The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2022 NBA Draft came and went Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET with very little noise. All 30 prospects on the CBS Sports Big Board rankings -- those with first-round draft grades -- either declared or are testing the waters, as expected, with no major surprises on deadline day. And of the 60 players on the Big Board, only three -- all of whom projected as second-rounders -- are definitively returning to school.
However, we still await news on a handful of talents who have not indicated one way or another whether they are staying or going. Those players include Michigan freshmen Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate as well as Fresno State's Orlando Robinson, and several others just outside our Big Board have yet to publicly announce one way or another.
We're also not through the entire draft process, either. But with most of the class publicly announcing, our tracker taking stock of the 2022 draft landscape ahead of this summer is nearly complete. Next up we'll have a pre-draft process and the NCAA's withdrawal deadline of June 1 for those who intend to return to school. So as players decide whether to stay in the draft or return to school, the tracker will also update. For now, let's look at a few key takeaways from the deadline.
Huge news for North Carolina
Word of Armando Bacot's return next season for North Carolina was significant for the Tar Heels, giving them an established star big man to build around. However, Caleb Love's return this weekend was even bigger, at least related to the draft. Bacot was not a top-60 prospect; Love was a borderline first rounder. Getting him back into the fold gives UNC four of its five starters returning for next season. It's why Gary Parrish ranks the Tar Heels as the clear No. 1 in his latest Top 25 And 1.
Big potential in the Big Ten
The Big Ten routinely rates out as a top-three conference in college basketball. So the earth will continue to spin on its normal axis if it loses a few draft prospects. However, it could potentially be a star's league in 2022-23 pending several players in the draft with Ohio State's Malaki Branham and Michigan State's Max Christie entering the draft but leaving open the option to return to school. Both could be first-round picks -- they're 18 and 22 on the Big Board, respectively -- if they stay. Both could be stars in the sport if they return. They, along with Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate, could go a long ways towards determining the potential hierarchy of the sport next season.
Sharpe's status gets complicated
After joining Kentucky at the midyear point, Shaedon Sharpe, the former No. 1 recruit in his class, maintained (despite never playing for UK) that he'd return to school in 2022-23. And maybe, just maybe, he will. But that's a complicated situation that we've gained clarity on in recent days after he entered the draft. If he stays in the draft, he's a clear top-10 pick. The expectation is that he ultimately will leave college without playing a minute for UK, but with him leaving open the option to return, the situation for now leaves us with uncertainty in what appears to be the biggest looming decision in this year's draft.
Underclassmen on the NBA Draft Big Board
Rank | Player | School | Class | Pos. | Status |
1 | Jaden Ivey | Purdue | Soph | SG | Declared |
2 | Chet Holmgren | Gonzaga | Fr | C | Declared |
