COLLEGE BASKETBALL RECRUITMENT: Five-star forward Baba Oladotun has committed to Maryland
First-year Maryland coach Buzz Williams had his first major success on the recruiting trail Wednesday when five-star recruit Baba Oladotun, the No. 10 player overall in the class of 2026 and the No. 1 player from the state of Maryland, announced his commitment to Williams and the Terrapins program. Oladotun chose Maryland over Georgetown, Kentucky and Arkansas.
“The relationship I built with coach Buzz Williams and the entire coaching staff was extremely important to me,” he said during his announcement, which was broadcast live. His YouTube channel. “They took the time to get to know me and my entire family.”
Oladotun said his two older sisters go to Maryland, so the opportunity to be close to family — and close to home as a Maryland native — was for him a place that offered “a lot of opportunities.” He added that his coaches and entire support system are there as well.
Oladotun was originally in the 2027 class and ranked as the No. 1 player before reclassifying in August. 247Sports ranked him as the No. 3 small forward in the class.
247Sports scouting director Adam Finkelstein said this summer after the reclassification. He has been very productive on the Nike EYBL circuit playing for Team Durant.
Oladotun is a late-flowering jumbo winger, who continued to grow throughout his high school years and now stands 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. He’s still not physically developed with a lean frame, boxy shoulders and high center of gravity, but he’s not afraid to play through contact and will continue to improve as he grows into his body.
His game, like his frame, is still a work in progress, but loaded with long-term potential. Perhaps the wide range of its diverse instruments is most compelling. He is already a threat by making movements as a striker, shooting over opposing defenders, or taking smaller defenders into the middle of the post. He tends to be a bit upright, but he has good hands and is very comfortable off the dribble. He’s only made 28% of his 3-pointers and 63% of his free throws in EYBL play, and has an elbow that can fly out on his way to a release, but still has a soft, natural shooting touch to develop.
Where he really excels is with his feet. He comes out in the midfield area, but more so at the end of his drives. He has an instinctive ability to navigate the lane in ways that can’t be taught, with a full array of maneuvers after he picks up his dribble. He slows down well, uses euros, but also knows when to lengthen his stride. He will also mix professional jumps, spins, mock spins and steps. He’s a strong athlete, can jump off one or two feet, and can cover ground like a long jumper, but the footwork between his final dribble and before his final step is the best.
The addition of Oladotun gives Maryland third place in the 247Sports team rankings behind only Michigan State and Kansas. He joins a class that also includes four-star recruits Kaden House and Adama Tambedou as well as three-star wing Austin Brown.