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The future of college basketball is bright with the up and coming stars who are putting their names on the map from a young age. Many of these young stars have received offers from the top basketball programs in the nation as they prepare for the next step of their basketball careers.
As the summer months roll on, many of these top recruits are preparing for their next year and taking a step closer to their dream of becoming professionals at their craft. Here's a look at the five best college basketball recruits by class.
Five best college basketball recruits by class
#5 Tyran Stokes, 2026
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Class of 2026 college basketball star Tyran Stokes has some close competition for the top overall ranking in his class. He's ranked the top overall recruit by 247Sports and ESPN but holds the No. 2 overall spot in On3's rankings, behind Brandon McCoy.
Stokes is a six-foot-seven PF from Napa, CA, who plays his high school basketball for Prolific Prep. He has received 18 total offers, with one coach visit last November from John Calipari when he was with the Kentucky Wildcats.
He has received offers from many top programs, including North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, Alabama and UCLA.
Also Read: Top 3 players John Calipari produced who made it big in NBA
#4 Kameron Mercer, 2028
Kameron Mercer just finished his eighth grade season and is expected to attend Cincinnati Winton Woods High School for the upcoming season.
Mercer ranks as the No. 1 overall recruit in the PrepHoops national top five for the class of 2028, with his hometown school of Cincinnati among the schools that have already extended him an offer.
Mercer stands six-foot-four and weighs around 185 pounds. He played with the All-Ohio Red 15-U team, which is ahead of his current level. During his games in the EYBL 15-U, the left-hander averaged 10.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting over 40% from beyond the arc.
#3 Babatunde Oladotun, 2027
Babatunde Oladotun is the top-ranked college basketball recruit by ESPN in the class of 2027, as a five-star recruit with a grade of 94. Oladotun is a six-foot-nine PF out of Silver Spring, MD who attends James Hubert Blake High School.
Oladotun has received eight offers so far from schools, including Louisville, Tennesee, UCLA, USC, and West Virginia. When describing his playstyle, this is what Oladotun told On3:
"I'm skilled and pretty tall for how I play. I can defend all positions. Shooting, I would say, is probably my specialty. My athleticism and defense are getting better. I watch a lot of Brandon Ingram and Kevin Durant. They're both taller guards and score it efficiently."
#2 AJ Dybantsa, 2025
The six-foot-nine SF AJ Dybantsa is the top overall college basketball recruit in the class of 2025 by 247Sports, On3 and ESPN.
The Needham, MA, native attends Utah Prep and has accumulated 28 offers from top programs, including Alabama, Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina.
He has made two visits to Auburn and USC, with one official coach visit from John Calipari when he was the coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. He was the Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year in Massachusetts as a freshman in 2022–23.
Dybantsa averaged over 19 points and nine rebounds, with 2.5 blocks in his first season before transferring to Prolific Prep as a sophomore and announcing he would be reclassifying to 2025.
#1 Cooper Flagg, 2024
Montverde Academy's Cooper Flagg is the top overall college basketball recruit in the class of 2024. The six-foot-nine SF will be joining John Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils for the upcoming college basketball season.
Flagg committed to Duke in October but also received offers from programs including UConn, Kansas, Michigan, Texas and UCLA. He's a McDonald's All-American participant who was the National High School Player of the Year and USA Mr. Basketball this past season.
Flagg plays extremely well on both sides of the floor as a playmaker and rim protector. He can defend well off the ball and has an elite shot-blocking ability. He's a steady shooter, and his shot continues to improve.
His basketball IQ is off the charts, and he consistently finds himself in the right spot at the right time on both ends of the court.
Also Read: Five players with highest NIL valuation in ACC ft. Cooper Flagg
Which college basketball recruit are you most excited to see in the future? Let's know in the comments section:
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