Purdue star center Zach Edey will not return to school after this season. Edey is already a senior, but like all players in his situation, he was granted an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-impacted season in 2020-21.

However, Purdue coach Matt Painter said his star big man will not return to campus next season. That means Edey will enter the 2024 NBA Draft, where he's consistently being mocked as a mid-first-round pick.

Edey was named the National Player of the Year last season and he's on target to repeat that honor this season. The 7-foot-4 center is averaging 23.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game this season.

Bronny James is slotted as the 39th pick in ESPN's first NBA mock draft for 2025. A year ago when ESPN released its first mock for 2024, James was projected as a top-10 pick.

James suffered cardiac arrest in July during a USC practice session, but he was able to make his collegiate debut in December. In 19 games this season, James is averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 20.2 minutes.

LeBron James has talked openly about wanting to play with Bronny James at some point before retiring. 

Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey are the projected top-2 picks in 2025.

The G League Ignite have struggled this season. After going 4-12 during the Showcase portion of the season, the Ignite are 2-19 in G League regular season. Those struggles, combined with a changing landscape for young players, has the NBA reassessing the future of the Ignite.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that the NBA is now looking at the Ignite differently than when the program was created in 2020. Silver noted that the idea was to give players an additional pathway to the NBA, other than going to college or overseas. With the advent of NIL, and other financial programs, players now have pathways open to making money while playing for NCAA teams.

Silver did note that basketball is now the most participated in youth sport in the United States. He also said that it's imperative that the NBA, NCAA and youth programs work together on how they develop players for the future.

Forward Ron Holland will miss the remainder of the season for the G League Ignite. Holland is out to protect a right thumb injury ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft.

Holland finishes his season with the Ignite averaging 19.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game. The 6-foot-8 forward shot 46% from the field and 73% from the free throw line.

Holland will now turn to preparing for the draft. He's expected to make a full recovery and to be able to participate in pre-draft workouts. Holland is projected as a lottery pick.