Former Five-Star Makes NBA Draft Decision After Freshman Season
The draft is set for Wednesday, June 25, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. We continue to find out the names set to headline the draft as the deadline to enter has officially passed.
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Late news came in early Sunday about a player who made a last-minute decision about his basketball future.
Jonathan Givony from ESPN and Draft Express had the latest news:
While Carter Bryant is heading into the draft, he retained his NCAA eligibility, making it possible to return to the Arizona Wildcats. This is not a surprise to anyone within the Arizona program, and there is some optimism he will return to a roster that is already very talented for 2025-26.
Arizona Wildcats forward Carter Bryant (9). Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Bryant played his senior season of high school basketball at Centennial High School in Corona, Calif., and chose Arizona over the Louisville Cardinals. He was considered a five-star recruit.
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The 6-foot-8 forward played one season with the Wildcats and appeared in 37 games. He scored 6.5 points per game and pulled down 4.1 rebounds. His final game with Arizona was on March 27, when they fell 100-93 to Duke in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. In that game, Bryant scored eight points and recorded three rebounds.
Tommy Lloyd will be starting his fifth season at the helm for Arizona. The Wildcats have won 24 or more games in each of his first four seasons. Lloyd has also reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 three times but has never advanced to the Elite Eight. Arizona is seeking to get back to the NCAA Tournament Final Four for the first time since 2001.
After losing KJ Lewis, Emmanuel Stephen and Henri Veesaar to the portal, the Wildcats added Evan Nelson. Nelson is a 6-1 point guard who played last season at Harvard.
Koa Peat, Brayden Burries, Dwayne Aristode and Bryce James join Arizona as part of one of the top freshman classes in college basketball for the 2025-26 season.
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Related: Cooper Flagg's Mom Signs Deal Amid Son's Freshman Season at Duke
Related: Dawn Staley Makes Major Personal Announcement After NCAA Tournament
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