The recruiting trail never sleeps and neither does Mark Pope
Kentucky’s new head coach continues to push the pace in the class of 2026, stacking visits and building bonds with elite targets. But as always in college basketball, tomorrow's headlines start early. Enter Baba Oladotun, the No. 1 player in the class of 2027 — for now.
The 6-foot-9 small forward from Maryland has become the most coveted prospect in high school basketball, drawing early comparisons to Kevin Durant. That’s not just lazy media talk — Oladotun plays for Team Durant on the Nike EYBL circuit and shares the same long, smooth perimeter game that made KD a generational scorer. But what’s catching coaches’ attention now? He has officially reclassified to 2026.
In a recent interview with Kentucky Sports Radio, Baba’s father, Ibrahim Oladotun, confirmed the family were seriously “debating” the move. Seems the debate is done according to 247sports.
It could force an uncomfortable question for schools: go all-in on one generational wing, or find the NIL money to land both?
That’s not an exaggeration. Oladotun already holds over 30 high-major offers and has hosted the likes of Mark Pope, John Calipari (Arkansas), Jerome Tang (Kansas State), and Damon Stoudamire (Georgia Tech). For now, the family is fielding all communication through Ibrahim, who said he’s “handling all the calls” because Baba is still so young.
And yet, the maturity is unmistakable.
Oladotun’s first EYBL session with Team Durant's 16U squad saw him average 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. Now, he’s moving up to 17U, and every scout in the country is watching.
Off the court, Baba’s work ethic is what separates him. His father, a former Virginia Tech player originally from Nigeria, said his son “became an alien” he told Zagsblog.
That change is intentional. Baba reportedly schedules every minute of his day — school, workouts, gym time, conditioning, and even Bible study. There are no distractions in the Oladotun household. Just vision and discipline.
Now the biggest storyline of the 2026 cycle might not be whether Kentucky lands Tyran Stokes — but whether they can close on both Stokes and Oladotun. Or if any program can. That would give Pope the most dangerous wing combo in the country.
And if they end up choosing different schools? Expect those matchups to be really fun to watch.