Who Stayed? Who Left? And How It Shapes The 2026-27 College Basketball Season
A wave of NBA Draft decisions ahead of the May 27 withdrawal deadline has clarified the rosters of several prominent college basketball programs, with standouts including Jeremy Fears Jr., Milan Momcilovic, and Andrej Stojakovic electing to remain in college while Koa Peat and Meleek Thomas committed to beginning professional careers.
Fears’ return to Michigan State is among the most consequential developments for the coming season. The point guard, who averaged 15.9 points and a nation-leading 9.4 assists per game in 2025-26, gives the Spartans a proven offensive engine heading into a campaign in which they are expected to contend near the top of the national rankings. At Illinois, Stojakovic’s decision to stay adds continuity to a program that reached the Final Four last season; the wing averaged 13.5 points per game as a junior and thrived in a sixth-man role during the Illini’s postseason run. Momcilovic, who shot 48.7 percent from three-point range for Iowa State while averaging 16.9 points per game last season, entered both the draft pool and the transfer portal, making him one of the most sought-after available players heading into the offseason roster market.
Other returns carry significant program-level implications. Tyler Tanner, who elevated from 5.7 to 19.5 points per game in his sophomore season and led Vanderbilt to its first NCAA Tournament victory since 2012, will anchor a Commodores roster rebuilt largely through the transfer portal. At Alabama, sophomore Amari Allen is expected to absorb a larger offensive role following the departure of Labaron Philon Jr., while Arkansas retains wing Billy Richmond III as a veteran presence alongside a highly regarded incoming freshman class. St. John’s, meanwhile, secured a notable addition when Tounde Yessoufou committed to transfer to play under head coach Rick Pitino, joining returning guard Ian Jackson and Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman.
On the departures side, Arizona faces the most significant roster reconstruction. Peat, who averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while helping the Wildcats reach their first Final Four since 2001, joins fellow freshman Brayden Burries in the 2026 draft class, compounding losses that also include Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka, and Anthony Dell’Orso. Arkansas similarly loses Thomas, a freshman who averaged 15.6 points per game, leaving head coach John Calipari relying on an incoming class to replenish the offense. The full competitive order of the 2026-27 season will depend in part on where Momcilovic ultimately lands, as his shooting ability gives whichever program secures him a measurable advantage in the preseason title conversation.
