Fulfill the 2026 recruits who advise us of some big
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- height=” 40″/ > Paul BiancardiJul 3, 2025, 11:00 AM ET Close National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com
- 18 years of training experience at Department I level
- Former Horizon League coach of the year at Wright State
The 2025 NBA draft was dominated by the country’s best college freshmen– 10 of the 14 lottery game picks when ranked in ESPN’s top 100, with 17 ranked potential customers prepared in total– and don’t anticipate this trend to disappear. The league tends to yearn for star skill with upside, while likewise valuing function players with a track record of production and strong character qualities. And college freshmen tend to fit the bill.The high school class of 2026 is already showing indications of elite skill, with players across the country flashing ability that evoke contrasts to current NBA stars. While predicting teens to the greatest level is never a precise science, certain traits– size, athleticism, scoring versatility, defensive tools– make these prospects stand apart early.To better comprehend the increasing senior class, let’s have a look at 10 players whose games bring to mind notable NBA names, and provide a glance of their future potential.More recruiting: Upgraded 2026 ESPN 100 player rankings|Upgraded 2027 ESPN 60 player rankings|Upgraded 2028 ESPN 25 player rankings 6-foot-7|Notre Dame High
School(CA )| Uncommitted NBA comparison: Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors TYRAN SEETHES AT THE RIM @tyran_stokes #USABMU 19 x #FIBAU 19 pic.twitter.com/pYQUexRyqE!.?.!— USABJNT(
@usabjnt )July 2, 2025 Few players in high school basketball are developed like Stokes. At a physically imposing 6-7, 220 pounds, he’s
a combination of force and skill. Stokes flourishes as a downhill assailant, utilizing his strength to complete through contact, create fouls and move the ball. His capability to draw attention likewise makes him a reliable playmaker. A capable 3-point shooter, Stirs does his best damage in shift. And when the game decreases, he can score from numerous areas and has no problem living at the free throw line, averaging 12.8 efforts per game in EYBL play, according to Synergy Sports. His present profile mirrors that of Scottie Barnes at the exact same phase– both balanced 2.5 3-pointers and connected at a 25%clip. Like Barnes, Stokes jobs as a versatile forward whose mix of size, physicality and playmaking ability fits the contemporary mold of a two-way wing.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated 6-foot-8|St. John Bosco High School( CA)| Uncommitted NBA comparison: Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards The boy of former McDonald’s All American DeAngelo Collins
, Christian has a tantalizing combination of size, length and mobility, plus good protective anticipation. At 6-8 with a 7-2 wingspan, Collins has natural
bounce and is comfortable managing the ball in shift. He seems to constantly remain in the right location at the correct time. Once he discovers how to totally utilize his mix of ability and shotmaking, beware. Collins ‘physical capability will permit him to play an inside-out game, where he can work the paint with his length and have an impact in a number of ways. Jordan Smith’s game resembles the game of NBA star Marcus Smart at the exact same age. Courtesy of U.S.A. Basketball 6-foot-2 |
Paul VI High School(VA )| Uncommitted NBA contrast: Marcus Smart, Washington Wizards Smith is the best rebounding guard in current EYBL history, balancing 12 boards per 40 minutes, according to
Synergy Sports. He parlays his defensive rebounding state of mind
into aggressive transition play and pushes the ball hard for easy open-court opportunities. He’s likewise an efficient scorer, ranking 4th in basket portion, and has a healthy 5.4 assists per 40 minutes regardless of balancing just 25 minutes. In a small sample size, he’s also shooting almost 37 %from deep. A difficult, defense-minded player with ball abilities, Smith is one of the most impactful players in the class and also moves up to 3rd in our newest rankings.6-foot-3|Inglewood High School( CA)| Uncommitted NBA comparison: Brandon Jennings 5 ⭐(no. 6 ESPN 60) Jason Crowe Jr. dropped 26 points and 7 rebounds in Day 1 of EYBL Session I @nikeeyb Oakland Soldiers: 99 Houston Hoops:
62 pic.twitter.com/5u1uYKWO0K!.?.!— SportsCenter NEXT( @SCNext)April 26, 2025 A left-handed scoring point player,
Crowe grows in transition. He has a well balanced, controlled jumper, no matter whether he’s shooting off the dribble or catch. Crowe has an uncanny capability to blow previous defenders and balances it
out with a quality midrange game and capable shooting from deep. He likewise transforms