3 | Paolo Banchero | Duke | Fr | PF | Declared |
4 | Jabari Smith | Auburn | Fr | PF | Declared |
5 | Shaedon Sharpe | Kentucky | Fr | SG | Declared |
6 | TyTy Washington Jr. | Kentucky | Fr | PG | Declared |
8 | AJ Griffin | Duke | Fr | SF | Declared |
9 | Keegan Murray | Iowa | Soph | PF | Declared |
10 | Johnny Davis | Wisconsin | Soph | SF | Declared |
11 | Bennedict Mathurin | Arizona | Soph | SG | Declared |
12 | Jalen Duren | Memphis | Fr | C | Declared |
13 | Jeremy Sochan | Baylor | Fr | PF | Declared |
14 | Mark Williams | Duke | Soph | C | Declared |
16 | Tari Eason | LSU | Soph | PF | Declared |
18 | Kendall Brown | Baylor | Fr | SF | Declared |
20 | Malaki Branham | Ohio St. | Fr | SF | Testing waters |
21 | Blake Wesley | Notre Dame | Fr | SG | Declared |
22 | Ryan Rollins | Toledo | Soph | SG | Testing waters |
23 | Max Christie | Michigan St. | Fr | SG | Testing waters |
25 | Justin Lewis | Marquette | Fr | PF | Testing waters |
27 | Walker Kessler | Auburn | Soph | C | Declared |
28 | Wendell Moore Jr. | Duke | Jr | SF | Declared |
29 | E.J. Liddell | Ohio St. | Jr | PF | Declared |
30 | JD Davison | Alabama | Fr | PG | Declared |
31 | Bryce McGowens | Nebraska | Fr | SF | Declared |
32 | Kennedy Chandler | Tennessee | Fr | PG | Declared |
33 | Julian Strawther | Gonzaga | Soph | SF | Testing waters |
35 | Patrick Baldwin Jr. | Milwaukee | Fr | PF | Declared |
36 | Trevor Keels | Duke | Fr | SG | Declared |
37 | Caleb Houstan | Michigan | Fr | SF | Testing waters |
38 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. | UCLA | Jr | SF | Returning |
39 | Harrison Ingram | Stanford | Fr | SF | Testing waters |
40 | Christian Koloko | Arizona | Jr | C | Declared |
41 | Jaylin Williams | Arkansas | Soph | PF | Testing waters |
42 | Christian Braun | Kansas | Jr | SG | Testing waters |
43 | Caleb Love | N. Carolina | Soph | PG | Returning |
44 | Jake LaRavia | Wake Forest | Jr | PF | Testing waters |
45 | Johnny Juzang | UCLA | Jr | SG | Declared |
46 | Iverson Molinar | Miss. State | Jr | PG | Testing waters |
48 | Jabari Walker | Colorado | Soph | SF | Testing waters |
49 | Julian Champagnie | St. John's | Jr | PF | Declared |
50 | Josh Minott | Memphis | Fr | PF | Testing waters |
52 | Keon Ellis | Alabama | Sr | SF | Declared |
53 | Jordan Hall | St. Joseph's | Soph | SF | Testing waters |
56 | Dalen Terry | Arizona | Soph | SF | Testing waters |
57 | Isaiah Mobley | USC | Jr | PF | Declared |
59 | Kevin McCullar | Texas Tech | Jr | SF | Testing waters |
60 | Allen Flanigan | Auburn | Jr | SF | Returning |
Check out Boone's entire NBA Draft Big Board for his top 60 NBA Draft prospects
Official NBA Draft early entrants
Player | School | Height | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Max Abmas | Oral Roberts | 6-1 | Junior |
Efe Abogidi | Washington State | 6-10 | Sophomore |
Jalen Adaway | St. Bonaventure | 6-5 | Senior |
Ochai Agbaji | Kansas | 6-5 | Senior |
Fardaws Aimaq | Utah Valley | 6-11 | Junior |
James Akinjo | Baylor | 6-1 | Senior |
Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu | UT Arlington | 6-9 | Junior |
Emmanuel Akot | Boise State | 6-8 | Senior |
Theo Akwuba | Louisiana | 6-11 | Senior |
Teddy Allen | New Mexico State | 6-6 | Senior |
Tez Allen | Southern Oregon | 6-5 | Senior |
Keve Aluma | Virginia Tech | 6-9 | Senior |
Avery Anderson III | Oklahoma State | 6-3 | Junior |
Eric Ayala | Maryland | 6-5 | Senior |
