Latest news with #BabaOladotun
Forbes
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Baba Oladotun Follows Top Basketball Recruits In Reclassifying And Earning Money Sooner
College basketball coaches and NBA front offices are already well aware of Baba Oladotun, a 6-foot-9 wing from Maryland who doesn't turn 17 until December. Oladotun was considered the top prospect in the high school class of 2027 and a future NBA draft lottery pick. But last week, Oladotun reclassified to the class of 2026, meaning he is now entering his senior year of high school. The decision allows Oladotun to enter college and the NBA a year earlier and earn millions of dollars in Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals, revenue sharing and professional salary sooner than if he had remained in the incoming junior class. Oladotun is following a path that others before him chose, including Cooper Flagg and AJ Dybantsa. It could help him both on the court in terms of playing against older, better players and off the court in terms of gaining national exposure and reaping financial rewards. Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward, was once the No. 1 recruit in the high school class of 2025. But in August 2023, he reclassified to the class of 2024, a move that at the time and in hindsight seems like a no-brainer considering he was immediately ranked as the best player in his class and dominated in college. As a freshman at Duke last season, Flagg was the unanimous national player of the year. And in June, the Dallas Mavericks selected Flagg with the top pick in the NBA draft. He is expected to start for the Mavericks this season and is seen as a potential All-Star and franchise player. He signed a four-year contract worth a total of $62.7 million and could earn much more in his second deal. Dybantsa, another 6-foot-9-forward, was the top player in the high school class of 2026 before reclassifying last October to the class of 2025. Like Flagg, Dybantsa was slotted as the No. 1 player in his new class, per 247Sports. In December, Dybantsa committed to BYU and reportedly received millions of dollars in NIL money. Dybantsa is the highest-ranked recruit BYU has signed and should be one of the most closely followed players in the sport this season. The Cougars are ranked third in CBS Sports analyst Gary Parrish's most recent preseason poll. They have never been higher than 12th in the Associated Press preseason poll, but they should be in the top 10 this season in large part because Dybantsa is on the roster. Dybantsa, who turns 19 in January, is projected as a top-three pick in next year's NBA draft alongside fellow incoming freshmen Darryn Peterson (Kansas) and Carlos Boozer (Duke). It is too soon to predict where Oladotun will land in the 2027 NBA draft. He is now ranked No. 8 in the class of 2026, per 247Sports, but he could move up with a strong senior season at James Hubert Blake High School outside of Washington, D.C. Oladotun played this summer in the Nike EYBL circuit for Team Durant, a grassroots program founded by NBA star Kevin Durant, who also grew up in Maryland. At the prestigious Nike Peach Jam event last month, Oladotun played in the 17U division against players a year older than him and led the team to the quarterfinals. Eric Bossi, a 247Sports analyst, wrote that Oladotun was second on Team Durant with 13.2 points per game and that 'it was the attitude and approach, commitment to team, and effort on both sides of the floor that stood out.' As of now, Oladotun has not committed to a college. He has received offers from numerous major programs, including Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Tennessee, USC, UCLA and Virginia. reported that Oladuton plans on visiting Maryland and Virginia Tech first, and his father, Ibrahim, told the website that Oladotun is 'looking for a coach that has a long history of teaching and winning,' has a history coaching big guards and plays an NBA-style offense. Ibrahim Oladotun played at Virginia Tech in the early 1990s. Over the next few weeks and months, Oladotun will no doubt hear from numerous college coaches. They will try to convince him to join their programs and be a cornerstone in the 2026-27 season. If Oladotun continues progressing, he is likely to spend only one year in college before heading to the NBA. By moving up his timeline, Oladotun is able to play in major, nationally televised games earlier and is almost certainly making a smart financial decision that could pay off to the tune of millions of dollars.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BYU Basketball Offers No. 1 Recruit in the 2027 Class on Father's Day
