Babatunde Oladotun, currently ranked No. 1 prospect in the class of 2027, just announced reclassifying to 2026, as per ESPN’s Paul Biancardi. Oladotun, also a five-star recruit, will graduate from James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, this spring and is following in the footsteps of this year’s first overall pick, Cooper Flagg.
Flagg had earlier reclassified to the class of 2024 before going to Duke, similar to what AJ Dybantsa did before heading to BYU. Reclassifying expedites Oladotun’s timeline on his recruitment, given he already has plans to visit Maryland and Virginia Tech soon.
Sources at ESPN also note how powerhouse D1 programs such as Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, Arkansas, and Gonzaga are also seeking this opportunity to be heavily involved. Speaking to ESPN, Oladotun said:
“First and foremost, I am ahead of schedule academically and will graduate next year. Most of my life, I have played up in age, and after playing in the 17U division for Team Durant, I felt comfortable. I have gained 20 pounds over the last year, and it never felt like I was playing up. Lastly, I am staying and graduating from Blake High School. It is a great environment, and I have a lot of support.”
Oladotun is a 6’9″ forward with a 6’11” wingspan and a nine-foot standing reach. He is one of the obvious choices to star in the McDonald’s All-American boys’ game.
With this reclassification, Oladotun has one of the best chances to become one of the top 10 draft picks in the 2027 NBA Draft. Furthermore, the 2026 draft class is not looking quite strong, which makes his case even better.
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As a player, Oladotun can rise and shoot over defenders inside the arc, much to the likeness of a younger Kevin Durant. He has an impressive conversion rate of 52% clip and brings great versatility as well as NBA size on the floor. Though a forward, Oladotun can be a floor general as well, improving his playmaking greatly this summer. He has the perfect length to drive, cut, and finish inside with body control, touch, and add flashy dunks.
Oladotun’s father, Ibrahim Oladotun, played college basketball at Virginia Tech in the early 1990s. Ibrahim wants his son to be recruited by a coach who has a “long history of teaching and winning.” Ibrahim wants his son to be used as a big guard and learn ”NBA-style offense with quick actions.”
Kevin Durant pulled up to watch Babatunde Oladotun drop 29 points
After getting eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs, Kevin Durant’s focus remained on hoops. But this time, he was watching out for top prospects in high school, especially Babatunde Oladotun. At the EYBL, 15-year-old Oladotun dropped 29 points, impressing KD.
Kevin Durant pulled up to watch the no. 1 player in the class of 2027, Baba Oladutun 🔥
The 5⭐️ went for 2️⃣9️⃣ points in a win! @NikeEYB pic.twitter.com/opKGs9TAcV
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) May 4, 2024
Durant and Oladotun’s association goes back a long way. Oladotun was a member of Team Durant, which may have encouraged the 2x NBA champion’s appearance at this high school hoops game. In a way, KD’s presence shows how he continues to live up to his mission to encourage basketball among youth and promote their development.
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