The question this year in college basketball is not: who's going? But (like it is every year): who's staying? The most updated list here.
Last year, it was Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart who broke through the sea of underclassmen declaring for the NBA draft and announced his return to Stillwater. This year's potential savior is an even bigger name, Jabari Parker. He's also basically the last interesting player left who hasn't declared.
Recently, Arizona's Aaron Gordon made his expected declaration, according to ESPN. Fellow Wildcat Nick Johnson is supposed to do the same soon. Gordon is projected to land somewhere in the lottery (but probably not in the top 10). NBAdraft.net only has Johnson going in the second round. Three other Wildcats -- sophomores Kalbe Tarczewski and Brandon Ashley and freshman Rhondae Hollis-Jefferson (who looked like a future star in the NCAA Tournament) -- are considering entering the draft, though all are leaning towards a return.
In Arizona's Elite Eight loss to Wisconsin, Johnson was their best player, but he isn't as unique or athletic as Gordon, Hollis-Jefferson, or Ashley. Given the Wildcats will likely be even better next year, he may benefit from returning for a championship run and improving his draft stock in a less loaded draft class. After seeing Ashley go down this year with an injury, however, he probably doesn't want to wait.
Waiting for the NBA didn't do much favors for Smart. He likely would have landed in the top five of last year's less than stellar draft. This June, he'll be lucky to make the top 10. (NBAdraft.net has him number seven, but I don't think he gets picked that high.)
If Parker stays another year and leads Duke to a title, it could at least open a pathway for one-and-done freshman to become two-and-done sophomores. If he fails like Smart, it could have the reverse effect. Of course, Parker is a much surer thing, which also means he's much less likely to stay.
