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Paul Biancardi
The 2025 NBA draft was dominated by the nation’s greatest school freshmen — 10 of the 14 lottery picks as soon as ranked in ESPN’s prime 100, with 17 ranked prospects drafted in complete — and do not count on this development to vanish. The league tends to covet star expertise with upside, whereas additionally valuing function gamers with a observe report of manufacturing and powerful character traits. And school freshmen have a tendency to suit the invoice.
The highschool class of 2026 is already displaying indicators of elite expertise, with gamers throughout the nation flashing talent units that evoke comparisons to present NBA stars. Whereas projecting youngsters to the best degree is rarely a precise science, sure traits — measurement, athleticism, scoring versatility, defensive instruments — make these prospects stand out early.
To raised perceive the rising senior class, let’s check out 10 gamers whose video games call to mind notable NBA names, and provide a glimpse of their future potential.
Extra recruiting:
Updated 2026 ESPN 100 player rankings |
Updated 2027 ESPN 60 player rankings |
Updated 2028 ESPN 25 player rankings
6-foot-7 | Notre Dame Excessive Faculty (CA) | Uncommitted
NBA comparability: Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
TYRAN IS MAD AT THE RIM 😤 @tyran_stokes #USABMU19 x #FIBAU19 pic.twitter.com/pYQUexRyqE
— USABJNT (@usabjnt) July 2, 2025
Few gamers in highschool basketball are constructed like Stokes. At a bodily imposing 6-7, 220 kilos, he is a mixture of power and finesse. Stokes thrives as a downhill attacker, utilizing his power to complete via contact, generate fouls and transfer the ball. His skill to attract consideration additionally makes him an efficient playmaker. A succesful 3-point shooter, Stokes does his greatest injury in transition. And when the sport slows down, he can rating from a number of spots and has no problem dwelling on the free throw line, averaging 12.8 makes an attempt per recreation in EYBL play, in keeping with Synergy Sports activities. His present profile mirrors that of Scottie Barnes on the identical stage — each averaged 2.5 3-pointers and related at a 25% clip. Like Barnes, Stokes tasks as a flexible ahead whose mixture of measurement, physicality and playmaking skill suits the fashionable mould of a two-way wing.
6-foot-8 | St. John Bosco Excessive Faculty (CA) | Uncommitted
NBA comparability: Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards
The son of former McDonald’s All American DeAngelo Collins, Christian has a tantalizing mixture of measurement, size and mobility, plus good defensive anticipation. At 6-8 with a 7-2 wingspan, Collins has pure bounce and is comfy dealing with the ball in transition. He appears to all the time be in the appropriate place on the proper time. As soon as he learns the right way to absolutely make the most of his mixture of talent and shotmaking, be careful. Collins’ bodily skill will permit him to play an inside-out recreation, the place he can work the paint along with his size and have an effect in a number of methods.
6-foot-2 | Paul VI Excessive Faculty (VA) | Uncommitted
NBA comparability: Marcus Smart, Washington Wizards
Smith is the very best rebounding guard in latest EYBL historical past, averaging 12 boards per 40 minutes, in keeping with Synergy Sports activities. He parlays his defensive rebounding mindset into aggressive transition play and pushes the ball laborious for simple open-court alternatives. He is additionally an environment friendly scorer, rating fourth in discipline purpose share, and has a wholesome 5.4 assists per 40 minutes regardless of averaging solely 25 minutes. In a small pattern measurement, he is additionally taking pictures almost 37% from deep. A troublesome, defense-minded participant with ball expertise, Smith is likely one of the most impactful gamers within the class and likewise strikes as much as third in our celebrity news rankings.
6-foot-3 | Inglewood Excessive Faculty (CA) | Uncommitted
NBA comparability: Brandon Jennings
5⭐️ (no. 6 ESPN 60) Jason Crowe Jr. dropped 26 factors and seven rebounds in Day 1 of EYBL Session I 😤 @nikeeyb
Oakland Troopers: 99
Houston Hoops: 62 pic.twitter.com/5u1uYKWO0K— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) April 26, 2025
A left-handed scoring level guard, Crowe thrives in transition. He has a balanced, managed jumper, no matter whether or not he is taking pictures off the dribble or catch. Crowe has an uncanny skill to blow previous defenders and balances it out with a top quality midrange recreation and succesful taking pictures from deep. He additionally converts nicely from the free throw line. Add all of it up, and Crowe is the very best scorer within the class, no matter his place. He’ll additionally soar passing lanes and create steals off the ball, though he must develop into a extra lively on-ball defender. A score-first guard, extra constant playmaking will solely improve his total recreation.
