Sports
The 25 best boys’ high school basketball players, regardless of class
After a long month of July on the road, it’s time to update the boys high school basketball recruiting player rankings. Several new names from the rising senior class have been knocking on the door of the top 100, including Carlos Medlock Jr., a smart, tough, scoring point guard who recently announced his commitment to Michigan State.
The biggest news of the month however was Babatunde Oladotun, the No. 1 player in the class of 2027, deciding to reclassify to the class of 2026. Where does he land in the top 100?
Reclassifying up definitely comes with challenges and a different form of evaluation. Cooper Flagg and A.J. Dybantsa did it most recently — but they are both rare examples of being able to stay at No. 1 in the rankings. It’s otherwise almost impossible to hold on to the exact same ranking. When you move up a class, you are now judged against seniors with strong bodies and well-known résumés, along with potential. That said, you could be ranked within the same range.
Consider Oldatoun. He is a prototypical big wing with skill and plenty of time on his side. He proved in July an ability to put up real numbers against players from the 2026 class. And, at only 16 years old — which makes him the youngest now-senior — he has a long-term upside that will factor in.
All of which adds up to him slotting into the top 10 of his new class as a five-star recruit. He’s also a top 10 projected lottery draft pick at this stage.
Oladotun has the projection piece down, and will have the opportunity to impact games this high school season, with the potential to do the same in college basketball — and in the NBA.
In addition to Oladotun, some of the biggest updates in this edition of the 2026 player rankings include:
In the class of 2027, Marcus Spears Jr. takes over the No. 1 spot. His progress and potential are converging at the right time. Spears is the son of former college standout and NFL first-round pick Marcus Spears, who was also Louisiana’s Gatorade Player of the Year in basketball, and his mom is Alysha (Smith) Spears, an All-SEC player, top-10 WNBA draft pick and retired pro.
The class of 2028, too, has a new No. 1: A.J. Williams.
How do these players all compare? Let’s look at the top 25 players in high school, regardless of class: a blend of current production, performance in elite events, college potential and NBA draft projection.
Full updated player rankings:
2026 ESPN 100 | 2027 ESPN 60 | 2028 ESPN 25
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 1 | SF | 6-7 | Uncommitted
Stokes plays with force, physicality and finesse. The more you study his game, the more his passing stands out. At the U19 World Cup, he had 18 assists against just six turnovers for Team USA, while facing older competition. He shot 36% from the 3-point line in EYBL play and remains elite at finishing through contact and drawing fouls. Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas and Kansas are among the top choices for the top overall high school player.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 2 | SG | 6-2 | Uncommitted
The Marcus Smart comparison still fits. Smith is a defensive menace and is the best player on this list at making multiple efforts per possession on that end of the floor. His elite defense passed the eye test and graded well with advanced metrics in the EYBL, where he was the circuit’s most impactful defender. Offensively, he was top-five in scoring efficiency, shooting 58% overall and scoring 1.12 points per possession. His intensity and tenacity can take over games. His final schools are Arkansas, Duke, Georgetown, Kentucky, Indiana and Syracuse.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 3 | PF | 6-11 | Uncommitted
Williams might have the greatest potential in the 2026 class. His shot-blocking, rebounding and elite athletic range are eye-catching. He covers ground with long strides, vertical bounce and excellent timing. Offensively, he shows touch both inside and facing up. Two swing skills to watch this year: his face-up game and maintaining consistent intensity. Williams is beginning to turn his immense potential into production.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 4 | PF | 6-8 | Uncommitted
Collins is still more potential than production, but he has made real progress. He was top-10 in EYBL in rebounds (8.3) despite averaging just 22.4 minutes through the season, per Synergy. He scores best on putbacks, drives and transition finishes. He’s a long, fluid player with a 7-1 wingspan who’s still growing. His father, D’Angelo Collins, was a McDonald’s All-American. USC, UCLA and Kentucky are in the mix for his recruitment.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 5 | PG | 6-3 | Missouri commit
Crowe is the best pick-and-roll player in the country among ranked players, according to Synergy Sports. He’s a constant threat because of his natural shiftiness, ball-handling and aggressive mindset. He has the ability — and the instincts — to score from anywhere on the floor at any time, especially in one-on-one situations or broken plays. He reminds us a lot of incoming Arkansas guard Darius Acuff.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 6 | SF | 6-5 | Uncommitted
Holt is a high-level athlete who uses his speed, quickness and explosiveness on both ends. His defense remains his calling card, but leadership and winning have followed. He thrives in transition and attacking closeouts. In adidas 3SSB play, he posted more steals (32) than turnovers (23) while averaging 7.4 rebounds per game. His 3-point shot improved at both the Adidas EuroCamp (where he was named MVP) and the FIBA U19 World Cup. Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss and Kentucky are among his suitors.
