Head of the class?

Good morning! You made it to Friday. Time to kick back with some college hoops news.

Let's dive in.

1. Top 2027 prospect Baba Oladotun re-classes to ‘26

The debate in the class of 2026 was if there was any elite talent alongside Tyran Stokes. Some players such as Jordan Smith Jr. as hailed for their defense and playing approach, not necessarily their NBA upside.

Well, now 2026 has a prospect NBA scouts should love.

Oladotun is a 6-9 wing prospect from Silver Spring, Md. He was ranked as the No. 1 player in the 2027 class; he’ll be a lock as a Top 10 prospect for the class of 2026. Oladotun stood out during summer AAU play because of his size and natural two-way ability. He’s also seen as an elite offensive player, which is no small thing for a player his age.

There are no lists of official program options for Oladotun at the moment. Still, he has gone on unofficial visits to Louisville, USC, and UCLA, along with reported planned future visits to Kentucky, Gonzaga, and Oregon in the fall.

Kentucky could be a key to watch for one specific reason. It’s viewed as a clear contender for Stokes, who is the current No. 1 class of 2026 overall prospect. There have been whispers that Stokes and Oladotun could team up in college. That’s now possible with the re-class.

In the Calipari era, this wouldn’t raise any eyebrows. But for Mark Pope? This would be a huge storyline on the recruiting trail. There’s still a long way to go for this scenario to occur, including Stokes picking Kentucky first. but we’ll be watching.

2. Rick Barnes: Nate Ament’s the top 2025 freshman

Tennessee’s one of the few teams that’s won 25+ games in each of the last four seasons. In three of them, they were led by a first-year newcomer: freshman Kennedy Chandler and transfers Dalton Knecht and Chaz Lanier.

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