Clippers draft pick opts to return to college, play for Auburn instead

The Los Angeles Clippers may have selected Narcisse Ngoy with the 57th overall pick in the NBA Draft, but the center didn’t choose the organization.

On Thursday, Ngoy revealed on social media that he would be returning to college for the 2026-27 season.

“I am thankful for the LA Clippers’ confidence in me. I fully intend to honor my commitment to Auburn University, and I am looking forward to wearing the Auburn Tigers jersey for the 2026-27 season,” Ngoy wrote in a post to his Instagram story.

The LA Clippers selected Narcisse Ngoy with the 57th overall pick in the NBA Draft, but he revealed on social media that he’ll be going back to college. Instagram/nnarsix

Ngoy committed to Auburn in March and never formally declared for the NBA Draft or went through any process.

However, international players above the age of 22 are automatically included in the draft pool for that calendar year with new NCAA guidelines allowing him to keep his eligibility.

President of the LA Clippers, Lawrence Frank seen here in 2022. NBAE via Getty Images

The Clippers have transformed the meaning of the NBA’s ‘draft and stash,’ an avenue for teams to draft a player who doesn’t play for them the following season but allows the organization to retain the player’s rights while he plays elsewhere, which typically meant internationally.

For Ngoy, that is not the case. The Frenchman still has two years of eligibility remaining in college, and when he decides to join the NBA, it will be in a Clippers uniform.

The Clippers made multiple selections in the 2026 NBA Draft, headlined by Keaton Wagler out of Illinois with the fifth overall pick.

LA selected Henri Veesaar with the 52nd pick, but traded the center to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the No. 57 pick (Ngoy) and cash considerations.

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