Marcus Azor | UMass Dartmouth | 6-2 | Senior |
David Azore | UT Arlington | 6-4 | Senior |
Patrick Baldwin Jr. | Milwaukee | 6-9 | Freshman |
Paolo Banchero | Duke | 6-10 | Freshman |
Emmanuel Bandoumel | SMU | 6-4 | Senior |
Evan Battey | Colorado | 6-8 | Senior |
Khalif Battle | Temple | 6-5 | Junior |
Damion Baugh | TCU | 6-4 | Junior |
Justin Bean | Utah State | 6-7 | Senior |
Jules Bernard | UCLA | 6-6 | Senior |
Jamal Bieniemy | UTEP | 6-5 | Senior |
Marcus Bingham Jr. | Michigan State | 6-11 | Senior |
James Bishop | George Washington | 6-2 | Junior |
Henry Blair Jr. | Bob Jones (SC) | 6-3 | Junior |
Buddy Boeheim | Syracuse | 6-6 | Senior |
Rasir Bolton | Gonzaga | 6-3 | Senior |
Mike Bothwell | Furman | 6-3 | Senior |
Souley Boum | UTEP | 6-3 | Senior |
Luka Brajkovic | Davidson | 6-10 | Senior |
Malaki Branham | Ohio State | 6-5 | Freshman |
Christian Braun | Kansas | 6-6 | Junior |
Izaiah Brockington | Iowa State | 6-4 | Senior |
Keion Brooks Jr. | Kentucky | 6-7 | Junior |
Johni Broome | Morehead State | 6-10 | Sophomore |
Gabe Brown | Michigan State | 6-7 | Senior |
Jordan Brown | Louisiana | 6-11 | Junior |
Kendall Brown | Baylor | 6-8 | Freshman |
Tevin Brown | Murray State | 6-5 | Senior |
Tyler Burton | Richmond | 6-7 | Junior |
John Butler Jr. | Florida State | 7-1 | Freshman |
Jared Bynum | Providence | 5-10 | Junior |
Maurice Calloo | Oregon State | 6-10 | Senior |
Toumani Camara | Dayton | 6-8 | Junior |
Dylan Cardwell | Auburn | 6-11 | Sophomore |
Donald Carey | Georgetown | 6-5 | Senior |
Sincere Carry | Kent State | 6-1 | Junior |
Xavier Castaneda | Akron | 6-1 | Senior |
Julian Champagnie | St. John's | 6-8 | Junior |
Kennedy Chandler | Tennessee | 6-0 | Freshman |
Max Christie | Michigan State | 6-6 | Freshman |
Kofi Cockburn | Illinois | 7-0 | Junior |
R.J. Cole | Connecticut | 6-1 | Senior |
Vince Cole | Coastal Carolina | 6-6 | Senior |
Yuri Collins | St. Louis | 6-0 | Junior |
George Conditt IV | Iowa State | 6-10 | Senior |
Jalen Cook | Tulane | 6-0 | Sophomore |
Johnny Davis | Wisconsin | 6-5 | Sophomore |
Kendric Davis | SMU | 5-11 | Senior |
JD Davison | Alabama | 6-3 | Freshman |
Antonio Daye | Fordham | 6-1 | Senior |
Darius Days | LSU | 6-7 | Senior |
Dhieu Deing | UTSA | 6-5 | Junior |
Jaiden Delaire | Stanford | 6-9 | Senior |
Adrian Delph | Appalachian State | 6-3 | Senior |
Michael Devoe | Georgia Tech | 6-5 | Senior |
Moussa Diabate | Michigan | 6-11 | Freshman |
Dylan Disu | Texas | 6-9 | Junior |
Jalen Duren | Memphis | 6-11 | Freshman |
Anthony Duruji | Florida | 6-7 | Senior |
Tari Eason | LSU | 6-8 | Sophomore |
Kyler Edwards | Houston | 6-4 | Senior |
Boogie Ellis | USC | 6-3 | Junior |
Keon Ellis | Alabama | 6-6 | Senior |
Aaron Estrada | Hofstra | 6-4 | Junior |
Tyson Etienne | Wichita State | 6-2 | Junior |
Francis "BJ" Fitzgerald | Virginia State | 6-6 | Junior |
Adam Flagler | Baylor | 6-3 | Junior |
Allen Flanigan | Auburn | 6-6 | Junior |
Javon Freeman-Liberty | DePaul | 6-4 | Senior |
Joe French | Bethune-Cookman | 6-5 | Sophomore |
Both Gach | Utah | 6-6 | Senior |
Gideon George | BYU | 6-6 | Senior |
Ques Glover | Samford | 5-11 | Junior |
Jacob Grandison | Illinois | 6-6 | Senior |
AJ Green | Northern Iowa | 6-4 | Junior |
Tykei Greene | Stony Brook | 6-4 | Senior |
AJ Griffin | Duke | 6-6 | Freshman |
Quincy Guerrier | Oregon | 6-7 | Junior |
Mouhamed Gueye | Washington State | 6-11 | Freshman |
Jordan Hall | St. Joseph's | 6-7 | Sophomore |
