Top 25 College Basketball Retentions: Haugh, Ngongba, Fears Jr. Lead the List

In the pre-NIL era, it would've been a foregone conclusion that someone like Florida's Thomas Haugh -- a projected top-20 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft -- would at least go to the NBA Draft Combine to test his stock and go through the process. But because of NIL and the millions of dollars teams can pay players in college, the game has changed. Haugh is one of several big-ticket players returning to the sport for the 2026-27 season, instantly boosting the Gators' roster.

College basketball has seen retention increase over the past few years, which brings experience and returning talent to the forefront of roster building. Last season, Labaron Philon ( Alabama ), JT Toppin ( Texas Tech ), and Otega Oweh ( Kentucky ) were among college basketball's most important retentions.

For Florida, Haugh isn't the only Gator player returning that could've projected as a late first-round pick. Star big man Alex Condon is also running it back. So is center Rueben Chinyelu , the reigning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.

With that core returning, you can pencil the Gators in as the preseason No. 1 team this fall.

2026 NBA Mock Draft: Projecting all 60 picks in Adam Finkelstein's first two-round forecast Adam Finkelstein

Another player running it back instead of entering the draft is UConn guard Braylon Mullins . Mullins, who hit one of the biggest shots in NCAA Tournament history in the Elite Eight against Duke , returns to a program seeking its fourth Final Four appearance in five years.

The other underlying storyline is that the 2027 NBA Draft class is projected to be much weaker than this year. But with so many familiar faces returning to college basketball, the outlook on next year's class got better when players like Haugh, Mullins and Chinyelu decided to return.

Above all else, players of their caliber returning to school is not only a boost to their respective teams, but to the sport as a whole.

Here are the 25 biggest retentions in college basketball heading into the 2026-27 season.

(Note: this list only includes players who returned to the same school they played at last season and doesn't include any players from the transfer portal)

1. Thomas Haugh, Florida

2025-26 stats:   PPG:  17.1 |  RPG:  6.1 |  APG:  2.1

Why his retention is important:  Haugh would've very likely been a top 20 pick had he stayed in the draft. It's almost unprecedented for a player of his caliber to return to college basketball. Florida probably wasn't expecting Haugh to return, but bringing back Haugh should give Florida the necessary star power to make another Final Four run. Haugh is the Ultimate Swiss Army Knife. During Florida's national title run in 2025, Haugh stepped up when it mattered, knocking down clutch shots and making winning plays on both ends of the floor. Haugh went from a key reserve on that title team to Florida's No. 1 scoring option. That will be the case once again this upcoming season.

###

2. Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt

2025-26 Stats: PPG: 19.5 | RPG: 3.6 | APG: 5.1

Why his retention is important: Pound-for-pound, Tanner is one of the best athletes in college basketball. An undersized point guard, Tanner measured in at under 5-foot-11 at the draft combine, but he doesn't play like it. He was the driving force behind Vanderbilt's success last season, as the program finished with a 27-9 record and a third-place finish in the SEC. Tanner threw down 17 dunks this season, which was the most by any player in Division I basketball under 6-foot-1. The fit next to Washington State transfer Ace Glass creates one of the best backcourts in the country. Haugh and Tanner will be the top contenders for SEC Player of the Year.

3. Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State

2025-26 Stats:   PPG:  15.2 |  RPG: 2.4 |  APG: 9.4

Why his retention is important: Fears was one of the best true point guards in the country last season and earned All-American honors by CBS Sports . He is coming off a breakout season in which he averaged 15.2 points and a nation-leading 9.4 assists. Improving his efficiency will be a focal point in his development this upcoming season. He shot 43.1% from the floor and 32.1% from the 3-point line. One positive is that he shot 88.5% from the free-throw line, which is generally an indicator of future shooting success. He projects to be a preseason Big Ten Player of the Year candidate.

4. Patrick Ngongba II, Duke

2025-26 Stats:   PPG:  10.1 |  RPG: 5.8 |  APG: 2.0

Why his retention is important: Duke coach Jon Scheyer has been the king of retention since taking over the program. This offseason was no different. Yes, Duke lost Cameron Boozer and Isiah Evans (as expected) to the NBA Draft, but was able to retain several rotation players, including Ngongba, the starting center for Duke last season. He was by far the biggest name the Blue Devils are bringing back, as he is expected to anchor the defense next to five-star forward Cameron Williams . After being a backup on Duke's Final Four team in 2025, he had a breakout season and started 28 games. Ngongba is a name to know for the 2027 NBA Draft.

Meet Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje: Duke's 7-foot phenom and next potential No. 1 draft pick Eric Bossi

5. Motiejus Krivas, Arizona

2025-26 Stats: PPG: 10.4 | RPG: 8.2 | APG: 1.1

Why his retention is important: Krivas is the best player from Arizona's Final Four squad returning. With Koa Peat , Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley gone, Krivas projects to have a more prominent role next season. In his first season as a full-time starter, Krivas produced career highs in almost every statistical category. Where Krivas made the biggest jump from his sophomore to junior seasons was on the defensive end. He averaged 1.9 blocks per game en route to Arizona reaching the Final Four for the first time in 25 years. He will once again be asked to anchor the Wildcats' backline.