well from the totally free toss line. Include everything up, and Crowe is the best
scorer in the class, despite his position. He’ll also leap passing lanes and develop takes off the ball, although he needs to end up being a more active on-ball defender. A score-first guard, more constant playmaking will just improve his total game.6-foot-5|Grayson High School (GA )| Uncommitted NBA contrast: Josh Hart, New York Knicks Wasn’t leaving without hardware.@iamcalebholt led the 3SSB Select team to the Eurocamp championship pic.twitter.com/XCbri4z728!.?.!— adidas Basketball (@adidasHoops )June 3, 2025 Holt plays with mind-blowing persistence as his ball abilities continue to establish. He’s having an outstanding offseason, winning MVP at the Adidas Euro camp and
leading his team to the championship. An effective wing, Holt is dealing with
his ballhandling and shooting against a set defense
, while comprehending the value of ball motion. He can score in different ways and is an active rebounder. Defensively, Holt is amongst the very best in the class. His border game need to continue to progress as he shows solid shot quality and shotmaking skills. Brandon McCoy shows a few of the skills NBA star Kris Dunn showcased in high school. Courtesy of USA Basketball 6-foot-4|St. John Bosco High School (CA )| Uncommitted NBA contrast: Kris Dunn, LA Clippers McCoy has great positional size as an athletic point guard with speed and vision outdoors court, and he has actually welcomed his role as a defense-minded guard who can affect games.
His capability to push the pace and transform in transition is among the very best in the class. McCoy will run the offense
and drive for paint touches or scores. Now, he needs to end up being a trustworthy open shooter: he’s making just 26%of his threes despite taking 4.8 per game.6-foot-9|Saint Mary’s(AZ)| Uncommitted NBA contrast: Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves At 6-9, Williams is an innate shot blocker who shrinks the vision of opposing offenses simply by playing mindful, bouncy defense with high hands. He likewise skillfully safeguards ball screens with his wingspan in addition to footwork, and can avoiding ballhandlers, changing or dropping into coverage. Williams likewise gets simple containers in shiftby outrunning his opponents. In the half court, he’s advanced at driving to the rim, and his jump shot is growing as he learns to stretch out defenses.
His overall game is starting to come together as he learns how to use his gifted size, length and touch– which has actually propelled him into the leading 10 of the rankings. Entering a lower stance on defense and including more strength to his frame will only bring greater results.6-foot-5|Long Island Lutheran(NY )| Uncommitted NBA comparison: Tyreke Evans Mingo is dynamic when the ball is in his hands. He can score in transition and in the half court, where he attacks defenders off the dribble and knows how to steer ball screens. He’s also comfy decelerating and processing the game against set defenses, then utilizing a deep selection of scoring, rebounding and playmaking abilities to make a positive impact. Off the ball, he comprehends spacing and motion shooting, leading to a stretch of incredibly efficient basketball
on both ends of the court.6-foot-5|Bishop McNamara (MD)|Uncommitted
NBA contrast: James Harden,
LA Clippers At 6-5 with a 6-11 wingspan, Samuels plays with a long, lefty frame and a courageous scoring expertise. He aggressively and with confidence seeks scoring opportunities and comprehends how to get his shot off quickly with rhythm. In recent trips, Samuels showed he could develop his own offense or rating off an assist. He also gets his reasonable share of points from the free throw line because he has a physical, college-ready body. Samuels ‘3-point shooting will help his game translate.6-foot-5|Christopher Columbus(
FL)| Uncommitted NBA contrast: Jason Richardson Jaxon’s daddy, Jason, starred at Michigan State and after that in the NBA. His sibling, Jase, also played at Michigan State before being picked in the preliminary of the 2025 draft by the Orlando Magic. As holds true in the Richardson family, Jaxon is the best talent most times he steps on the court. He has dynamic vertical bounce and will always impact games at the rim, but his swing skill is his establishing jump shot from both midrange and beyond the arc. He has made legitimate development as a fixed shooter, on the run and in catch-and-shoot scenarios– tothe point where defenders now should honor his shot and close out hard. Then, he has them
right where he desires them as it opens up his
drive game. As a rising senior, it’s time for Richardson to round out his game and make more of an impact both defensively and on the glass.