CALEB DEEP IN HIS BAG 🎒 @iamcalebholt #USABMU19 x #FIBAU19 pic.twitter.com/w9jsne2xXA
— USABJNT (@usabjnt) July 6, 2025
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 7 | PG | 6-4 | Uncommitted
One of the best on-ball defenders in the class, McCoy stays in his stance and plays with discipline. Offensively, he’s excellent in transition. He pushes the ball with straight-line speed and can make the advance hit-ahead pass. McCoy is a high-level talent who facilitates, finishes well, rebounds down to start breaks and is a capable catch-and-shoot threat when set.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 8 | PF | 6-8 | Uncommitted
After his recent reclassification, Oladotun is the youngest player in the senior class: he doesn’t turn 17 until December. His biggest improvement has been finishing through contact with touch. He has also added more strength, though continuing to get stronger is vital for his senior season. His shooting upside, footwork and a teachable mindset make him an attractive long-term prospect. Oladotun plans to visit Maryland and Virginia Tech first, with Arkansas, Duke, Kansas, Gonzaga, Georgetown, Tennessee and others also involved.
2027 ESPN 60 ranking: 1 | PF | 6-7 | Uncommitted
Spears has quickly evolved into a mismatch for opponents with his footwork and skill on offense, plus the mobility and length to guard multiple spots. He had elite per-40 production at the 2025 FIBA U16 Men’s AmeriCup. His handle, vision and willingness to pass bring Lamar Odom to mind. Spears was also one of the best rebounders and shot-blockers in the EYBL 16U. He needs to improve his free-throw shooting and play lower in his stance, but he takes coaching well and is intensely competitive.
2027 ESPN 60 ranking: 2 | SF | 6-5 | Uncommitted
Branch is one of the nation’s best outside shooters off the catch or pull-up. In adidas 3SSB with Compton Magic, Branch shot 39% from deep while creating shots with an effective handle and footwork. His range, ability to finish in the paint and 7-1 wingspan make him a prototypical future NBA wing. Expect him to challenge Spears for the top spot in the junior class this year.
2027 ESPN 60 ranking: 3 | PF | 6-9 | Uncommitted
Osaruyi is a powerful, explosive big man with physically imposing measurables. He stands 6-10 with a 7-2.5 wingspan and a 36-inch max vertical. He scores at a 64% clip at the rim and can step out and hit mid-range pull-up jumpers, although his free throws and 3-point shot need more work. Osaruyi is at his best scoring in the paint off straight-line drives from the perimeter. With more development, he could be scary down the road.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 9 | PG | 6-5 | Uncommitted
Mingo is a competitive lead guard effective on and off the ball who has developed a reputation as a winner. He ranked in the EYBL’s top three in free throw attempts (7.4 per game) and converts at a high rate. Mingo scores, rebounds and facilitates. He was named the MVP of the NBPA Top 100 Camp and he’s still just 16 years old.