6. Amari Allen, Alabama

2025-26 Stats: PPG: 11.4 | RPG: 6.9 | APG: 3.1

Why his retention is important:  Allen will look to follow the Labaron Philon blueprint after the Alabama guard went from a projected second-round pick after his freshman season to now being a projected lottery pick after a breakout sophomore campaign. Allen will benefit from another season of college basketball, where he should be able to get more on-ball reps. He shot 34.1% from the 3-point line as a freshman. That's definitely an area where he could improve heading into Year 2 as Alabama's first option.

7. Robert Wright III, BYU

2025-26 Stats: PPG: 18.1 | RPG: 3.5 | APG: 4.6

Why his retention is important:  After entering the transfer portal and being pursued hard by Kentucky, Wright decided to withdraw and return to BYU . Wright averaged 18.1 points per game while being on a team with projected No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa and veteran sharpshooter Richie Saunders . Wright will be the guy at BYU heading into his junior season. He improved as a 3-point shooter (35.2% to 41%) and upped his scoring per game by almost seven points. Averaging over 20 points per game next season shouldn't be out of the question.

8. Braylon Mullins, UConn

2025-26 Stats: PPG: 12.0 | RPG: 3.5 | APG: 1.4

Why his retention is important:  Mullins entered this past season as one of the top recruits from the 2026 cycle. However, a preseason injury delayed the start of his freshman campaign. Down the stretch, he played a key role in helping UConn reach the national title game for the third time in four seasons. His calling card coming out of high school was his 3-point shooting. After shooting 33.5% on 6.5 attempts this season, he will have an opportunity to improve his efficiency and increase the volume of attempts he takes on a nightly basis. He will be  the guy  for UConn this season. Keep an eye on him as a potential 2027 lottery pick.

9. Rueben Chinyelu, Florida

2025-26 Stats: PPG: 10.9 | RPG: 11.2 | BPG:  1.0

Why his retention is important: Chinyelu was one of the best defenders in college basketball last season. He was also one of 14 players in Division I basketball who averaged a double-double (10.9 points, 11.2 rebounds). Chinyelu has been a full-time starter in each of the last two seasons for the Gators and is one of the best bigs returning in the sport. With Haugh, Chinyelu and Condon in the frontcourt, the Gators have the star power and depth to wear down teams throughout the course of a game and season.

Way-too-early SEC basketball tiers: Florida and Texas headline college basketball's best league Isaac Trotter

10. David Mirković, Illinois

2025-26 Stats: PPG: 13.3 | RPG: 8.0 | APG: 2.6

Why his retention is important:  Mirković, on and off the court, is one of the most entertaining players in college basketball. He averaged 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists en route to Illinois reaching the Final Four for the first time since 2005. He can shoot, rebound and defend at a high level. Mirković wasn't the best freshman because Illinois also had the luxury of having Keaton Wagler on the roster. Still, he is arguably Illinois' best returning player and is due for a massive Year 2 jump. He will be a potential preseason All-American candidate.

11. Alex Condon, Florida

2025-26 Stats: PPG: 15.1 | RPG: 7.5 | APG: 3.6

Why his retention is important: After Florida won the national title in 2025, Condon's pending decision to declare for the draft or run it back was a major storyline. He chose the latter and improved in almost every statistical category last season. This offseason, it appeared more likely than not that Condon would ultimately return to Florida for his senior season, but his retention should not be understated. Condon is a mobile, high-motor big man who adds a different dynamic because of his playmaking. With Condon, Florida will be the preseason favorite to win the title.

12. Joseph Tugler, Houston

2025-26 Stats: PPG: 8.4 | RPG: 5.3 | APG: 1.3 | BPG: 1.5

Why his retention is important: Tugler is one of the best defenders in college basketball and should be one of the favorites to win the nation's top individual award. Tugler is the heartbeat of the Houston program and will be its best returning player. His overall impact goes well beyond the box score, even though he is coming off a season in which he averaged 2.8 STOCKS (steals and blocks) per game. Every team needs a glue-guy like Tugler on the roster.

13. Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State

2025-26 Stats: PPG: 22.1 | RPG: 2.5 | APG: 3.6

Why his retention is important: It's become rare in the modern college basketball landscape for a player to play his entire four-year college career with the same program. That's exactly what Hubbard is set to do this season with Mississippi State . Hubbard is one of the best pure scorers in the sport and has nearly 2,000 points and counting. Hubbard has shown throughout his college career that he's more than capable of taking a game over by himself. If Mississippi State is going to make any noise this season, it starts and stops with Hubbard.

14. Shelton Henderson, Miami

2025-26 Stats: PPG: 13.8 | RPG: 4.9 | APG: 2.1

Why his retention is important: Year 1 of the Jai Lucas era at Miami was a massive success. His second season at the school could be even better. That's because the Hurricanes landed several impact players in the portal -- such as Acaden Lewis and Somto Cyril -- while also retaining Henderson. The former five-star recruit and one-time Duke commit followed Lucas to Miami and emerged as the third-leading scorer as a freshman. Henderson has all the physical tools to be a wing at the NBA level and is a name to keep an eye on for the draft next summer.

15. Andrej Stojaković, Illinois

2025-26 Stats: PPG: 13.5 | RPG: 4.5 | APG: 1.0

Why his retention is important:  Stojaković went through the draft process before electing to return to Illinois for his senior season. He was Illinois' X-Factor during its Final Four run after he adjusted his role from starter to first man off the bench. His pla

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/top-retentions-returners-thomas-haugh-patrick-ngongba-jeremy-fears/)._