Five-star forward Baba Oladotun, Maryland men’s basketball’s top target in the 2026 recruiting class, announced his commitment to the Terps on Wednesday. The Silver Spring native is the Terps’ highest-ranked and fourth overall commitment in the 2026 class.
Oladotun is the No. 1 prospect in Maryland, No. 3 small forward and No. 10 prospect nationally, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.
His commitment marks the third straight year Maryland has landed a five-star — joining Derik Queen in 2024 and Darius Adams in 2025. It’s also coach Buzz Williams’ first local commitment since being hired in April.
The James Hubert Blake High School attendee visited College Park on Sept. 13 and Nov. 7. Oladotun also visited Georgetown, Kentucky, Arkansas and Virginia Tech — where his father, Ibraheem, played basketball. Oladotun was previously the No. 1 prospect in the 2027 class before he reclassified to the 2026 class in August.
[Recruiting roundup: Baba Oladotun shares takeaways from Maryland men’s basketball visit]
Oladotun’s skillset and scoring prowess bring a new dimension to Maryland’s offense.
At 6-foot-10, Oladotun would currently be tied for the tallest player on the Terps’ roster, but he has the shooting and ball-handling ability of a guard. The wiry forward can score from anywhere on the court and is comfortable shooting off the catch and creating his own shot. He’s skilled enough to immediately slot in as Maryland’s go-to scoring option.
Maryland ranks 14th in the Big Ten in scoring at 79 points per game and shoots 30 percent on 3-pointers, which ranks 16th in the conference. The addition of Oladotun to the team could increase these numbers.
It’s also a sign from Williams to the rest of the Big Ten that Maryland’s new coach is able to land the players he’ll need to compete for conference championships.
