Hunter Sallis, Coleman Hawkins, and several others have recently made significant decisions regarding the NBA Draft, which will have notable impacts on the upcoming 2024-25 college basketball season. The choices of whether to stay in college or enter the draft can heavily influence the trajectory of a team’s offseason preparations.
Last year, Creighton experienced a shift in their potential when Ryan Kalkbrenner and Trey Alexander both decided to return to school instead of entering the NBA Draft, setting the stage for another successful run in Omaha. Illinois faced uncertainties during the offseason until Terrence Shannon Jr.
and Coleman Hawkins both opted to return to school at the last moment, transforming Illinois into a major contender. Indeed, Hawkins and Shannon played pivotal roles in guiding the Illini to the Elite Eight, dispelling doubts about Brad Underwood’s ability to succeed in March.
In contrast, Missouri struggled to maintain their momentum from a strong first year under Dennis Gates, primarily due to Kobe Brown’s decision to enter the NBA Draft after gaining significant attention during the pre-draft process.
Although Brown’s choice ultimately paid off as he was selected in the first round by the Los Angeles Clippers, Missouri faced challenges without their standout forward, culminating in a winless SEC season.
