Draft Notes: Gwath, Fland, Niang, M’Madi

Magoon Gwath won’t be going through the 2025 NBA draft process after all, having announced this week on Instagram that he’ll withdraw his name from the draft pool and will return to San Diego State for the 2025/26 season.

As Mark Ziegler of The San Diego Union Tribune (subscription required) writes, Gwath’s announcement omitted an important detail — the big man underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee earlier in the week and will face a lengthy recovery period, though head coach Brian Dutcher expects him to be ready for the start of next season.

Gwath, who injured the knee in February and played through it, had a strong freshman season for the Aztecs, averaging 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in 24.9 minutes per game across 26 outings (all starts). The seven-footer was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year for the Mountain West Conference.

Here are a few more draft-related updates:

• Arkansas freshman Boogie Fland entered the NCAA’s transfer portal prior to this week’s deadline, as Jeff Borzello of ESPN writes. However, Fland remains likely to go pro after declaring for the draft several weeks ago, as ESPN’s Jonathan Givony confirms after interviewing the 18-year-old in New York (Twitter video link)
• Senegalese wing Saliou Niang, who has been playing for Aquila Basket Trento in Italy, is declaring for the NBA draft, he announced on Instagram. Niang, 21 next month, has averaged 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 20.3 minutes per game with a .525/.350/.725 shooting line in 27 domestic league appearances this season.
• Mathias M’Madi, a 6’5″ guard born in 2005, has filed early entry paperwork for the 2025 draft, reports Jon Chepkevich of Rookie Scale (Twitter link). M’Madi has been playing for the Spanish club CB Morón.