A year ago, Jaden Bradley quietly went through the NBA Draft process but returned to Arizona, the whole time never making any public announcements about testing the waters or returning to Tucson.
Could Carter Bryant be on a similar path?
Both Bradley and Bryant are among the 106 players who have filed for early entry into the 2025 NBA Draft. Per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony that’s the lowest number since 2015 and down significantly from the peak of 363 in 2021.
Players have until May 28 to withdraw from the draft process and return to school, and Arizona is hoping both come back. The school announced on April 14 that Bradley had re-signed for a third season with the Wildcats, while UA coach Tommy Lloyd told the Arizona Daily Star that Bryant had signed a “revenue-sharing agreement” with the school if he decides to return.
Bryant, who averaged 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds as a freshman, is listed as a first round pick on many mock drafts. But after being considered a lottery pick earlier in his first season most mocks have him going later in the first round.
If he returns Bryant is expected to start either at the 3 or 4, depending on how Arizona aligns its frontcourt and how it uses freshmen forwards Koa Peat and Dwayne Aristode. Bradley is locked into the starting point guard spot, one he held all of 2024-25 when he averaged 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals.
Including Bradley and Bryant the UA has 10 scholarship players on its roster for 2024-25, with room for up to 15 total players.