2027 ESPN 60 ranking: 4 | PF | 6-9 | Uncommitted
Rosser has enormous upside. Now, he needs to start tapping into his gifts. Long and fluid with a 7-2 wingspan, Rosser scored at least 12 points in every EYBL game and was one of the best prospects at the FIBA U16 AmeriCup. He shoots well when set, finishes at the rim and rebounds, though glass production could improve. Kentucky, Duke, Arkansas, North Carolina, USC, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech are early leaders.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 10 | SF | 6-5 | Uncommitted
At 6-5 with a 6-11 wingspan, Samuels is a fearless lefty and one of the best scorers in the country. He creates offense off the dribble or via catch-and-shoot and gets to the line often. His 3-point shooting will help his game translate. Samuels hunts his scoring opportunities with an aggressive approach and confidently gets shots off in rhythm, and his college-ready body will help him rack up production at the line. He is looking at UConn, Texas, Georgetown, Tennessee, Villanova and NC State.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 11 | SF | 6-5 | Uncommitted
Richardson has been out with a wrist injury, but there aren’t many players better when it comes to transition scoring, off-ball cuts and converting on putbacks. He Improved to 34% from 3 last year and 69% at the rim, per Synergy. The son of former NBA All-Star and dunk champ Jason Richardson and brother of Orlando Magic first-rounder Jase Richardson, Jaxon’s extreme verticality and developing basketball instincts are quite promising. He is looking at Alabama, USC, Creighton, Ole Miss, Louisville and Miami among others.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 12 | SF | 6-7 | Arkansas commit
Aggressive, intense and improving every year, Andrews is a great example of a prospect who plays to win. He uses his chiseled frame, speed and explosiveness to fill the stat sheet. Right now his post-up and drive games are hard to stop, and the shooting is coming along. Andrews recently led Bradley Beal Elite to the Peach Jam title and earned MVP honors.
2026 EPSN 100 ranking: 13 | SF | 6-8 | Uncommitted
Thompson shot 39% from deep for Indiana Elite on the adidas 3SSB circuit. At 6-8 with a 7-4 wingspan, his perimeter game and recent production make him a riser, with the talent to make a significant impact in college. Don’t be surprised if he continues to move up the rankings if he continues to turn his upside into more steady production.
2027 ESPN 60 ranking: 5 | C | 6-11 | Uncommitted
At 6-11, 220 pounds, Ekezie has NBA frontcourt size with the mobility to switch and hedge ball screens. He tries to block everything at the rim. He’s the son of former Maryland star and 1999 second-round NBA draft pick Obinna Ekezie.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 14 | PF | 6-9 | Uncommitted
Bryant is mobile, long and now an inside-out scorer. He’s best known for his jump hook, rebounding and rim protection. He can be trusted to hit catch-and-shoot 3s with time and space. He’s also a great teammate who is very coachable. Missouri, North Carolina, Cal, Arizona and Michigan are among those recruiting him.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 15 | C | 6-9 | Uncommitted
Skilled and deceptive with long arms, Muurinen has advanced instincts and ball skills. He shoots it well from deep and plays out of ball screens, off-ball actions and dribble handoffs. He returned to Finland this offseason and has first-round draft potential.
2026 ESPN 100 ranking: 16 | PF | 6-8 | Uncommitted
Gaskins is physically developed with a beautiful mid-range jumper that impresses both college coaches and NBA scouts alike. He can score in the post, face up and rebound. He also just turned 17, so he’s quite young for the class. Texas, Miami, Florida State, Ole Miss and Louisville are in the fight for him.
2028 ESPN 25 ranking: 1 | SF | 6-6 | Uncommitted
Williams is a high-level talent and deep shot-maker with body balance. He’s quite adept using the “dribble bump” to create separation via his shoulders and get clean looks at the basket. Williams plays with pace, poise and confidence to make tough shots.
2028 ESPN 25 ranking: 2 | C | 6-9 | Uncommitted
Dampier is a monster on the glass, scoring in the paint and blocking shots. He also sets outstanding screens and has strong, secure hands and footwork. Perhaps that’s not a surprise, given he’s the son of former Mississippi State star and 1996 draft lottery pick Erick Dampier.
2028 ESPN 25 ranking: 3 | C | 7-0 | Uncommitted
From Senegal, Touray has explosive bounce and elite shot-blocking timing, making him one of the most intriguing prospects in this sophomore class. Skilled hands and footwork make him a high-upside big. He dominated on the circuit as a freshman and is also an elite dunker. Don’t be surprised if he ranks at the top of his class soon.
