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3w ago

Koa Peat Stays in 2026 NBA Draft as Deadline Spurs Wave of High‑Profile Returns and Transfers

The May 27 withdrawal cut reduced the early‑entry pool and sent top names back to college or into the transfer portal, forcing quick roster replanning by major programs.

Image
Apr 3, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) during a practice session ahead of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images/ File Photo
Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) dunks the ball during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, on Jan. 7, 2026.
Michigan Wolverines guard Elliot Cadeau (3) celebrates after their win against the UConn Huskies in the national championship of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament between the and the Michigan Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Overview

  • Koa Peat confirmed he will remain in the 2026 NBA Draft after testing the pre‑draft process, and his uneven shooting at the NBA Combine was widely cited as a factor in how teams now view his draft range.
  • The NCAA withdrawal deadline passed Wednesday and produced multiple marquee reversals, with players such as Milan Momcilovic, Tounde Yessoufou, Tyler Tanner, Jeremy Fears Jr., Amari Allen and Billy Richmond removing their names and preserving college eligibility or entering the portal.
  • Milan Momcilovic withdrew from the draft and will enter the transfer portal as an uncommitted player, immediately ranking as one of the nation’s most sought‑after transfer targets because he led Division I in made 3s and shot nearly 49 percent from deep last season.
  • Arizona now must replace Peat’s frontcourt production and adjust a roster already in flux, and other programs face rapid offseason changes as transfers and returns reshape scholarship plans and recruiting priorities.
  • The early‑entry class shrank to just 71 candidates this year, a decline widely linked to lucrative NIL opportunities and the draft‑combine feedback process that together encouraged many prospects to stay in school rather than lock in a pro path.