplitude the attic and avert assorted positions will be missed.

Dayton: Holmes Leaves

Dayton’s DaRon Holmes fabricated a boxy but astute best to break in the NBA Draft. The Atlantic 10 Amateur of the Year’s abandonment is a cogent accident for the Flyers. Holmes' scoring and arresting accomplishment will be missed, and while Dayton has added key transfers, replacing Holmes' appulse will be challenging.

The aggregation will charge to acquisition new means to attempt after their brilliant player.

Kansas: Furphy Turns Pro

Kansas took a hit as Johnny Furphy declared for the NBA Draft. Furphy, a backward accession to the team, showed cogent abeyant during his apprentice year.

His accommodation to about-face pro leaves Kansas attenuate on the wing, admitting a about able agenda for the accessible season.

The Jayhawks will charge to acclimatize their strategies to annual for Furphy’s absence.

Conclusion

The NBA Abstract abandonment borderline adapted the mural of academy basketball. While some teams acclaimed the acknowledgment of their brilliant players, others faced the claiming of bushing the gaps larboard by those who chose to accompany their able dreams.

As the dust settles, admirers can attending advanced to an agitative 2024-25 division with a mix of acclimatized veterans and beginning talents abstraction the competition.