BYU Basketball Offers No. 1 Recruit in the 2027 Class on Father's Day originally appeared on Athlon Sports. At midnight on Father's Day, BYU took the opportunity to offer top recruit Baba Oladotun. It was the first hour college basketball coaches were permitted to start contacting recruits in the 2027 recruiting class. The five-star, 6-foot-10 phenom has made his way in many NBA circles. He was introduced to several general managers, executives and scouts at the USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp in Colorado Springs, Colorado last October. He's the nation's top ranked player for a reason and shares many similarities to AJ Dybantsa. Advertisement Oladotun, a junior at Maryland's Blake High, has a high shot release and true athleticism. His unique skill set for a young player with a rare talent and drive have some comparing him to Kevin Durant. BYU and head coach Kevin Young have definitely turned heads by pulling in top talent. The Cougars signed the nation's top recruit in Dybansta out of the 2025 recruiting class. He's part of a top lineup that has been getting national attention. Related: BYU's AJ Dybantsa Becomes College Basketball's Top NIL Earner BYU is hoping that a successful season could put them on the map as an emerging basketball powerhouse. After Egor Demin's successful true freshman season in Provo, they're hoping Dybansta can solidify his status as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Oladotun, a junior at Maryland's Blake High, has a high shot release and true athleticism. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
No. 1 College Basketball Recruit's Father Almost Brought to Tears by Kentucky's Mark Pope
The college basketball season wrapped up in early April after an exciting Final Four. Houston edged out Duke, while Florida defeated Auburn. Todd Golden and the Florida Gators emerged as NCAA Tournament champions. It was a proud moment for the SEC, which sent 14 teams to the Big Dance. One team expected to contend again in the 2025-26 season is the Kentucky Wildcats. They have been active this offseason, working the transfer portal and recruiting trail under head coach Mark Pope. Advertisement Jacob Polacheck of On3 Sports shared an update Saturday on one recruit Pope is pursuing: Baba Oladotun, the top-ranked player in the class of 2027. In a recent conversation, his father was nearly moved to tears by Pope's approach: 'Everything that's happening to him is very historic.' Oladotun, a 6-foot-8 forward from James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the No. 1 recruit in ESPN's class of 2027 rankings. While several programs have shown strong interest, Kentucky and Pope appear to be making the biggest impression. Oladotun and his father, Ibrahim, recently traveled to Memphis for a Nike EYBL event, where the elder Oladotun shared his thoughts on Pope's recruitment. Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images© Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images 'I was blown away. It almost brought me to tears,' Ibrahim Oladotun said. 'Everything that's happening to him is very historic. That's just remarkable. Kentucky basketball, bluegrass and all of that stuff are a big deal. It's living the dream.' Advertisement Playing for Team Durant at the Nike EYBL, Baba Oladotun scored 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting, adding four rebounds and four assists. His team lost a tight 74-71 contest, but his performance in front of Pope was noteworthy. Ibrahim continued to praise Kentucky and its coaching staff. 'It's a great program. It's probably one of the best in the country,' he said. 'To match that with Coach Pope, that's incredible. I like his energy. He also has NBA experience. It's a very good program. It doesn't get better. They're the blue bloods.' Starting June 15, coaches will be permitted to directly contact players in the class of 2027. However, Ibrahim doesn't expect much to change in how their family handles the recruiting process. Advertisement 'I definitely want to handle all the calls,' he explained. 'I want him to focus on just being a kid and keep working. I'm going to handle that. We're going to tell everyone the same thing. I mean, he's 16. Remember, he's 16. Some of these kids are 18. "We're going to listen to what everybody has to say and let them know what we're looking for. Then, we'll go from there.' The Wildcats are coming off a 24-12 season, including a 10-8 mark in SEC play. Their season ended with a 78-65 loss to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. Related: No. 1 College Basketball Recruit Makes Decision Before Senior Season Related: Duke's Cedric Coward Sends Strong Message on Jon Scheyer At NBA Draft Combine