Bryce Hamilton | UNLV | 6-4 | Senior |
Ron Harper Jr. | Rutgers | 6-6 | Senior |
DJ Harvey | Detroit | 6-6 | Senior |
Jericole Hellems | North Carolina State | 6-7 | Senior |
Cedric Henderson Jr. | Campbell | 6-6 | Senior |
D'Moi Hodge | Cleveland State | 6-4 | Senior |
Chet Holmgren | Gonzaga | 7-0 | Freshman |
Jaelen House | New Mexico | 6-0 | Junior |
Caleb Houstan | Michigan | 6-8 | Freshman |
Trevor Hudgins | Northwest Missouri State | 6-0 | Senior |
Bodie Hume | Northern Colorado | 6-6 | Senior |
Eric Hunter Jr. | Purdue | 6-4 | Senior |
Austin Hutcherson | Illinois | 6-6 | Junior |
Harrison Ingram | Stanford | 6-8 | Freshman |
Jaden Ivey | Purdue | 6-4 | Sophomore |
Trayce Jackson-Davis | Indiana | 6-9 | Junior |
Josiah-Jordan James | Tennessee | 6-6 | Junior |
Drake Jeffries | Wyoming | 6-5 | Senior |
Deante Johnson | Cleveland State | 6-9 | Senior |
Justin Johnson | Texas-Rio Grande Valley | 6-6 | Senior |
Andrew Jones | Texas | 6-4 | Senior |
DeVante' Jones | Michigan | 6-1 | Senior |
Jaden Jones | Rutgers | 6-8 | Freshman |
Johnny Juzang | UCLA | 6-6 | Junior |
Trevor Keels | Duke | 6-4 | Freshman |
Andre Kelly | California | 6-8 | Senior |
Walker Kessler | Auburn | 7-1 | Sophomore |
Noah Kirkwood | Harvard | 6-7 | Senior |
Peter Kiss | Bryant | 6-5 | Senior |
Christian Koloko | Arizona | 7-1 | Junior |
Daylen Kountz | Northern Colorado | 6-4 | Senior |
DeMarr Langford Jr. | Boston College | 6-5 | Sophomore |
Jake LaRavia | Wake Forest | 6-8 | Junior |
Nate Laszewski | Notre Dame | 6-10 | Senior |
Hyunjung Lee | Davidson | 6-7 | Junior |
Justin Lewis | Marquette | 6-7 | Sophomore |
E.J. Liddell | Ohio State | 6-7 | Junior |
Kenneth Lofton Jr. | Louisiana Tech | 6-8 | Sophomore |
Kyle Lofton | St. Bonaventure | 6-3 | Senior |
B.J. Mack | Wofford | 6-8 | Junior |
Hunter Maldonado | Wyoming | 6-7 | Senior |
Tyrese Martin | Connecticut | 6-6 | Senior |
Bennedict Mathurin | Arizona | 6-6 | Sophomore |
Matthew Mayer | Baylor | 6-9 | Senior |
Josh Mballa | Buffalo | 6-7 | Senior |
Caleb McConnell | Rutgers | 6-7 | Senior |
David McCormack | Kansas | 6-10 | Senior |
Kevin McCullar | Texas Tech | 6-6 | Junior |
Bryce McGowens | Nebraska | 6-7 | Freshman |
Trey McGowens | Nebraska | 6-4 | Senior |
Nathan Mensah | San Diego State | 6-10 | Senior |
Justin Minaya | Providence | 6-6 | Senior |
Josh Minott | Memphis | 6-8 | Freshman |
Isaiah Mobley | USC | 6-10 | Junior |
Aminu Mohammed | Georgetown | 6-5 | Freshman |
Iverson Molinar | Mississippi State | 6-3 | Junior |
Isaih Moore | Southern Mississippi | 6-10 | Senior |
Omari Moore | San Jose State | 6-6 | Junior |
Wendell Moore Jr. | Duke | 6-5 | Junior |
Isiaih Mosley | Missouri State | 6-5 | Junior |
Bryson Mozone | USC Upstate | 6-6 | Senior |
Isaiah Mucius | Wake Forest | 6-8 | Senior |
Caleb Murphy | South Florida | 6-4 | Sophomore |
Grayson Murphy | Belmont | 6-3 | Senior |
Dwight Murray Jr. | Rider | 6-0 | Senior |
Joel Murray | Long Beach State | 6-0 | Senior |
Keegan Murray | Iowa | 6-8 | Sophomore |
Kris Murray | Iowa | 6-8 | Sophomore |
Nick Muszynski | Belmont | 6-11 | Senior |
Justyn Mutts | Virginia Tech | 6-7 | Senior |
Pete Nance | Northwestern | 6-10 | Senior |
KC Ndefo | St. Peter's | 6-7 | Senior |
Andrew Nembhard | Gonzaga | 6-5 | Senior |
JoirDon Karl Nicholas | Texas Southern | 6-9 | Senior |
JD Notae | Arkansas | 6-1 | Senior |
Ike Obiagu | Seton Hall | 7-2 | Senior |
Josh Oduro | George Mason | 6-9 | Junior |
