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Jeff Borzello
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Jeff Borzello
Basketball recruiting insider
- Jeff Borzello is a basketball recruiting insider. He has joined ESPN in 2014.
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Paul Biancardi
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Paul Biancardi
Basketball Recruiting
- National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com
- 18 years of coaching experience at Division I level
- Former Horizon League coach of the year at Wright State
After a summer where the 2026 recruiting cycle slowed to a crawl, things have picked back up to their normal pace, with commitments flying off the board in September and October. And now that we’re entering the early signing period, which begins Wednesday and runs until Nov. 19 — expect another flurry of announcements.
Missouri has held the No. 1 recruiting class since the Tigers landed Jason Crowe and Toni Bryant over the summer. Dennis Gates’ program is the only one in the country with multiple five-star prospects currently in the fold.
Will that hold until the end of the period?
Crowe is the only top-10 prospect off the board, so there is plenty of time for other programs — including the usual suspects at the top of the recruiting rankings — to make up ground. Moreover, at least five five-star prospects could come off the board during the period, along with another handful of top-50 recruits.
Note: Class rankings are determined by a mathematical formula weighting different factors related to the quality and quantity of players in the class.
Last updated: Nov. 11, 2025
See more:
5-star commit fits |
2026 player rankings
No. 5 PG Jason Crowe
No. 14 PF Toni Bryant
No. 83 SF Aiden Chronister
After leading Missouri to one of the most impressive turnarounds in the country last season, Gates carried that momentum onto the recruiting trail. The Tigers hadn’t landed a five-star prospect since the 2017 class; they have two in this one.
At this point in the cycle, they have the highest-ranked committed player in the class — the only top-10 committed prospect. Crowe led the Nike EYBL in scoring this past summer and is arguably the most explosive offensive player in the class. He’s a left-handed guard who gets by his defender at will. He’ll be joined in Columbia by fellow five-star Bryant, who was a priority early in the cycle for Gates — he is tremendously athletic and excels in transition. Finally, Chronister is a prolific 3-point shooter who should get open looks courtesy of Crowe’s drive-and-kick ability.
Biancardi’s most important recruit: Crowe
He is not only the Tigers’ most important recruit of this class, he is the second-highest ranked recruit ever to commit to Missouri, following No. 2 Michael Porter Jr. in 2017. Crowe brings immediate scoring prowess that is needed in tight SEC games. The bigger the stage, the bigger he plays.
Taylen Kinney
No. 46 PF Davion Adkins
No. 77 SF Trent Perry
Four-star SG Luke Barnett
One year after landing potential No. 1 NBA draft pick Darryn Peterson, Bill Self is building his 2026 class around an immediate-impact, elite point guard. Kinney has the size and playmaking ability to cause matchup problems against smaller backcourts, is a terrific scorer with a variety of finishing moves and is developing as a playmaker.
class of 2027, Javon Bardwell, in-between Perry and Adkins. Adkins’ physical tools portend an incredibly high ceiling. Perry, meanwhile, is long and should give help at both ends of the floor.
Biancardi’s most important recruit: Kinney
He will provide stability and high-end scoring as the lead guard following Peterson’s expected departure for the NBA. Kinney plays the most important position on the floor with confidence and skill. He is the catalyst of this class.
No. 36 PF Latrell Allmond
No. 44 SF Jalen Montonati
No. 96 SG Parker Robinson
Steve Lutz leaned on the transfer portal for this season’s roster, but is looking to establish a foundation in Stillwater with a 2026 group headlined by three top-100 prospects. Allmond is the top name of the group after a terrific summer on the Adidas 3SSB circuit. He can really make an impact around the rim, and is capable of playing with his back to the basket and dominating the backboards at both ends of the floor. He has also shown a developing face-up game out to the perimeter.
Lutz made it a priority to keep Montonati in his home state as the top recruit in Oklahoma — he is a shooter who moves really well without the ball. And Robinson, who plays for Overtime Elite, has been on the radar since early in his high school career and will bring a versatile offensive game.
Biancardi’s most important recruit: Montonati
His dad, Brian Montonati, played for the Cowboys, averaging 12.1 points per game and 7.2 rebounds as a senior in 1999-2000. Jalen is more perimeter based with the résumé of a terrific shooter and the ability to read his defender, space the floor and shoot off screens.
Chase Foster
No. 71 SG Jermal Jones
No. 76 SF Anthony Felesi
October was a massive month for Jeff Capel and the Panthers. They landed all three of their 2026 commitments in a three-week span, catapulting all the way to No. 4 in these rankings.
