Photo: Bleacher Report/X

Senegalese center Mouhamed Faye has opted to withdraw his name from consideration as an Early Entry Candidate for the 2025 NBA Draft.

With this decision, Faye will now shift his focus to evaluating collegiate opportunities in the NCAA, as well as professional routes in other leagues, as he considers the next step in his basketball journey for the upcoming season.

Standing at 6 feet 10 inches, Faye is a long, athletic big man who demonstrated his potential during the 2023–24 season with Pallacanestro Reggio Emilia in Italy.

Throughout 47 games played across all competitions, he posted solid averages of 9.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He was particularly efficient as a finisher, shooting an impressive 65.3% from the field.

Faye’s production and physical tools earned him recognition on the national stage, as he was ranked No. 54 on ESPN’s Top 100 prospects list for the 2025 NBA Draft. That placement had him projected as a potential second-round pick, putting him firmly on the radar of NBA scouts and front offices.

At just 20 years old, Faye remains one of the more intriguing long-term prospects in his class. By stepping back from this year’s draft, he’s taking advantage of the opportunity to further develop his game and potentially raise his draft stock ahead of future eligibility.

Players who declared for the 2025 NBA Draft as Early Entry Candidates have until 5:00 PM ET on Sunday, June 15, to officially withdraw.

NCAA athletes, however, were required to pull out earlier, by a separate deadline last month, to preserve their amateur status and maintain eligibility for the 2005–26 college basketball season.

Faye’s decision leaves the door open for continued growth either within the U.S. college system or through another season of professional play, before making a stronger push toward the NBA in a future draft cycle.