At the NBA draft combine in Chicago, Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie, North Carolina forward Henri Veesaar, and Duke point guard Isaiah Evans confirmed they will stay in the draft. All three were projected as late first‑round picks in ESPN’s post‑lottery mock. Okorie, a 6‑foot‑2 guard, said he had already spoken with Coach Smith, his agents and family before deciding.

Veesaar, who averaged 17.0 points and 8.7 rebounds last season under Hubert Davis, postponed his decision until the late April deadline. He met with new Bulls coach Michael Malone and declared the choice was his alone. Evans, after a championship run with Duke, said he had not spoken to Jon Scheyer about returning to Durham.

Evans added he was fully committed, saying he had no conversations with the Blue Devils about a return. Meanwhile, Michigan forward Morez Johnson remains open, noting he will discuss feedback with his agents while staying focused on the combine. Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson, Arizona’s Koa Peat, and Alabama’s Amari Allen also said they will concentrate on the draft.

Other prospects like Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas and former Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic are still weighing options, with the May 27 deadline looming. The combine will see teams evaluate these players’ readiness, while the decisions of stars like Okorie, Veesaar and Evans will shape the draft’s early first‑round landscape, determining which franchises secure their next cornerstone talent.