Jones was the first off the board. He can play either backcourt position and should make an impact at both ends of the floor with his athleticism and defensive versatility. His high school teammate, Foster, followed less than two weeks later. Foster is one of the highest-ranked commits of the Capel era, slotting in as one of the 10 best power forwards in the country. He’s a high-ceiling prospect with tremendous upside due to his physical tools and developing offensive game.
Rounding out the trio is Felesi, who picked the Panthers in late October. Pitt beat out several big-time schools for his pledge, and he’s only getting better.
Biancardi’s most important recruit: Foster
He provides offense as an aggressive driver who can make an occasional 3-pointer with nice positional size to play the big wing or as a power forward. His frame is ready for ACC action — he already makes athletic plays at and above the rim. He is a potential X factor defensively, with anticipatory skills for deflections and steals, along with shot-blocking instincts. Foster is one of Capel’s highest-rated recruits at Pitt.
No. 49 PG Anthony Brown Jr.
No. 90 SF Ethan Mgbako
No. 94 C Jackson Sheffield
The Commodores hadn’t landed a single recruit ranked in the SC Next 100 since the 2018 class, when they got three top-100 prospects. Fast-forward seven years, and coach Mark Byington and Vandy sit as one of just six programs with three top-100 recruits already in the fold.
Brown is the highest ranked of the group. The point guard had a terrific summer on the Nike EYBL circuit and is a high-usage scorer and distributor with plenty of playmaking chops. Mgbako is the younger brother of former five-star prospect and current Texas A&M forward Mackenzie Mgbako, and is beginning to expand his offensive game on a similar trajectory. Sheffield does most of his work around the rim and is physically ready for the college game.
Biancardi’s most important recruit: Brown
Byington will need Brown to score against high-level defenses in SEC play. He already demonstrates the toughness required to succeed in the high-powered conference.
No. 50 SG Jasiah Jervis
No. 70 PF Julius Avent
No. 89 PG Carlos Medlock Jr.
After not landing a top-25 recruiting class in the last cycle, Tom Izzo bounced back in a strong way — and the Spartans are likely not done yet. The headliner for now is Jervis, who established himself early as a priority for the Spartans. The New York native is a terrific offensive player who had a strong summer and will bring an attack-minded skill set to East Lansing.
Medlock is an in-state product who now plays at Link Academy (Missouri) and is the son of former Eastern Michigan star guard Carlos Medlock. He’s under 6-foot but is adept at beating defenders off the bounce and getting into playmaking positions. Avent is another Northeast recruit and should fit the Michigan State archetype in the frontcourt — he’s long and doesn’t shy away from contact.
Biancardi’s most important recruit: Jervis
Jervis scores the ball with from anywhere with efficiency. He is not afraid of defense and will guard on the perimeter, work to get over screens and rebound down. He is one of the best two-way scoring guards in the class and reminds me of former Spartan turned Milwaukee Buck Gary Harris.
JaShawn Andrews
No. 31 SF Abdou Toure
A highly ranked John Calipari recruiting class shouldn’t surprise anyone. He finished with the No. 3 class in 2025, his first full cycle at Arkansas, after consistently competing near the top at Kentucky and Memphis.
Calipari was able to keep the best prospect in the state of Arkansas home for college, closing strong to beat out Missouri and LSU for Andrews’ commitment. The 12th-ranked recruit has tremendous physical tools and showed improvement on his perimeter shot over the spring and summer. The Razorbacks moved into the top five in early October after edging out Providence for Toure, a Connecticut native who is a terrific athlete and finisher, and difficult to stop when he gets going to the rim.
Arkansas is also in the mix for a slew of five-star prospects: Jordan Smith (No. 2), Caleb Holt (No. 6), Brandon McCoy (No. 7), Babatunde Oladotun (No. 8) and Arafan Diane (No. 21).
Biancardi’s most important recruit: Andrews
His commitment sends a message that Calipari is committed to keeping the best homegrown talent in a cardinal-and-white uniform. Andrews is not only highly productive as a super athletic talent, he’s also a strong driver of team culture.
No. 67 SG Willie Burnett III
No. 78 C Tristan Reed
Four-star SF Jalyn Collingwood
Four-star C Ladarius Givan
Since Chris Jans took over in Starkville, he has guided Mississippi State to three straight NCAA tournaments — and now he has back-to-back ranked recruiting classes. The Bulldogs finished the 2025 cycle with the No. 12 group in the country, and this one might be even better.
Burnett is a big-time offensive player who will help replace Josh Hubbard’s scoring next season; he won’t be afraid of stepping into a sizable role. And Reed is the younger brother of UConn big man Tarris Reed Jr., possessing similar physicality and length. His early impact will likely come on the defensive end.
Four-star prospects Collingwood and Givan round out the quartet, with the Bulldogs dipping into the mid-Atlantic region for both players. Collingwood had a strong summer, while Givan committed in July 2024 to start the class.
