Maryland secured one of the biggest recruiting victories of the 2026 cycle with the commitment of Baba Oladotun, a five-star prospect and the No. 10 overall player in the class of 2026.
The 6-foot-10, 195-pound forward from James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, Md., elected to stay home and continue his career in College Park.
”I chose Maryland because of the relationship I built with Coach Buzz and the entire coaching staff means a lot to me, and it's close to home. I really appreciate how much effort they put into getting to know my family. My two older sisters go there, and being so close brings so many opportunities. All my trainers and my entire support system are here."
Oladotun orginally started in the 2027 class, but moved up into the 2026 class in August.
RELATED: Scouting Baba Oladotun and his fit at Maryland
Oladotun chose the Terps over a final group that included Kentucky, Arkansas, and Georgetown. The commitment gives Maryland a major win on the national stage and inside the DMV. Oladutun immediately becomes one of the centerpieces of Maryland's future roster construction and a significant momentum boost for Buzz Williams and his staff.
The in-state Terps were one of Oladotun's first official visits on Sept. 13
while on his visit, Williams broke down how they plan to use him.
“He's going to use me on the wing, let me bring the ball up, and be a playmaker,” he said. “Defensively he will put me on the top of the press, defend the interior and on the outside. I can really do so much for the team.
247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein provided the following scouting report on Oladotun:
"Oladotun is a late-blooming jumbo wing, who has continued to grow throughout his high school years and now stands at 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. He's still physically undeveloped with a lean frame, boxy shoulders, and high center of gravity, but isn't apprehensive to play through contact and only going to keep getting better as he grows into his body.
"His game, like his frame, is still a work-in-progress, but loaded with long-term potential. It's the vast scope of his versatile tools that is perhaps most compelling. He's already a threat to make plays as a handler, shoot over top of contesting defenders, or take smaller defenders into the mid-post. He tends to be a bit upright, but he has good hands and is very comfortable with his dribble. He made just 28% of his threes and 63% of his free-throws in EYBL play, and has an elbow that can fly out on his way up into his release, but still soft natural shooting touch to develop.
"Where he really excels is with his footwork. It comes out in the mid-post area, but even 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 repertoire of maneuvers after he picks up his dribble. He decelerates well, utilizes euros, but also knows when to elongate his strides. He'll even mix in pro-hops, spins, fake-spins, and step-throughs. He's a solid athlete, who can jump off either one foot or two, and can cover ground as more of a long-jumper, but it's really the footwork between his last dribble and before his finish that is so elite.
"Defensively, his size, fluidity, and active hands are all assets, but his high hips aren't ideal, particularly for someone who plays fairly upright and without a great amount of bend."