The NBA currently allows players to declare for the draft but to return to school if they don't hire an agent and return before a set time. This rule has evolved over the years. This list includes both players who declared for the NBA Draft and left with eligibility remaining, along with players who declared for the NBA draft but returned to school. (In cases where a player returned to school, the NBA round and pick listed are for when they finally were drafted, if applicable.)
A separate list of players who left early for the pros is available here.
Player | Last Season Played | # Seasons Played | Circumstances | NBA Round | Draft Year | Overall Pick |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tom Payne | 1970-71 | 1 | after Sophomore Season via Hardship Draft | 1st | 1971 Hardship | 2 |
Rex Chapman | 1987-88 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | 1st | 1988 | 8 |
Jamal Mashburn | 1992-93 | 3 | after Junior Season | 1st | 1993 | 4 |
Rodrick Rhodes | 1994-95 | 3 | after Junior Season (withdrew then transferred) | 1st | 1997 | 24 |
Antoine Walker | 1995-96 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | 1st | 1996 | 6 |
Ron Mercer | 1996-97 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | 1st | 1997 | 6 |
Nazr Mohammed | 1997-98 | 3 | after Junior Season | 1st | 1998 | 29 |
Jamaal Magloire | 1999-00 | 4 | after Junior Season (Returned) | 1st | 2000 | 19 |
Tayshaun Prince | 2001-02 | 4 | after Junior Season (Returned) | 1st | 2002 | 23 |
Keith Bogans | 2002-03 | 4 | after Junior Season (Returned) | 2nd | 2003 | 43 |
Marquis Estill | 2002-03 | 3 | after Junior Season (undrafted) | - | - | - |
Kelenna Azubuike | 2004-05 | 3 | after Junior Season | - | None | - |
Rajon Rondo | 2005-06 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | 1st | 2006 | 21 |
Randolph Morris | 2006-07 | 3 | after Freshman Season (Returned after going undrafted) | - | None | - |
Jodie Meeks | 2008-09 | 3 | after Junior Season | 2nd | 2009 | 41 |
Patrick Patterson | 2009-10 | 3 | after Sophomore Season (Returned). Declared again after Junior Season | 1st | 2010 | 14 |
DeMarcus Cousins | 2009-10 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2010 | 5 |
Daniel Orton | 2009-10 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2010 | 29 |
Eric Bledsoe | 2009-10 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2010 | 18 |
John Wall | 2009-10 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2010 | 1 |
DeAndre Liggins | 2010-11 | 3 | after Junior season | 2nd | 2011 | 53 |
Brandon Knight | 2010-11 | 1 | after Freshman season | 1st | 2011 | 8 |
Enes Kanter | 2010-11 | 0 | after Freshman season | 1st | 2011 | 3 |
Doron Lamb | 2011-12 | 2 | after Sophomore season | 2nd | 2012 | 42 |
Terrence Jones | 2011-12 | 2 | after Freshman season (Returned) Declared again after Sophomore Season | 1st | 2012 | 18 |
Anthony Davis | 2011-12 | 1 | after Freshman season | 1st | 2012 | 1 |
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | 2011-12 | 1 | after Freshman season | 1st | 2012 | 2 |
Marquis Teague | 2011-12 | 1 | after Freshman season | 1st | 2012 | 29 |
Archie Goodwin | 2012-13 | 1 | after Freshman season | 1st | 2013 | 29 |
Nerlens Noel | 2012-13 | 1 | after Freshman season | 1st | 2013 | 6 |
Julius Randle | 2013-14 | 1 | after Freshman season | 1st | 2014 | 7 |
James Young | 2013-14 | 1 | after Freshman season | 1st | 2014 | 17 |
Willie Cauley-Stein | 2014-15 | 3 | after Junior Season | 1st | 2015 | 6 |
Aaron Harrison | 2014-15 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | - | None | - |
Andrew Harrison | 2014-15 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | 2nd | 2015 | 44 |
Dakari Johnson | 2014-15 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | 2nd | 2015 | 48 |
Karl-Anthony Towns | 2014-15 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2015 | 1 |
Devin Booker | 2014-15 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2015 | 13 |
Trey Lyles | 2014-15 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2015 | 12 |
Tyler Ulis | 2015-16 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | 2nd | 2016 | 34 |
Skal Labissiere | 2015-16 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2016 | 28 |
Jamal Murray | 2015-16 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2016 | 7 |
Isaiah Briscoe | 2016-17 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | - | None | - |
Isaac Humphries | 2016-17 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | - | None | - |
Bam Adebayo | 2016-17 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2017 | 14 |
Malik Monk | 2016-17 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2017 | 11 |
De'Aaron Fox | 2016-17 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2017 | 5 |
Wenyen Gabriel | 2017-18 | 2 | after Junior Season | - | None | - |
Hamidou Diallo | 2017-18 | 1 | after Freshman season | 2nd | 2018 | 45 |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 2017-18 | 1 | after Freshman season | 1st | 2018 | 11 |
Kevin Knox | 2017-18 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2018 | 9 |
Jarred Vanderbilt | 2017-18 | 1 | after Freshman season | 2nd | 2018 | 41 |
Nick Richards | 2018-19 | 3 | after Junior Season | 2nd | 2020 | 42 |
P.J. Washington | 2018-19 | 2 | after Freshman Season (returned) and Sophomore Season | 1st | 2019 | 12 |
Tyler Herro | 2018-19 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2019 | 13 |
Keldon Johnson | 2018-19 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2019 | 29 |
Ashton Hagans | 2019-20 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | - | - | - |
Immanuel Quickley | 2019-20 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | 1st | 2020 | 25 |
E.J. Montgomery | 2019-20 | 2 | after Sophomore Season | - | - | - |
Tyrese Maxey | 2019-20 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2020 | 21 |
Kahlil Whitney | 2019-20 | 1 | after Freshman Season | - | - | - |
Brandon Boston | 2020-21 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 2nd | 2021 | 51 |
Isaiah Jackson | 2020-21 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2021 | 22 |
Terrence Clarke | 2020-21 | 1 | after Freshman Season | 1st | 2021 | - |
TyTy Washington | 2021-22 | 1 | after Freshman season | 1st | 2022 | 29 |
Chris Livingston | 2022-23 | 1 | after Freshman season | 2nd | 2023 | 58 |
Cason Wallace | 2022-23 | 1 | after Freshman season | 1st | 2023 | 10 |