Biancardi’s most important recruit: Reed
He gives Mississippi State a true center with legitimate size who can produce on both ends. At 6-9 with a 7-3 wingspan, Reed plays a power game. He is a shot blocker and rim protector on the defensive end of the floor with a post presence on the other, executing with his back to the basket by making and maintaining contact with his defender for paint points.
No. 33 SF Tarris Bouie
No. 41 PF Chris Washington Jr.
Coach Nate Oats made his moves in the span of just a couple of days in early September, when both Bouie and Washington committed. Both visited Tuscaloosa on the same weekend and didn’t wait long to pick the Crimson Tide. Bouie is at his best in the open court but can score at all three levels and showed more consistency on his 3-point shot at the Nike Peach Jam in July. He’s also likely to make an immediate impact as a defender.
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Washington is the top-ranked player in the state of Tennessee and considered one of the elite athletes in the class. He’s a two-way contributor who crashes the offensive glass.
The Crimson Tide remain in pursuit of uncommitted prospects Ikenna Alozie (No. 27), Dylan Mingo (No. 9), Caleb Holt (No. 6) and Jaxon Richardson (No. 11).
Biancardi’s most important recruit: Bouie
He gives Oats a legitimate scoring threat on every possession, reminiscent of 2023 No. 2 draft pick Brandon Miller. Bouie aligns with the Tide’s recruiting philosophy and is an ideal fit for a system that exclusively relies on defense to generate transition opportunities, along with points behind the arc and at the rim.
No. 24 SF Tajh Ariza
No. 61 PF Kendre Harrison
Oregon has an intriguing two-player class, with Ariza — son of former NBA veteran Trevor Ariza — the bigger priority. The Ducks beat out USC for his commitment after he missed the summer with an injury, but his ceiling is as high as any wing in the class. He has great passing ability for his size and possesses impressive physical tools.
Harrison committed to Oregon last November for both football and basketball. He is more highly regarded on the gridiron despite his top-100 standing on the hoops side. He’s a five-star football recruit and the No. 1 tight end in the 2026 class.
Biancardi’s most important recruit: Ariza
He brings a wealth of physical tools and skill to the court at 6-9 with a 7-plus-foot wingspan. His versatility stands out as his greatest strength — he has demonstrated the ability to rebound on defense and push the ball in transition to either finish the play of facilitate to an open man.
No. 54 C Quinn Costello
No. 81 SG Joseph Hartman
Three-star SF Malachi Brown
International C Marcus Moller
Given the way Dusty May has operated with multiple bigs in his lineups the past couple seasons, it’s no surprise the Wolverines’ 2026 class has plenty of size. Costello was one of the bigger breakouts last spring as a stretch-big who can make shots from the perimeter, while 7-3 Danish center Moller has generated some buzz. One of them could find themselves in a role next season.
Hartman, meanwhile, can really shoot from 3.
No. 56 SF Kevin Thomas
No. 82 SF Herly Brutus
Four-star SF Marcus Vaughns
Matt McMahon needs a big season on the court this season, but he has already done well to build future rosters in Baton Rouge.
A 6-6 wing from Montverde Academy (Florida), Thomas is a tremendous athlete who is at his best in the open floor. And Brutus’ best attributes come on the defensive end right now, but he’s another strong transition player who continues to get better from the perimeter.
No. 62 C Marcis Ponder
Four-star PF Collin Paul
Four-star PG Jasen Lopez
Four-star SG Brandon Bass Jr.
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Luke Loucks’ first full recruiting class at Florida State is deep, with four four-star prospects. Ponder is the big name as a massive 6-11, 300-plus-pound center who fits the ethos Florida State established under Leonard Hamilton.
Paul and Bass will help on the perimeter. Paul is a long wing playmaker, while the left-handed Bass is an excellent shooter from the perimeter. Finally, Lopez is a two-sport star who plays wide receiver in football.
No. 87 C Moustapha Diop
No. 99 PF Jalan Wingfield
Four-star SG Kaiden Bailey
Georgia Tech had a top-20 recruiting class in 2025, as Damon Stoudamire landed a class led by top-30 prospect Mouhamed Sylla. There’s nobody on Sylla’s level in this group yet, but Diop and Wingfield provide frontcourt reinforcements should Sylla and Baye Ndongo turn pro. Diop can really run the floor, while Wingfield is the more physical of the two players. Both have high ceilings.
No. 37 SF Luca Foster
Four-star C Sam Funches
Four-star SG Jack Kayil
Gonzaga landed all three of its recruits in October, saving its best addition — Foster — for the final week of the month. He’s at his best in catch-and-shoot situations from the perimeter, but is also capable of getting points in the midrange. Kayil has generated plenty of attention overseas, as the Germany native has represented his country on the FIBA circuit. And Funches will be more of a depth piece early on, but he’s incredibly long and can protect the rim.
