Satisfy the new No

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• =”40″/ > Paul BiancardiMay 1, 2025, 11:45 AM ET Close National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com
• 18 years of coaching experience at Department I level
• Former Horizon League coach of the year at Wright State

With Cooper Flagg heading to the NBA Draft– and top 2025 recruits A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer prepared to rock college basketball– a brand-new chapter of recruiting and an important examination period for coaches is underway.With that in mind, let’s look ahead to the next wave of elite high school basketball talent with the current rankings for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 classes. We assess players on a range of pillars: productivity, performance, physical forecast, mental projection, forecasted NBA draft range and, if any, on-court college impact. It’s the art of assessing the present and future.These rankings are

subject to change– and likely will– as players develop throughout their high school careers. ESPN will strike the road to assess prospects and scout movie with the objective of revisiting each class once again in a couple months.For now, let’s meet the No. 1 players in the next 3 classes.Sherman Oaks, California Tyran Stokes remains the No. 1 hire in the 2026 class. Notre Dame High School Stokes is no complete stranger to high expectations. He has ranked amongst the nation’s top potential customers as an underclassmen, constructed a comprehensive grassroots résumé and even played alongside Dybantsa, the top prospect in the 2025 class, for a year at Prolific Prep. Now he is the nation’s top increasing senior.”I’m all set to welcome the challenge and to be more of a leader as a senior, “Stirs informed ESPN.”I prepare to keep my circle small and

prepare my mind and body for the offseason. “At 6-foot-7, Stokes has a college-and pro-ready frame blending exceptional flexibility, productivity and long-lasting potential. His rare combination of power, fitness and athleticism stuck out from an early age. Stokes is an elite finisher in traffic with his physicality and explosiveness. His precise passing doesn’t get enough credit, either.”Since of my size and strength, individuals would take a look at me as a dunker and not as a playmaker,”Stirs said.Stokes enjoys making the assist, and is capable of striking either fixed or moving targets while playing on the move with his head up. Stokes is likewise working on growing as a leader.

“Tyran’s playmaking ability, rebounding and versatility on both ends allowed him to be a dominant force this season,” Notre Dame High School (Calif.)head coach Matt Sargent said.

“His development as a leader and focused rival is where he truly shined towards completion of the season.”Editor’s Picks

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This summer, Stokes will work with longtime NBA trainer Chris Johnson and play in open runs. Stokes will also experiment with for the 2025 USA Basketball U19 guys’s nationwide team, which is coached by Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and features Grant McCasland (Texas Tech) and Micah Shrewsberry (Notre Dame) as assistants. The FIBA World Cup games run between June 26 and July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland.Stokes is navigating

his recruiting patiently, but has a number of programs in mind. He just recently went to Kansas and has another visit with Kentucky from May 15-17. Stokes also prepares to go to Oregon, Arkansas and Gonzaga.Silver Spring, Maryland Earning the No. 1 ranking early in a recruitingcycle can be a blessing and

a curse. Some leading players grow contented. Others strive to attain more. Oladotun, who was our leading 2027 recruit this time last year, appears to fit into the latter category.At 6-foot-9 and 190 pounds with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Oladotun is extremely flexible

with strong character and academics. He is on his method to becoming high school basketball’s next great player and among the most desired recruits ever from Maryland.Oladotun will have his pick of any school in the nation. At this moment, it’s more unexpected when a school hasn’t provided him.

He has actually currently made unofficial visits to UCLA and USC, while also playing in the Kobe Bryant Mamba League Invitational last summer.Shooting from distance has actually ended up being a big part of Oladotun’s game, and his passing abilities are beginning to emerge, too. He has sound shooting mechanics with outstanding range, and he is a balanced shooter both off the catch and the dribble. His length allows him to complete inside with body control, touch and plenty of dunks. His production is improving as he gets more comfortable playing on both ends of the floor, but it’s his long-term potential that captivates evaluators.Oladotun has the markers of an unique player. And his support system keeps him grounded.”My dad tells me that he is not on my bandwagon yet, “Oladotun told ESPN.”He constantly states I have a lot work to do, and he and my mother constantly keep my grounded and modest and teach me scripture.

” Babatunde Oladotun stays the No. 1 hire in the 2027 class. Group Durant Off the court, the 16-year-old has a range of well-rounded interests including playing piano, reading and creative writing, however his love for basketball stands out to those around him. Oladotun plays for Group Durant, where Kevin Durant

‘s dad Wayne Pratt functions as the program director and U-17 coach. He has fantastic familiarity with Oladotun.” [Oladotun] is a health club rat,” Pratt told ESPN.”He enjoys to play. He reminds of Kevin at the same phase in the sense that if there’s a gym, he wants to play in it. If there’s a ball, he wants to bounce it.

Kevin has worked with him on his balance and he pointed out that(Oladotun )selects things up rapidly. Kevin said,’ This might be the closest thing to me this young.'” Oladotun’s father, Ibrahim, was born in Nigeria and played at Wagner before moving to Pensacola Junior College (Fla.) and after that eventually Virginia Tech, where he made an effect defensively, on the boards and as a shot-blocker. And Oladotun’s mom is a librarian at a regional grade school. He credited his family– along with Group Durant education director Shanay Howard– for assisting him balance the demands of school and basketball, especially now that he is using the travel circuit. “I’m tough on [Oladotun],”Pratt stated.”I believe he needs to balance a double-double. He turned 16 years old last December. Ability wise at his age, if he’s not above, he’s around the exact same level of skill as Kevin at the exact same stage. [Oladotun] is a fantastic teammate. Everyone wishes to have fun with him, which is unusual for a kid ranked so high. That’s a testimony to his moms and dads, who raised him with humility, and he truly appreciates the game. “2028: Bentley Lusakueno, PF Atlanta, Georgia Lusakueno had a great freshman season under Sharman White at Pace Academy, where he balanced 14 points and 9 rebounds over his final 15 games while making 32 starts. Now, he is prepared to make it his own team as a sophomore

. He is likewise active outside the