No. 1 hoops recruit Oladotun reclassifying to ’26

• Paul BiancardiAug 7, 2025, 01:55 PM ET Close National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com

• 18 years of training experience at Department I level
• Previous Horizon League coach of the year at Wright State

Babatunde Oladotun, the No. 1 high school basketball player in the ESPN class of 2027, is reclassifying to the class of 2026 and will graduate in the spring from Blake High School in Maryland.Still simply 16 years old, Oladotun follows in the footsteps of leading potential customers such as A.J. Dybantsa and Cooper Flagg, who reclassified after strong provings in summer play. Oladotun will not be 17 till December, just like Flagg’s timeline when he reclassified to the class of 2024. Expect Oladotun to rank within the top 10 potential customers of the class in ESPN’s next ranking update.Editor’s Picks 1 Associated”Firstly, I am ahead of schedule academically and will graduate next year,”Oladuton informed ESPN

.”Most of my life, I have actually played up in age and after playing in the 17U department for Group Durant, I felt comfy. I have actually gotten 20 pounds over the last year and it never ever seemed like I was highlighting. Finally, I am remaining and graduating from Blake High School. It is a great environment, and I have a great deal of assistance.”The 6-foot-9 forward with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and 9-foot standing reach included 20 pounds over the past year and recently starred for Team Durant’s 17U squad.Oladotun becomes an instant candidate for next year’s McDonald’s All American boys’game and has a chance to become a top-10 lotto draft choice in 2027.

The 2026 NBA draft class is not as strong as either of the previous 2 classes, which will only help his profile, if he can sustain college production to support an NBA frame and emerging boundary game.Oladotun is a genuine three-level scorer. When he enters the arc, he shows the capability to rise and shoot over defenders with balance and touch, and he transforms at an outstanding

52%clip, according to Synergy Sports. He’s special since he has true adaptability and NBA size. Oladotun’s passing and playmaking took a step forward this summer season when he dispensed the ball for 29 assists despite highlighting. He’s both productive and full of potential.Going even deeper, Oladotun has sound shooting mechanics with remarkable variety, and he is a balanced shooter both off the catch and dribble. His length permits him to drive or cut and complete inside with body control, touch and a lot of dunks. His production is enhancing as he gets more comfortable playing on both ends of the floor, but it’s his long-lasting future that captivates coaches, evaluators and NBA scouts.His dad, Ibrahim Oladotun, completed his career at Virginia Tech in the early 1990s. Babatunde’s recruitment is expected to intensify with schools such as Arkansas, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke and Gonzaga currently greatly involved.Among those schools, he prepares to visit Maryland and Virginia Tech initially. Oladotun likewise unofficially gone to UCLA and USC in 2015.”We are trying to find a coach that has a long history of teaching and winning, “his father, Ibrahim, told ESPN.

“Someone who understands how to use a big guard and has a history of coaching big guards. A coach that likewise plays an NBA-style offense

with fast actions.”