After reclassifying from the class of 2027, Babatunde Oladotun immediately became one of the hottest basketball recruits in the country. The 6-foot-9 wing, who was born in December 2008, will jump up a class after playing with Team Durant 17u on the Nike EYBL circuit this summer. Some consensus projections viewed Oladotun as the top player in the 2027 class before this summer where he averaged 13.8 points and 5.9 rebounds on 56.3% true shooting.
Oladotun, who will be as young as a player like Cooper Flagg relative to his class, already boasts impressive shotmaking chops and driving flashes. While he still must improve his outside shot and ball skills, but his natural driving and finishing ability signal enticing long-term offensive upside. He’s a developing defender as well, but that’s the case for most teenage players.
He currently ranks fifth in 247’s consensus ranking, dropping slightly from his top spot in 2027. In a fairly wide open 2026 class without many locked-in stars at the top, Oladotun will have a chance to ascend back towards the peak of the class. His eventual college choice will influence that success translating to NBA intrigue.
Maryland could lead the pack for Oladotun
At the moment, the Maryland Terrapins are an easy school to pencil in for Oladotun. He’s an in-state native who attended high school at James Hubert Blake in Silver Springs, Maryland, about 10 miles away from College Park. New head coach Buzz Williams could entice Oladotun and his family as an established name in college basketball who has produced NBA players before.
The Terrapins just produced an NBA player, big man Derik Queen, who was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans with the 13th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. Maryland’s notable brand and position in the Big 10, as well as a connection to home and a potentially desirable coach, makes them a likely spot for Oladotun early in the process.
Which other schools might fit?
Oladotun’s father Ibrahim, who played college basketball for Virginia Tech from 1989 to 1991, mentioned his desire for a quick, NBA-style offense. Kentucky head coach Mark Pope fits that description, as his motion offense, which often runs through playmaking forwards and bigs, produces results and could help players improve their playmaking and scoring.
Virginia Tech may be an attractive option for Babatunde given his father’s association to the school. If Oladotun followed his father’s path, he’d become the Hokies’ first five-star recruit in program history. That would offer a massive boon for Mike Young’s squad that hasn’t made the NCAA tournament since 2022 and had a losing record last season in regular season play.
Kentucky over Maryland could serve Oladotun best
It’s far too early in the recruiting process to crown a winner here, though Oladotun will take his first official visit to Maryland in September. Oladotun would make sense as a centerpiece for the Terrapins in the 2026-27 season, though we won’t know what their roster will look like. Buzz Williams would provide the established coach to help him adapt to college and eventually NBA basketball.
For his long-term NBA prospect, Kentucky might provide the cleanest outcome. Pope’s recent recruiting track record should suggest he’d build a strong team around Oladotun. His modern, NBA-style offense will help Oladotun acclimate to the modern game better than other schools and that could make the ultimate difference.
