NCAA changes 2020 NBA Draft withdrawal deadline

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The NCAA announced Thursday that it has changed the deadline for players to withdraw from the 2020 NBA Draft to either Aug. 3 or 10 days after the draft combine, whichever comes first.

"This provides the utmost flexibility to student-athletes testing the waters to make the most informed decision about their future during this uncertain time," NCAA senior vice president for basketball Dan Gavitt said in a statement.

"And by deciding before classes start for the fall semester, it also encourages student-athletes who choose to return to school to be fully engaged in their academic pursuits and the tremendous experience and opportunity to play college basketball," he continued.

College athletes initially had until Wednesday to pull out from the draft in order to retain their college eligibility. However, the NCAA announced in May that it was pushing the deadline back indefinitely due to uncertainty regarding the NBA's pre-draft process amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2020 NBA Draft was officially postponed from June 25 to Oct. 15 on Thursday, with the lottery now marked for Aug. 25. The combine was scheduled to take place from May 21-24, but the NBA postponed the event in early May. No official makeup date has been decided.