The NIL era in college sports has made a bigger impact than anyone could have imagined.
Players are changing teams at a rapid pace, and there are rumblings that some power programs are spending over $20 million on their roster. That has caused a lot of movement within college basketball, but it has also begun to impact the NBA Draft. This year, only 71 players declared for the draft, the lowest number in more than two decades.
Basketball World Reacts to Just 71 Prospects Entering the 2026 NBA Draft
NBA Draft expert Jonathan Givony highlighted just how drastically things have changed over the last few years.
“The NIL era is flipping the NBA Draft on its head,” Givony wrote. “Only 71 players entered the 2026 NBA Draft, per the NBA. Down from 106 last year and a peak of 363 in 2021. That’s the lowest early-entrant total since 2003. College basketball stars are staying in school, overwhelmingly.”
It is obviously great that some of these kids who won’t sniff the NBA can make money playing the game they love in college, but this will obviously have a huge impact on the NBA Draft. Not only are fringe players returning to school, but we’re even seeing big-time, projected first-round picks opting to wait on the NBA.
The full picture of how NIL reshaped the NBA Draft.
Early-entry numbers climbed from 2016-2021, peaking at 363 when COVID forced seniors to declare to keep draft eligibility.
Alston hit in June 2021, kickstarting the NIL era. Five years later: 71. pic.twitter.com/8tlrxX5wJu
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 27, 2026
That’s nearly 300 fewer declarations now than back in 2021. Obviously, COVID played a role in that, but it’s still an astonishing number.
Terrence Oglesby of Hornets Live believes this is a good thing.
“The college hoops product has been AWESOME over the past two seasons,” Oglesby said. “This is a big reason why.”
The college hoops product has been AWESOME over the past two seasons.
— Terrence Oglesby (@T_Oglesby22) April 27, 2026
Basket Review’s Brian Rauf echoed this sentiment.
“And it’s a great thing for the health of college basketball,” Rauf posted. “The on-court product has never been better.”
And it’s a great thing for the health of college basketball.
The on-court product has never been better
— Brian Rauf (@brauf33) April 27, 2026
Matt Jones of KY Sports Radio believes this is a win for both college hoops and the NBA.
“NIL is ultimately better for college basketball and the NBA,” Jones said.
NIL is ultimately better for college basketball and the NBA
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) April 27, 2026
Stephen Gillaspie of No Ceiling NBA also likes the direction things have headed, specifically from a developmental standpoint.
“Interesting note here,” he said. “Remember, a lot of people pined for the long term development of NBA prospects. This is what that looks like. Also, still PLENTY of talent.”
Interesting note here.
Remember, a lot of people pined for the long term development of NBA prospects. This is what that looks like.
— Stephen Gillaspie (@StephenGHoops) April 27, 2026
Nick Bateman jokes that if things keep going the way they are, there may not be a draft.
“If the NCAA grants a 5th year of eligibility for every senior next season the 2027 NBA Draft will have to be fully cancelled,” Bateman wrote.
If the NCAA grants a 5th year of eligibility for every senior next season the 2027 NBA Draft will have to be fully cancelled
— Nick Bateman (@nickbateman33) April 27, 2026
Kyle Tucker summed up his thoughts on the staggering numbers with two words: “That’s wild.”
Although it may ultimately help both college basketball and the NBA, “wild” may be the only way to accurately describe the current state of college hoops.