Four 2026 NBA Draft Picks MAY Return To College Basketball

Four NBA draft picks may have an unexpected path back to college, and it has nothing to do with the league.

Colorado district judge Charlotte Sweeney ruled Friday that the NCAA cannot deny a fifth year of eligibility to athletes who enrolled in 2022. The ruling was amended over the weekend to exclude players who are 24 or older or have already signed a professional contract.

That leaves four unsigned 2026 draft picks with a major decision:

Tyler Nickel, selected 47th by the KnicksBraden Smith, selected 38th by the Bulls and now controlled by the PacersDillon Mitchell, selected 40th by the CelticsLajae Jones, selected 54th by the Warriors

All four could potentially return to college.

BYU’s Richie Saunders does not qualify because he turns 25 in September.

The financial decision is significant. Second-round picks are not bound by the rookie scale and often sign minimum contracts worth roughly $1.4 million. A two-way contract pays less than $700,000. As one Western Conference executive told Front Office Sports, if a school offers $2 million, returning to college becomes an easy decision.

Eighteen college basketball players are already expected to earn more than LeBron James this season, and this ruling could add more names to that list.

NBA teams have until August 5 to tender qualifying offers and retain their draft rights. Nickel and Mitchell are reportedly considering their options, while Smith is not expected to return to college.

What would you choose: guaranteed college money or the opportunity to fight for an NBA roster spot?

Like and follow for more NBA coverage. For HoopsHype, I’m Cyro Asseo.

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