2026 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: First Round Projections Following NCAA Withdrawal Deadline
With Koa Peat staying in the draft and Tounde Yessoufou heading to St. John’s, the first round picture is finally taking shape.
Last night marked the withdrawal deadline for the 2026 NBA Draft, as prospects finalized decisions on whether to remain in the draft or return to school. While several players chose to pursue their NBA dreams, others opted to head back to college and continue developing their game.
The biggest names reportedly on the fence were Arizona’s Koa Peat and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou, both of whom I had projected as first-round picks in my Mock Draft 3.0 released shortly after the NBA Lottery. Peat ultimately decided to stay in the draft following a strong freshman season despite a rough showing at the NBA Combine and during Klutch Sports’ pro day, where he really struggled with his outside shooting.
Yessoufou, meanwhile, not only withdrew from the draft but also committed to St. John’s after the deadline passed. Alabama’s Amari Allen, whom I had given a first-round grade, also chose to return to school, while Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. — another player I viewed as a late first-round talent for much of the season — elected to do the same.
Santa Clara’s Allen Graves was another notable name reportedly weighing his options, but after a breakout season seemingly out of nowhere, he decided to keep his name in the draft.
Other notable prospects withdrawing and returning to college basketball include Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner, Arkansas’ Billy Richmond III, and Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic, who has yet to announce where he’ll play next season.
With those decisions now finalized, the outlook for the remainder of the first round has become much clearer. Before diving into the updated back half of the first round, be sure to check out my Mock Draft 4.0 lottery projections, which were released earlier this week and featured picks 1-14 along with several post-combine risers and fallers.
15. Morez Johnson Jr.
Illinois
Sophomore
Big
6’9” | 250
Age on draft night: 20.4
Mock Draft 3.0 Rank: 15
“SLAP.” That’s the acronym Bryson Graham used to describe the type of players he wants: size, length, athleticism and physicality. Morez Johnson embodies all of it.