6-foot-5 | Grayson Excessive Faculty (GA) | Uncommitted
NBA comparability: Josh Hart, New York Knicks
Wasn’t leaving with out {hardware}.@iamcalebholt led the 3SSB Choose crew to the Eurocamp championship 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XCbri4z728
— adidas Basketball (@adidasHoops) June 3, 2025
Holt performs with eye-opening tenacity as his ball expertise proceed to develop. He is having an excellent offseason, successful MVP on the Adidas Euro camp and main his crew to the championship. A strong wing, Holt is engaged on his ballhandling and taking pictures towards a set protection, whereas understanding the significance of ball motion. He can rating in numerous methods and is an lively rebounder. Defensively, Holt is among the many greatest within the class. His perimeter recreation ought to proceed to evolve as he demonstrates strong shot high quality and shotmaking expertise.
6-foot-4 | St. John Bosco Excessive Faculty (CA) | Uncommitted
NBA comparability: Kris Dunn, LA Clippers
McCoy has terrific positional measurement as an athletic level guard with pace and imaginative and prescient within the open courtroom, and he has embraced his function as a defense-minded guard who can have an effect on video games. His skill to push the tempo and convert in transition is among the many greatest within the class. McCoy will run the offense and drive for paint touches or scores. Now, he must develop into a reliable open shooter: he is making simply 26% of his 3s regardless of taking 4.8 per recreation.
6-foot-9 | Saint Mary’s (AZ) | Uncommitted
NBA comparability: Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves
At 6-9, Williams is an innate shot blocker who shrinks the imaginative and prescient of opposing offenses just by enjoying attentive, bouncy protection with excessive arms. He additionally expertly defends ball screens along with his wingspan in addition to footwork, and is able to heading off ballhandlers, switching or dropping into protection. Williams additionally will get straightforward buckets in transition by outrunning his opponents. Within the half courtroom, he is superior at driving to the rim, and his soar shot is maturing as he learns to stretch out defenses. His total recreation is starting to return collectively as he learns the right way to use his gifted measurement, size and contact — which has propelled him into the highest 10 of the rankings. Getting right into a decrease stance on protection and including extra power to his body will solely carry higher outcomes.
6-foot-5 | Lengthy Island Lutheran (NY) | Uncommitted
NBA comparability: Tyreke Evans
Mingo is dynamic when the ball is in his arms. He can rating in transition and within the half courtroom, the place he assaults defenders off the dribble and is aware of the right way to maneuver ball screens. He is additionally comfy decelerating and processing the sport towards set defenses, then utilizing a deep array of scoring, rebounding and playmaking expertise to make a optimistic affect. Off the ball, he understands spacing and motion taking pictures, leading to a stretch of extraordinarily productive basketball on each ends of the courtroom.
6-foot-5 | Bishop McNamara (MD) | Uncommitted
NBA comparability: James Harden, LA Clippers
At 6-5 with a 6-11 wingspan, Samuels performs with an extended, lefty body and a fearless scoring prowess. He aggressively and confidently seeks scoring alternatives and understands the right way to get his shot off shortly with rhythm. In latest outings, Samuels confirmed he may create his personal offense or rating off an help. He additionally will get his justifiable share of factors from the free throw line as a result of he has a bodily, college-ready physique. Samuels’ 3-point taking pictures will assist his recreation translate.
6-foot-5 | Christopher Columbus (FL) | Uncommitted
NBA comparability: Jason Richardson
Jaxon’s father, Jason, starred at Michigan State after which within the NBA. His brother, Jase, additionally performed at Michigan State earlier than being picked within the first spherical of the 2025 draft by the Orlando Magic. As is the case within the Richardson household, Jaxon is the very best expertise most occasions he steps on the courtroom. He has dynamic vertical bounce and can all the time have an effect on video games on the rim, however his swing talent is his creating soar shot from each midrange and past the arc. He has made reliable progress as a stationary shooter, on the run and in catch-and-shoot eventualities — to the purpose the place defenders now should honor his shot and shut out laborious. Then, he has them proper the place he desires them because it opens up his drive recreation. As a rising senior, it is time for Richardson to spherical out his recreation and make extra of an affect each defensively and on the glass.