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Forward Carter Bryant will likely enter the NBA Draft, Lloyd said Thursday, though Bryant has signed a revenue-sharing deal that obligates him to return to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ if he withdraws from the draft.

“I fully expect him to test it, and we support him testing it,� Lloyd said, later adding: “He’s gonna test the NBA Draft, and he’s going to make the best decision for himself.�

While briefly discussing ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s roster announcements over the past week, Lloyd said guard Jaden Bradley might also test the draft, even as he has also signed a revenue-sharing agreement.

Bradley also quietly tested the NBA Draft last spring and then returned to become ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s starting point guard and second-leading scorer in 2024-25. But Bradley is not a projected NBA Draft pick and is expected mostly to be gathering NBA feedback, while Bryant is projected as a mid-first-round pick by many major mock NBA Drafts, suggesting he’s a much bigger threat to leave.

College players have until April 26 to formally declare for the NBA Draft, and until May 28 to withdraw if they want to return to college basketball.

“Carter has options, and we’re supportive of him,� Lloyd said.

The flurry of agreements being signed around college basketball, which often include NIL and revenue-sharing components, have helped ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ moved faster in nailing down its 2025-26 roster.

Many deals are being quickly frontloaded with NIL payments this spring so they won’t have to be subject to a proposed clearinghouse that would scrutinize their value once the House settlement is complete.

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is expected to offer at least $4 million combined to its men’s basketball players — an average of $267,000 each — on top of NIL revenue.

Lloyd declined to detail UA’s contracts or the frontloading trend but acknowledged their impact.

“These things kind of happen a little bit earlier for a lot of programs this year,� Lloyd said. “A lot of programs are finding themselves in a similar situation to us, where you have a good idea of what your roster is going to look like.�

In ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s case, even if Bryant does not return, the Wildcats already have nine players lined up for the 2025-26 season, including seven likely rotation players. That includes Bradley, wing Anthony Dell’Orso and centers Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Krivas, plus highly regarded freshmen Koa Peat, Brayden Burries and Dwayne Aristode.

In a series of social media posts over the past week, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ confirmed that Bradley, Awaka, Dell’Orso and Krivas have signed deals to return, while Peat, Burries and three-star guard Bryce James all signed scholarship papers after the spring signing period began Wednesday (NIL/revenue sharing contracts can be signed separately).

Aristode, a Dutch wing who is attending Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, signed his scholarship papers during the fall, while the Wildcats also added Harvard grad transfer guard Evan Nelson last week.

“We feel really good where we’re at with our returning guys, and we feel great about our recruiting class,� Lloyd said. “We were able to go out and get a recruiting class that’s gonna allow us to be competitive right away.�

Lloyd said the returning players “all made staying at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ a priority,â€� saying how much the program valued them in return.

“Jaden, we feel like he’s one of the best, if not the best, point guard in the country, so we’re excited to have him back,â€� Lloyd said. “We love Tobe’s impact, his character and the progress he made, and we think he could have a great senior year. And Delly, he might have had an up and down year a little bit, but he’s a great guy. He’s an incredibly hard worker, and he made it known he wanted to come back to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.

“We’re really thankful for those guys.�

Bradley, Awaka and Dell’Orso were all starters in 2024-25, while Krivas might have been if not for a foot/ankle injury that kept him out in the preseason and after he played in the Wildcats’ first eight games.

Now, Peat and Burries become immediate starters, while Aristode is expected to play a role after he sat out his senior season at Brewster because of an injury.

“Koa and Braden are two extremely talented freshmen and they’re winners, they’re guys we’ve recruited for a long time and we have a great relationship with,� Lloyd said. “We fully expect them to be able to make a significant impact on Day 1 as do we with Dwayne.�

Peat could take the power forward spot vacated by Trey Townsend, while Burries could do the same at shooting guard, where Caleb Love played the past two seasons. Aristode is an athletic 6-8 forward who might fill a variety of needs in the rotation, especially if Bryant does not return.

“The great thing about Koa is his versatility,� Lloyd said. “Koa impacts winning and impacts the game at a lot of different areas. He’s a guy that can really handle the ball, he could dribble the ball, he can drive, he can pass, he can make decisions. He’s a guy that could do the tough things around the basket. He’s great defensively. He’s great on the glass.�

Lloyd spoke similarly about Burries, who is expected to play mostly off the ball as a freshman but could back up Bradley at point guard. Both players led their high school teams to state titles, and both earned Gatorade state Player of the Year honors, Peat in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and Burries in California.

“I don’t know if Brayden ever had a hard line on what position he plays,� Lloyd said. “Brayden is a hooper. He can play either guard spot equally well. He’s a guy who is very comfortable making decisions with the ball in his hands, he’s very capable and he’s another guy who impacts winning.

“We love the winning DNA that both those guys are gonna add to our program right away.�

Meanwhile, even though James will enter with a three-star rating, Lloyd said the son of NBA star LeBron James has plenty of upside.

“Bryce is a really talented basketball player who’s also a great young man,â€� Lloyd said. “We’re in the business of helping develop young basketball players, and we think this guy’s got a lot of potential — and he’s shown a lot of interest and excitement in coming to the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. So we’re fired up.â€