2024 NBA Draft: Coleman Hawkins, Cam Christie among top players with hardest portal-or-pro decisions to make

May 29th NBA Draft The withdrawal deadline is quickly approaching, leaving dozens of players with big decisions to make about their future in the coming days. Among them is a group of talented players who have positioned themselves for maximum advantage by also entering the transfer portal as they reflect on where they will suit up for the 2024-25 season.

In addition to receiving feedback from NBA franchises about their likelihood of being drafted or signed to a two-way contract, these players are also entertaining the option of returning to college basketball for a large NIL payday. If they withdraw from the project, this will only be the first step in finalizing their future, as they will then have to make university decisions.

Not all players exploring the draft entered the portal. Many who have an NBA decision to make are not transferring and remain committed to returning to their previous school if they withdraw from the draft pool. We cover a lot of these big decisions earlier this week.

Now it is time to enlighten those who are also in the portal. His draft decisions will have a domino effect on college basketball. If these players opt to remain in the draft, it will force college programs that have been vying for their transfer commitments to consult contingency plans to fill out their 2024-25 rosters.

With agents, professional organizations, college coaches, NIL collectives, family and friends all typically involved to some degree in these decisions, players must cut through the clutter to make an informed decision. This is easier said than done, especially under the pressure of a deadline. As the deadline approaches, here are the portal’s top 10 players weighing in on whether to stay in the NBA Draft or return to college.

1. JT Toppin

Big Frame classification: 48 | Previous school: New Mexico

Toppin won Mountain West Rookie of the Year honors by averaging 12.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for a New Mexico team that won the Mountain West Tournament. The 6-foot-2 forward made 62.3 percent of his shots and showed some promise as an outside shooter. He will have a strong NIL payday if he opts to transfer rather than remain in the draft.

2. Cam Christie

Big Frame classification: 52 | Previous school: Minnesota

Christie averaged 11.3 points on 39.1% 3-point shooting as a freshman at Minnesota. Getting such substantial contributions from a freshman in the Big Ten at this time is rare, especially when it’s not someone who was a top-50 prospect. The 6-foot-1 wing will be a huge prize in the portal for someone if he returns to college basketball.

3. Coleman Hawkins

Big Board Classification: 73 | Previous school: Illinois

Hawkins averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks while shooting 36.9% from 3-point range in his senior season at Illinois. With 126 games of experience for a Big Ten program, the 6-foot-5 forward is the type of difference-making veteran who is hard to find in the portal this time of year. Although he is in the portal, returning to Illinois would also be an option if he opts out of the draft.

4. Jaxson Robinson

Big Board Classification: 74 | Previous school: BYU

Robinson finally showed up at BYU in 2023-24 during his fourth collegiate season and second with the Cougars. The former Arkansas wing averaged 14.2 points. Kentucky, now led by former BYU coach Mark Pope, would be an obvious team to watch if Robinson withdraws from the draft.

5. Jaylen Wells

Big Board Classification: N/A | Previous school: Washington State

Wells transferred from Division II Sonoma State and made 41.7% of his 3-pointers for Washington State last season. At 6-foot-2, that kind of shot makes him an obvious pro candidate. After participating in the NBA Draft Combine, he faces a difficult decision. But if he goes back to college, a good paycheck will certainly await him at the school of his choice.

6. Cedric Coward

Big Board Classification: N/A | Previous school: Eastern Washington

Even the most die-hard college basketball fans may not be familiar with Coward’s game. But the 6-foot-9 wing led the Big Sky champions from Eastern Washington, scoring 15.4 points per game and shooting 38.3 percent from 3-point range. Even more impressive was his 69.1% 2-point shooting and 89.5% free throw shooting. Players with splits like this don’t come around often, and Coward could be a major factor for a top-tier team if he opts out of the draft and transfers.

7. Poplar Wooga

Big Board Classification: N/A | Previous school: Miami

Poplar started 36 games for a Miami team that reached the Final Four in 2023 and increased his contributions last season to 13.1 points per game on 38.5% 3-point shooting. The 6-foot-1 guard has 100 games of experience for a power conference program and experienced high-stakes battles in March. He will be a significant addition wherever he wants to go unless he chooses to remain in the draft pool.

8. Jamir Watkins

Big Frame classification: N/A | Previous school: State of Florida

Watkins flew under the radar in the 2023 transfer cycle, quietly landing at Florida State after two seasons as a player at VCU. The 6-foot-9 wing exploded at FSU, averaging 15.6 points, six rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He waited until the last minute to enter the portal and will be highly sought after if he opts out of the draft.

9. Arthur Kaluma

Big Board Classification: N/A | Previous school: Kansas State

Kaluma would be a late and talented addition to the college roster through the portal if he withdraws from the draft. The 6-foot-1 wing spent his first two seasons at Creighton before transferring to Kansas State and averaging 14.4 points last season. He’s just a career 31.2% 3-point shooter, but he’s improved from beyond the arc each season.

10. Chaz Lanier

Big Board Classification: N/A | Previous school: North Florida

Considering he is visiting colleges, Lanier will likely withdraw from the draft. After hitting 44% of his 3-point shots on 7.5 attempts per game at North Florida last season, Lanier has a chance to be considered the best pure shooter in this year’s portal class.

Other notable portal players with decision projects

Trevon Brazil | Previous school: Arkansas
Miles Kelly | Previous school: Georgia Tech
Ugonna Onyenso | Previous school: Kentucky
Nanny Miller | Previous school: Florida State
Garwey Double | Previous school: Providence

No transfers with decisions

If these players opt out of the draft, they will return to their previous schools. Many of his decisions were covered here.

Mark Sears, Alabama
Caleb Love, Arizona
Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Alex Karaban, UConn
Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
Eric Dixon, Villanova
Chase Hunter, Clemson
David Jones, Memphis
Payton Sandfort, Iowa
Johnny Furphy, Kansas
Walter Clayton Jr., Florida