Babatunde Oladotun, the top-ranked high school basketball player in the ESPN class of 2027, is reclassifying to the class of 2026. He will now graduate in the spring from Blake High School in Maryland.
The move follows a trend set by elite prospects like A.J. Dybantsa and Cooper Flagg, who also reclassified after impressive summer seasons. Oladotun, who is still just 16 and will not turn 17 until December, is expected to debut within the top 10 of the updated 2026 rankings.
“First and foremost, I am ahead of schedule academically and will graduate next year,” Oladotun told ESPN. “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.”
Standing 6-foot-9 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and a 9-foot standing reach, Oladotun possesses a unique combination of NBA size and emerging perimeter skills. His reclassification makes him an immediate candidate for the McDonald’s All American Game and a potential top-10 lottery pick in the 2027 NBA draft. His profile could be further enhanced by a 2026 draft class that is not projected to be as strong as those in recent years.
Oladotun is a legitimate three-level scorer with sound shooting mechanics and impressive range, effective both off the catch and off the dribble. He excels at shooting over defenders inside the arc, converting at a 52% clip according to Synergy Sports. His length and body control allow him to finish effectively at the rim through drives and cuts. This past summer, he also demonstrated significant progress as a playmaker, recording 29 assists while playing up in the 17U division for Team Durant.
His recruitment is expected to intensify, with programs such as Arkansas, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, and Gonzaga already heavily involved. His father, Ibrahim Oladotun, finished his collegiate career at Virginia Tech in the early 1990s.
Oladotun plans to visit Maryland and Virginia Tech first, after taking unofficial visits to UCLA and USC last year. “We are looking for a coach that has a long history of teaching and winning,” Ibrahim Oladotun said. “Someone who knows how to use a big guard and has a history of coaching big guards. A coach that also plays an NBA-style offense with quick actions.”
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