ESPN REPORT: Big-time draft withdrawals are rolling out — including former Kentucky targets
Just one day before the NBA draft withdrawal deadline — Wednesday, May 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET — the sport of college basketball has drastically improved going into 2025-26 thanks to some big-time return announcements. Among them? A few former Kentucky targets, interestingly enough, beyond the major updates that came during and immediately following the combine.
Those included Boogie Fland’s withdrawal and transfer to Florida, Cedric Coward’s decision to keep his name in the draft, leading to Dame Sarr’s commitment to Duke, and Darrion Williams’ move from Texas Tech to NC State after pulling out, among others.
What are the latest updates ahead of the deadline? They’re coming in hot, so keep your head on a swivel.
Yaxel Lendeborg will play at Michigan
Maybe the biggest surprise of the draft cycle, the UAB transfer and Michigan signee was seen as a likely first-round pick with his eyes on the top 20 — and could have gotten there after a strong combine. Instead, Lendeborg announced Tuesday he would be pulling his name out of the draft to suit up for the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. He gives Dusty May a preseason First Team All-American with Michigan seen as a likely top-five program with one of the deepest and most talented frontcourts in college basketball alongside Morez Johnson Jr. from Illinois and Aday Mara from UCLA.
To open the portal cycle, Lendeborg was seen as Kentucky’s top frontcourt target with Auburn also under serious consideration. Combining his projected NIL value and serious draft interest, it was a high-risk, high-reward possibility for any program pushing for his signature. May gave him what he was looking for and his investment paid off.
Instead, Mark Pope and the Wildcats landed the likes of Jayden Quaintance, Mo Dioubate and Andrija Jelavic while bringing back Brandon Garrison and adding Malachi Moreno from the high school ranks.
Karter Knox returns to Arkansas
Once a Kentucky pledge, the younger brother of former Wildcat Kevin Knox decommitted to follow John Calipari to Arkansas for his freshman campaign. There, he shined — especially to close out the season — averaging 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 24.0 minutes per contest on 46/35/80 splits
Just one day before the NBA draft withdrawal deadline — Wednesday, May 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET — the sport of college basketball has drastically improved going into 2025-26 thanks to some big-time return announcements. Among them? A few former Kentucky targets, interestingly enough, beyond the major updates that came during and immediately following the combine.
Those included Boogie Fland’s withdrawal and transfer to Florida, Cedric Coward’s decision to keep his name in the draft, leading to Dame Sarr’s commitment to Duke, and Darrion Williams’ move from Texas Tech to NC State after pulling out, among others.
Karter Knox returns to Arkansas
Once a Kentucky pledge, the younger brother of former Wildcat Kevin Knox decommitted to follow John Calipari to Arkansas for his freshman campaign. There, he shined — especially to close out the season — averaging 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 24.0 minutes per contest on 46/35/80 splits.
Knox joins the likes of DJ Wagner, Trevon Brazile, Billy Richmond, Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas in Fayetteville.
Alex Condon looks for a Florida repeat
After winning a national championship as a sophomore, the Australian big who flirted with first-round status this cycle announced his return to Gainesville on Tuesday. He was ranked No. 38 in ESPN’s draft projections, and now, Condon will be picking up where he left off with Florida once again seen as a contender to win the whole thing in 2025-26.
“It’s a really good situation waiting for me there,” Condon told ESPN. “A great coach with Todd Golden. Teammates I won a national championship with. I have great chemistry with those boys. We have a good transfer class coming in. I expect guys to make a leap.”
He was an All-SEC honoree after averaging 10.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 blocks in 24.9 minutes per game.