2027 ESPN 60 ranking: 6 | SF | 6-5 | Uncommitted
Hampton is a multi-positional player: He has the versatility to score, drive and make plays for others along with good positional size at a young age. He’s shown impressive scoring prowess, shooting touch and bounce on the circuit. Hampton is the younger brother of former ESPN 100 prospect and NBA draft first-rounder R.J. Hampton.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala — The Florida Gators, the reigning National Champions, will start former five-star recruit Boogie Fland at point guard, coach Todd Golden said Wednesday at SEC Media Day ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The decision clears up uncertainty about the way Golden will use both Fland, who spent last season at Arkansas, and fellow transfer Xaivian Lee, an all-Ivy League point guard at Princeton in each of the last two seasons, as the Gators attempt to win back-to-back national titles for the second time in school history.
Despite Golden’s announcement, Lee will remain a key contributor and handle point guard duties when Fland is off the floor for a Florida squad ranked third in the Associated Press preseason top-25 poll.
“[Fland] is going to start at the point for us, but Xavian will be a second-side playmaker and then he’ll play point when [Fland] is out of the game,” Golden said. “And I think they’re both going to have really good seasons. They’ve really kind of come into their own over the last couple weeks. I feel like they’re getting really comfortable with the way we play, and obviously we throw to our big guys a lot and let them be the playmakers and the hubs in the middle of the floor.”
Last season, Golden relied on Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard and Alijah Martin – who were all drafted by NBA teams – to win the national title. Both Lee (5.5 APG last season) and Fland (5.1 APG last season) are both capable ballhandlers for a team with national title aspirations.
According to their teammates, however, Florida’s practices have featured both players as point guards, which has not adversely impacted the flow of the offense.
“Both of them can play point pretty easily,” said Florida star Alex Condon. “If I’m inbounding, I’ll pass it to either one of them. They can both bring the ball up the court super easily, and they’re really good facilitators. So yeah, I think it’s basically the same thing when they’re bringing the ball up the court.”
Fland got off to a spectacular start during his freshmen season with the Razorbacks, averaging 15.1 points, 5.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds over the first 18 games before suffering a hand injury against Florida in mid-January that forced him to miss the second half of the regular season and SEC conference tournament play. He managed to return during the NCAA tournament in a reserve role, playing an average of 17.7 minutes against Kansas State, St. John’s and Texas Tech before the Razorbacks were eliminated.
Fland considered turning pro before withdrawing from NBA draft consideration in mid-May. He officially transferred to Florida a week later.
Lee averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season at Princeton, while shooting over 36% from 3-point range. He announced his move to the Gators in mid-April.
Sports
Kansas fined $25,000 for coach’s ‘inaccurate statement’ about pocket knife hitting staffer in Texas Tech game
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The University of Kansas was fined $25,000 by the Big 12 after it found head football coach Lance Leipold made “an inaccurate statement” about a pocket knife that was found on its sideline during a recent game.
Leipold said a pocket knife “was thrown and hit one of our staff members” during the Jayhawks’ 42-17 loss to Texas Tech on Saturday. Texas Tech officials confirmed a pocket knife was found on the Jayhawks’ sideline and were investigating game-day video. The Big 12 did not clarify which part of Leipold’s statement was inaccurate.
However, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported that Texas Tech’s review, which was sent to the Big 12, said the “best possible video available to us” showed a Kansas “student athlete” pick up the knife and immediately hand it to a Kansas staff member.
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Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold watches the scoreboard during the game between Fresno State and Kansas at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Aug. 23, 2025.
“We believe this video makes it clear where the pocket knife originated, which will disprove all claims that it may have been thrown from the stands, and certainly makes it clear that it did not hit any member of KU’s staff on the sideline. There also did not appear to be any reaction by anyone on KU’s sideline of it being thrown on to the field prior to it being picked up,” the review reportedly said.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said Leipold’s comments “questioned the integrity and professionalism of both the Conference and a member institution.”
“I appreciate the Big 12 Conference’s thorough review of events that took place during our game last Saturday at Texas Tech. I accept their findings and ultimate ruling,” Leipold said in a statement. “I had an emotional reaction in the aftermath of the game and acknowledge that I need to be better. We are excited to move forward and finish our season strong.”
