Top recruit Babatunde Oladotun reclassifies to 2026
Oladotun, 16, expects to remain a top-10 prospect when the next recruiting rankings are updated. He will turn 17 in December.
"First and foremost, I am ahead of schedule academically and will graduate next year," Oladuton told ESPN. "Most of my life, I have played up in age and after playing in the 17U division for Team Durant, I felt comfortable. I have gained 20 pounds over the last year and it never felt like I was playing up."
Several high-profile programs are already attempting to land the 6-foot-9 forward, including Maryland, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke and Gonzaga.
Oladotun plans to visit Maryland and Virginia Tech first, and previously made unofficial visits to UCLA and USC last year.
"We are looking for a coach that has a long history of teaching and winning," his father, Ibrahim, told ESPN. "Someone who knows how to use a big guard and has a history of coaching big guards. A coach that also plays an NBA-style offense with quick actions."
Oladotun burst onto the scene after adding 20 pounds over the past year and starring for Team Durant's 17U team, combining sharp-shooting ability from 3-point range with a deft touch inside the arc.
By reclassifying, Oladotun becomes a favorite to be invited to next year's McDonald's All American boys game with the potential to be a top-10 draft pick in 2027.
Oladotun's father, Ibrahim Oladotun, played two years at Virginia Tech in the early 1990s after beginning his journey in junior college, averaging 2.6 points and 2.6 rebounds.
Babatunde follows the path taken by former top prospects AJ Dybantsa and Cooper Flagg, who also reclassified to begin their college careers early.
--Field Level Media
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