Gus Okafor | Southeastern Louisiana | 6-6 | Junior |
Edward Oliver-Hampton | South Carolina State | 6-8 | Senior |
Shareef O'Neal | LSU | 6-10 | Junior |
Nick Ongenda | DePaul | 6-11 | Junior |
Malik Osborne | Florida State | 6-9 | Senior |
Osayi Osifo | Jacksonville | 6-7 | Senior |
Osun Osunniyi | St. Bonaventure | 6-10 | Senior |
Nijel Pack | Kansas State | 6-0 | Sophomore |
Drew Peterson | USC | 6-9 | Senior |
Scotty Pippen Jr. | Vanderbilt | 6-3 | Junior |
Anthony Polite | Florida State | 6-6 | Senior |
Zyon Pullin | UC-Riverside | 6-4 | Junior |
Lester Quinones | Memphis | 6-5 | Junior |
Courtney Ramey | Texas | 6-3 | Senior |
MJ Randolph | Florida A&M | 6-4 | Senior |
Eric Reed Jr. | Southeast Missouri State | 6-2 | Senior |
A.J. Reeves | Providence | 6-6 | Senior |
Jared Rhoden | Seton Hall | 6-6 | Senior |
Will Richardson | Oregon | 6-5 | Senior |
Orlando Robinson | Fresno State | 7-0 | Junior |
David Roddy | Colorado State | 6-5 | Junior |
Ryan Rollins | Toledo | 6-4 | Sophomore |
Marcus Sasser | Houston | 6-1 | Junior |
Baylor Scheierman | South Dakota State | 6-6 | Junior |
Dereon Seabron | North Carolina State | 6-7 | Sophomore |
Ronaldo Segu | Buffalo | 6-0 | Senior |
Khalil Shabazz | San Francisco | 6-1 | Senior |
Jaden Shackelford | Alabama | 6-3 | Junior |
Shaedon Sharpe | Kentucky | 6-6 | Freshman |
Marcus Shaver | Boise State | 6-2 | Senior |
Grant Sherfield | Nevada | 6-2 | Junior |
Kevin (K.J.) Simon | UT Martin | 6-3 | Junior |
Jaylen Sims | UNC-Wilmington | 6-6 | Senior |
Jalen Slawson | Furman | 6-7 | Senior |
Jabari Smith | Auburn | 6-10 | Freshman |
Jamari Smith | Queens University (NC) | 6-8 | Junior |
Malachi Smith | Chattanooga | 6-4 | Junior |
Terquavion Smith | North Carolina State | 6-4 | Freshman |
Jeremy Sochan | Baylor | 6-9 | Freshman |
Amadou Sow | Santa Barbara | 6-9 | Senior |
Seth Stanley | Hendrix College (AR) | 6-7 | Senior |
Gabe Stefanini | San Francisco | 6-3 | Senior |
Sasha Stefanovic | Purdue | 6-5 | Senior |
Julian Strawther | Gonzaga | 6-7 | Sophomore |
Cole Swider | Syracuse | 6-9 | Senior |
AJ Taylor | Grambling | 6-6 | Junior |
Dalen Terry | Arizona | 6-7 | Sophomore |
Drew Timme | Gonzaga | 6-10 | Junior |
Au'Diese Toney | Arkansas | 6-6 | Senior |
Jacob Toppin | Kentucky | 6-9 | Junior |
Ryan Turell | Yeshiva (NY) | 6-7 | Senior |
Santiago Vescovi | Tennessee | 6-3 | Junior |
Jabari Walker | Colorado | 6-9 | Sophomore |
Jordan Walker | UAB | 5-11 | Senior |
Dallas Walton | Wake Forest | 7-0 | Senior |
Kerwin Walton | North Carolina | 6-5 | Sophomore |
TyTy Washington Jr. | Kentucky | 6-3 | Freshman |
Peyton Watson | UCLA | 6-8 | Freshman |
Dominick Welch | St. Bonaventure | 6-5 | Senior |
Collin Welp | UC Irvine | 6-9 | Senior |
Blake Wesley | Notre Dame | 6-5 | Freshman |
Aaron Wheeler | St. John's | 6-9 | Senior |
Khristien White | Southwest Christian | 6-3 | Senior |
DeAndre Williams | Memphis | 6-9 | Senior |
Donovan Williams | UNLV | 6-6 | Junior |
Jalen Williams | Santa Clara | 6-6 | Junior |
Jaylin Williams | Arkansas | 6-10 | Sophomore |
Jeenathan Williams | Buffalo | 6-5 | Senior |
KJ Williams | Murray State | 6-10 | Senior |
Mark Williams | Duke | 7-0 | Sophomore |
Trevion Williams | Purdue | 6-10 | Senior |
Vince Williams Jr. | VCU | 6-6 | Senior |
Daivien Williamson | Wake Forest | 6-2 | Senior |
Jalen Wilson | Kansas | 6-8 | Junior |
Isaiah Wong | Miami | 6-3 | Junior |
Jahmir Young | Charlotte | 6-2 | Junior |