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Paul Biancardi
Babatunde Oladotun, the No. 1 highschool basketball participant within the ESPN class of 2027, is reclassifying to the class of 2026 and can graduate within the spring from Blake Excessive College in Maryland.
Nonetheless simply 16 years outdated, Oladotun follows within the footsteps of high prospects similar to A.J. Dybantsa and Cooper Flagg, who reclassified after robust showings in summer time play. Oladotun will not be 17 till December, very like Flagg’s timeline when he reclassified to the category of 2024.
Count on Oladotun to rank throughout the high 10 prospects of the category in ESPN’s subsequent rating replace.
“At the beginning, I’m forward of schedule academically and can graduate subsequent yr,” Oladuton advised ESPN. “Most of my life, I’ve performed up in age and after enjoying within the 17U division for Crew Durant, I felt snug. I’ve gained 20 kilos over the past yr and it by no means felt like I used to be enjoying up. Lastly, I’m staying and graduating from Blake Excessive College. It’s a nice surroundings, and I’ve quite a lot of help.”
The 6-foot-9 ahead with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and 9-foot standing attain added 20 kilos over the previous yr and just lately starred for Crew Durant’s 17U squad.
Oladotun turns into an instantaneous candidate for subsequent yr’s McDonald’s All American boys’ sport and has an opportunity to turn into a top-10 lottery draft choose in 2027. The 2026 NBA draft class is just not as robust as both of the earlier two lessons, which can solely assist his profile, if he can maintain collegiate manufacturing to associate with an NBA body and rising perimeter sport.
Oladotun is a authentic three-level scorer. When he will get contained in the arc, he demonstrates the power to rise and shoot over defenders with stability and contact, and he converts at a formidable 52% clip, in response to Synergy Sports activities. He is distinctive as a result of he has true versatility and NBA dimension. Oladotun’s passing and playmaking took a step ahead this summer time when he dished out the ball for 29 assists regardless of enjoying up. He is each productive and stuffed with potential.
Going even deeper, Oladotun has sound capturing mechanics with spectacular vary, and he’s a balanced shooter each off the catch and dribble. His size permits him to drive or lower and end inside with physique management, contact and loads of dunks. His manufacturing is bettering as he will get extra snug enjoying on each ends of the ground, but it surely’s his long-term future that captivates coaches, evaluators and NBA scouts.
His dad, Ibrahim Oladotun, completed his profession at Virginia Tech within the early Nineteen Nineties. Babatunde’s recruitment is anticipated to accentuate with colleges similar to Arkansas, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke and Gonzaga already closely concerned.
Amongst these colleges, he plans to go to Maryland and Virginia Tech first. Oladotun additionally unofficially visited UCLA and USC final yr.
“We’re searching for a coach that has an extended historical past of educating and successful,” his father, Ibrahim, advised ESPN. “Somebody who is aware of tips on how to use an enormous guard and has a historical past of teaching huge guards. A coach that additionally performs an NBA-style offense with fast actions.”