No. 40 SF Aziz Olajuwon
Four-star SG Isaiah Rogers
Four-star SG Elias Obenyah
Kyle Smith landed his first SC Next 100 recruit in September, when Olajuwon chose the Cardinal over Cincinnati, Vanderbilt and Houston. The son of NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem, Olajuwon took a big jump over the summer, showing real development as a passer and perimeter shooter.
Both Rogers and Obenyah are capable of making plays with the ball in their hands and will bring backcourt depth to Palo Alto.
No. 42 SF Bo Ogden
No. 93 SG Joe Sterling
Sean Miller didn’t land any high school recruits in his first spring at the helm in Austin, but Ogden was a terrific first pickup in September. He was one of the best scorers on the Adidas 3SSB circuit and is a truly elite perimeter shooter, making nearly 53% of his 3-point attempts last spring and summer.
Sterling is another terrific shooter, making better than 44% of his 3s on the Puma circuit last summer.
No. 43 SG Junior County
No. 63 SF Colben Landrew
UConn had a top-five recruiting class in 2025, landing multiple top-25 recruits in the same class for the first time since the ESPN recruiting database launched in 2007. The Huskies might not end up far off that number when all is said and done with the 2026 class. County is a combo guard who can make plays as a scorer or distributor and plays with a motor, while Landrew is a fast-rising wing who combines toughness with a developing offensive game.
No. 47 SG Kaden House
Four-star PF Austin Brown
Four-star PF Adama Tambedou
The Terps jumped into the rankings when House committed on Halloween. The son of former NBA veteran Eddie House, Kaden House is a big-time scorer who loves to get into the teeth of the defense and finish in traffic. Buzz Williams will love House’s intensity on the defensive end of the floor, too.
Tambedou is a physical force on the interior who dominates the offensive glass and finishes with power.
Anthony Thompson
Four-star PF Alex Smith
Ohio State’s potential ranking has fluctuated massively over the past few weeks. When Thompson committed in mid-October, it looked like the Buckeyes were poised for a top-10 class. A week later, though, top-30 prospect Marcus Johnson decommitted after being in the fold for more than 18 months. Jake Diebler still has a strong group, as Thompson is the program’s highest-ranked men’s basketball recruit in more than a decade.
No. 20 SF Bryson Howard
Four-star C Maxime Meyer
Duke’s class is far from finished, as the Blue Devils remain heavily in the mix for multiple five-star prospects. Howard was a key get for Jon Scheyer, though, picking Duke over North Carolina and Kentucky. He was one of the biggest risers in the country during the spring and summer, bringing outstanding perimeter shooting.
Meyer is more of a project, but he’ll be a multiyear college player and will have time to develop in Durham.
No. 52 C Darius Ratliff
No. 86 C Adonis Ratliff
Expect USC to rise in these rankings over the next few months, as the Ratliffs themselves move up in the SC Next 100 after battling injuries last summer — and as the Trojans pursue the rest of their class. Darius is the more physically ready of the twins, capable of making an impact defensively as a rim protector and on the glass. Adonis is poised for a massive jump, raising eyebrows after the 7-footer made nine 3s in a game earlier this fall. He’s also a switchable defender who can block shots.
No. 80 PF Gavin Placide
Four-star PF Gallagher Placide
Four-star SG Quentin Coleman
Wake Forest’s class starts with the twin brother duo of Gavin and Gallagher Placide. Gavin is the better of the two at this stage of their development — he’s aggressive on the offensive end and is relentless on the glass for second chances. Gallagher is the better shooter, though, and spends more time on the perimeter.
Coleman had a standout summer and can play either guard spot.
No. 91 SF Colin Rice
No. 98 SG Jacob Lanier
Nebraska hasn’t had an SC Next 100 recruit since 2022, and its last class with multiple top-100 prospects was 2021. But Fred Hoiberg and the Cornhuskers moved into these rankings just before the early signing period, when Lanier gave them their second top 100 commitment of the cycle. Rice can really shoot it from the perimeter, while Lanier has impressive physical tools and a versatile offensive game.
No. 25 SF Cole Cloer
Three-star C Trevon Carter-Givens
Will Wade is accustomed to making big splashes on the recruiting trail, and landing the No. 1 player in the state of North Carolina is the latest in that category. The Wolfpack beat out UConn, Florida and Alabama for Cloer after Wade made him a priority recruit shortly after taking over in Raleigh last spring. He’s a terrific offensive player.
Carter-Givens does all of his damage around the rim, but his rim protection is apparent.
