Players who have to decide whether to stay in the portal or go pro

The NCAA's deadline is May 29 for players to withdraw their names from the NCAA NBA Draft 2024 and remain eligible to play college basketball is quickly approaching. The players whose decisions are most watched by college coaches are those who entered their names in the transfer portal before May 1. For now, consider these players the sport's free agents: There are few other portal options available, so getting as many of these players as possible will be crucial for teams in need of a boost in talent to fill out their rosters to see return to school.

Here's a look at some of the biggest names currently in limbo and the latest developments in their decision-making process.

Hawkins has made clear his desire to stay in the draft and begin his professional career. However, it would be difficult for Hawkins if he was presented with a zero-pay package similar to the $2 million reportedly going to new Washington Huskies forward Great Oobor not to decide on another year of college. Given the number of teams that could use a player with his skill set, it's likely that someone will take the plunge and make Hawkins one of the highest-paid players in college basketball.

Things got interesting for Toppin when he had a strong performance at the NBA draft combine. He was initially considered a likely college returnee – with the Texas Longhorns being the most talked-about candidate – but Toppin's impressive shooting combined with his strong rebounding totals give him cause for thought as the deadline approaches. A big sophomore season playing at a high level could help him earn a first-round spot in 2025, but if he's draftable now, it might be worth making the jump.

Given the lack of traditional bigs available in the portal, Onyenso is a sought-after prospect in college basketball. His length and anticipation make him an elite rim protector, but Onyenso is still a long way from making a significant impact in the NBA. The North Carolina Tar Heels and Louisville Cardinals come to mind as major brands in need of a center, and both have been linked to Onyenso at certain points in his recruitment.

It seems a foregone conclusion that Lanier will opt out of the draft and return to college. Shortly after graduating from Chicago, he visited the BYU Cougars, Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers. Lanier has the potential to be a star at the highest level thanks to his explosiveness and striking skills, but his performance at the G League Elite Camp made it clear that he needs more experience before he can make the leap to the pro league.

Watkins entered his name into the portal shortly before the May 1 deadline to keep his options open, but said Sports Illustrated In Chicago, he's already “midway through” the draft and hasn't done much with his college recruiting yet as he works his way through the pro process. Watkins' size, versatility and playmaking ability puts him in a good position to be drafted if he stays in the draft, but he would command a huge market should he return to school.

Christie has been steadily rising since the end of the college season as more people realize how good he was down the stretch with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. It wouldn't be a surprise at this point if Christie was selected in the late first round, the kind of feedback that would likely close the door on college options for him. That said, Christie could use the lure of a big NIL salary day to get an interested NBA team to give him a commitment on draft night.

Robinson, one of the best shooters in the draft, is keeping his options open after his coach at BYU, Mark Pope, took the Kentucky job. It's likely Robinson will stay in the draft, where he would likely be a second-round pick. It's not a foregone conclusion that he'll end up at Kentucky if he withdraws from the draft. However, we expect the Wildcats to step up their pursuit should they miss out on the aforementioned Lanier. Robinson said at the combine that he's still “very close” to Pope, which could certainly help Kentucky if the going gets tough.

Poplar is definitely acting like he plans on going back to college. He recently visited the Villanova Wildcats and has another visit planned soon to Dana Altman's Oregon Ducks. It also seems possible that other schools could make another push depending on the status of other stay or leave decisions, so it's worth keeping an eye on this decision.

Once speculated as a potential first-round pick, a torn ACL in the 2022-23 season and general ineffectiveness in the 23-24 season have Brazile increasingly on the outside of draft boards as the decision deadline approaches. It's still entirely possible that he remains in the draft anyway and tries to rebuild his stock in an NBA organization, but Brazile could be an impactful college player if he returns to form in a new program.

Wells' story is one of the most remarkable among this year's draft prospects. He's gone from a Division II transfer a year ago to a centerpiece of the Washington State Cougars' NCAA Tournament berth last season and is now a legitimate NBA threat. His value may not be any higher, but if the right college situation comes along, getting another year of school before turning pro is definitely worth considering.

Kaluma had a mixed performance in the G League Elite Camp practice games, and while he said S.I. He would like to stay in the draft, it would be a bit of a surprise in college basketball circles if he didn't withdraw and instead use the transfer portal. Although Kaluma is a somewhat flawed decision-maker, his natural talents as a physically imposing 6-foot-2 winger who can space the floor make him a hot commodity in the portal.