Texas Tech was also fined $25,000 for fans throwing items on the field, for which the team was penalized twice. The school had a longstanding tradition of throwing tortillas on the field, but officials voted 15-1 to ban the act before the season.
Texas Tech fans throw tortillas prior to a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock. (Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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“After a formal review, Texas Tech did not take sufficient steps to prevent and deter the repeated throwing of objects onto the field and team bench areas,” Yormark said in his statement.
“I mean, it’s supposed to be for safety and things like that, and it’s a culture that’s been accepted to a point, and it hasn’t changed. And eventually, somebody’s going to be seriously hurt, unfortunately,” Leipold said after the game.
Leipold was animated in his postgame handshake with Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire, calling the actions “bulls—.”
“Coach, I can’t do anything about that. You want me to do something f—ing about it?” McGuire asked.
Head coach Joey McGuire of the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Head Coach Lance Leipold of the Kansas Jayhawks talk at midfield after the game at Jones AT&T Stadium on Oct. 11, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
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The Red Raiders are ranked seventh in the AP poll and have a date at Arizona State this weekend to improve to 7-0.
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Bruce Pearl’s retirement last month was a surprise to his Auburn team and even his son Steven, who succeeded his father as the Tigers’ new head coach.
But Pearl’s announcement was not a shock to everyone.
Steven Pearl said he didn’t officially know about his father’s decision until the day before the Tigers’ first practice. Bruce Pearl, however, had told Auburn athletic director John Cohen years ago that he had been thinking about retirement.
“Three years ago, [my father] told him, like, ‘Listen, I don’t know how much longer I’m going to do this,'” Steven said Wednesday at SEC media day. “So [Cohen] has been actively, in his mind, being prepared for this for three years now and going through all the different options of, ‘Do I bring in an outside coaching staff? Do I bring in a big-name guy or watch this grow? Does the staff grow as a unit and stay together and not go chasing other assistant jobs, not go chasing other coaching jobs?’ And he ultimately felt like the staff had earned the right and the opportunity to continue to move this thing forward.”
Bruce Pearl’s retirement followed months of speculation that he would leave coaching to pursue Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat that had been vacated by Tommy Tuberville, the former Auburn football coach who is now running for governor of the state.
Steven said the past three weeks have been, as expected, a frenzy. But he also said his time with his father — he played for his father at Tennessee and spent more than a decade as his assistant — helped prepare him for the role at Auburn, which is ranked 20th in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll.
“As far as when it hit me, it didn’t hit me until I showed up at the gym and [my father] was filming his goodbye video and [Cohen] pulled me aside and he was like, ‘Hey, you’re the guy,'” Steven said. “So then I was like, ‘All right, here we go. Let’s go.’ It all happened really fast, but I’m ready because I spent 38 years watching [my father] do this.”
Steven said the continuity of the staff and the stability of his team has eased his transition. His staff has a combined 40 years of coaching experience at Auburn under Bruce, who is now an ambassador for the university. Every player decided to stay despite having a 30-day window to enter the portal and transfer, according to NCAA rules on coaching changes.
Tahaad Pettiford, a star for a Tigers team that reached the Final Four for the second time in team history last season, said the players found out about Bruce Pearl’s decision when they all received a text message to return to the gym the day of the announcement.
Pettiford said he never once considered transferring after Steven was announced as head coach. But Pettiford is also the only remaining player on the roster who played for Auburn in the team’s loss to Florida in the Final Four.
“It’s definitely something new for me coming into this with 10 new guys,” he said. “It’s definitely different from being the youngest guy on the team last year to being one of the older guys on this year’s team.
“I’m just trying to give them the stuff that I learned last year and trying to pass that down to the new guys, especially some of the freshmen, and trying to give them the blueprint of what we did last year and how we were successful.”
Gators to start Fland at PG with Lee sharing role
Kansas fined $25,000 for coach’s ‘inaccurate statement’ about pocket knife hitting staffer in Texas Tech game
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