The NBA’s preliminary window for underclassmen and international prospects to file as early entrants for the 2026 draft closes at the end of Saturday, April 25. The date is based on a projected two-night draft set for June 24-25, still awaiting formal confirmation from the league.
College players who submit paperwork this spring must withdraw no later than May 27 to preserve NCAA eligibility. A separate NBA withdrawal deadline—primarily affecting international talent—falls on June 14 at 5:00 p.m. ET, provided the draft begins June 24.
The number of early applicants has fallen sharply in recent years. After 283 players tested the waters in 2022, only 109 did so in 2025. Observers expect the 2026 total to mirror last season’s reduced figure, a trend linked to the expiration of COVID-19 eligibility extensions and the rise of name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation that keeps many athletes in school.
Early Entrants Expected to Stay in the Draft
• Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech (Soph.)
• Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville (Fr.)
• Chris Cenac, F/C, Houston (Fr.)
• Allen Graves, F, Santa Clara (Fr.)
• Labaron Philon, G, Alabama (Soph.)
• Dailyn Swain, G/F, Texas (Jr.)
• Bryson Tucker, F, Washington (Soph.)
• Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina (Fr.)
• Tounde Yessoufou, G/F, Baylor (Fr.)
College Players Testing the Waters
• Matt Able, G, NC State (Fr.)
• Dai Dai Ames, G, California (Jr.)
• Flory Bidunga, F/C, Kansas (Soph.)
• Finley Bizjack, G, Butler (Jr.)
• John Blackwell, G, Wisconsin (Jr.)
• Rowan Brumbaugh, G, Tulane (Jr.)
• Jeremy Fears, G, Michigan State (Jr.)
• Juke Harris, G, Wake Forest (Soph.)
• Acaden Lewis, G, Villanova (Fr.)
• John Mobley Jr., G, Ohio State (Soph.)
• Milan Momcilovic, F, Iowa State (Jr.)
• Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky (Fr.)
• Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford (Fr.)
• Dennis Parker, G, Radford (Jr.)
• LeJuan Watts, F, Texas Tech (Jr.)
International Prospect
• Karim Lopez, F, Australia (born 2007)
The running list will be updated as declarations and withdrawals are confirmed in the lead-up to the 2026 NBA Draft.
Source: Hoops Rumors
