Early Bird: Top Hoops Prospect Reclassifies to 2026
Anwar Stetson
DMV stand up! The best Class of 2027 hoops prospect will be lighting up the college hardwood sooner than you expect. Babatunde “Baba” Oladotun is considered by many to be the best boys’ high school basketball player in his class.
A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, the Blake High School star is a 6’8” forward with an impressive resume. Now he’s reclassifying to the Class of 2026 and will soon visit nearby Maryland as colleges rev up their recruitment.
Prep Hoops’ Michael Roth saw Oladuton shine at Peach Jam in July, saying that the sixteen-year-old “had a productive game playing up an age group finishing with 20 points and 6 offensive rebounds” during a game at the event. He added that Oladuton showed impressive resilience in the contest, leading Team Durant to an upset victory.
“He’ll be even tougher to guard once he fills out his frame over the next couple of years,” Roth finished. “Massive upside for one of the most talented prospects in the country, regardless of class.”
With AAU team sponsor Kevin Durant in attendance at EYBL earlier this year, Oladotun showed off some of his similarities with the Slim Reaper himself.
With a 6’11” wingspan and 9-foot standing reach, Oladotun has a solid jumper to combine with unteachable length, which may remind fans of when KD shut down the hoops scene in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area 20 years prior.
In a recent interview with Shake Squad Media, Oladotun revealed that Durant contacted him and his father to ask if he could play in the older 17U age bracket when the AAU roster was short on players. While the Blake High School star had questions about his physical strength, he said that he’s felt confident in his development after playing against older competition.
“It’s been a blessing to be in the gym with the best of the best in the country,” Oladotun said of playing on Team Durant.
The now-senior already has offers from Notre Dame, South Carolina, Missouri, and Gonzaga. A September 13 visit with the Maryland Terrapins, however, makes the teen’s recruitment that much more exciting. After a stellar Cinderella run in the NCAA tournament last year, Maryland could reload with a class that already includes four-star forward Austin Brown.
With an impactful senior year, prep fans will be saying “bye-bye” to Baba as he heads for greater accolades at the next level.