Baba Oladotun: Maryland's 6'10" Wing With Elite NBA Projection

When evaluators see a 6'10" small forward with five-star upside, they stop scrolling. Baba Oladotun fits that profile. The Maryland native sits at 91.19 on PrepRanks, reflecting a rare combination of physical tools and professional projection that most prospects never touch. But here's what makes him fascinating: the recruiting services can't agree on what they're seeing. 247Sports gives him five stars and ranks him #3 at his position. ON3 drops him to four stars despite a 96 rating. That split tells you everything about how hard it is to project a 6'10" wing who's still learning to use his frame.

The measurement alone creates intrigue. True small forwards at 6'10" are rare. Most players that tall drift toward power forward or center. Oladotun plays on the perimeter, which means he's developing ball-handling, shooting, and decision-making at a height where most prospects focus on post moves and rebounding. That developmental path takes longer but produces more valuable NBA prospects. College programs know this. The question isn't whether Oladotun has talent. It's whether he'll develop fast enough to justify the five-year investment most programs make in raw big men who play like wings.

Breaking Down the PrepRanks Score

PrepRanks evaluates recruits across multiple components. Here's where Baba Oladotun stands:

Component	Score	Max	Percentage
Service Average	48.19	50	96%
Recruiting Reality	23.00	25	92%
• Offer Count	15.00	15	100%
• Offer Quality	8.00	10	80%
Momentum	10.00	20	50%
Position Scarcity	6.00	10	60%
Stability	4.00	5	80%
Elite Recognition	10.00	10	100%
TOTAL	91.19	100	91.19%

That service average of 48.19 out of 50 is elite territory. Only a handful of 2026 basketball prospects score higher. But look at the recruiting reality component: 15 out of 15 for offer count means maximum volume, but offer quality at 8 out of 10 suggests most programs are watching, not committing. The perfect elite recognition score (10/10) confirms he's getting invitations to the right camps and earning All-American honors. His momentum score of 10 out of 20 indicates stable evaluations. 247Sports recently bumped him up, but the other services haven't followed yet.

Here's the interesting tension: perfect elite recognition but moderate recruiting traction. That usually means evaluators love the tools but see development risks. With a 6'10" wing, those risks are obvious. Can he stay on the perimeter as he fills out? Will his ball-handling improve fast enough? Does his shooting translate against quicker guards? Those questions explain why his offer quality sits at 80% instead of maxing out.

The Height Advantage That Changes Everything

Basketball recruiting lives and dies on measurements. Oladotun's 6'10" frame scores a 56 on the Height Advantage Index, which sounds moderate until you remember he plays small forward, not center. Most wings in the 2026 class sit between 6'5" and 6'7". At 6'10", Oladotun has a five-inch advantage against typical matchups. That creates defensive versatility. He can guard traditional wings, switch onto power forwards, and even help on centers in small-ball lineups.

The NBA context matters here. Modern basketball values length and switching ability. Teams want players who eliminate mismatches by defending multiple positions. Baba Oladotun's height at the small forward position gives him exactly that versatility. His NBA Draft Probability score of 87 out of 100 reflects this. Even if his offensive game takes time to develop, defensive length alone creates professional value.

But here's the catch: at 195 pounds, his frame needs significant work. That physical profile score of 48 out of 100 tells the story. Most 6'10" prospects weigh 210-220 pounds minimum. College strength programs can add 15-20 pounds over two years, but that means Oladotun arrives thinner than ideal. Programs recruiting him are betting on body projection. If he fills out to 220 with maintained mobility, he's an All-American candidate. If he stays lean or loses athleticism while adding weight, the projection changes.

Where the Services Split

247Sports rates Oladotun at 98 with five stars. ON3 gives him 96 with four stars. ESPN lands at 94 with five stars. Those numbers look close until you realize the star difference matters significantly. Five-star prospects typically project as multi-year starters with professional potential. Four-star prospects need more development time. That one-star gap between 247Sports and ON3 reflects different evaluation philosophies.

247Sports clearly values projection. Their #3 position ranking suggests they see an elite wing who just needs time. The 98 rating puts him in the same tier as consensus lottery picks. ON3's more conservative approach likely weighs current skill level heavier. They see the same physical tools but want to see more perimeter refinement before committing to five stars.

ESPN's middle-ground approach (94 rating, five stars, no national rank) is telling. They recognize elite upside but aren't comfortable ranking him yet. That's usually a sign that evaluators want to see another camp cycle or AAU tournament run before finalizing their opinion. His momentum score of 10 out of 20 supports this theory. The evaluation is stable but not accelerating.

The comparison recruits help explain the split. Christian Collins is another 6'9" wing in the 2026 class with a similar profile. Qayden Samuels plays the same position with comparable rankings. What separates Oladotun is his age advantage: he scores 90 out of 100 on the Age Advantage Index, meaning he's young for his class. That extra development runway increases his ceiling but also his risk. Programs recruiting him are betting on what he becomes at 21, not what he is at 17.

The Maryland Factor

James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, competes in one of the strongest high school basketball regions in the country. The DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia) area produces NBA talent annually. Playing in that environment means Oladotun faces elite competition weekly. His development against that level of talent matters more than statistics from weaker conferences.

Maryland high school basketball runs through programs like DeMatha, St. John's, and Paul VI. Blake doesn't sit at that top tier, but the school plays those programs regularly. That competition level forces Oladotun to develop faster. He can't dominate on size alone. Opposing coaches game-plan specifically for him, which means he's learning to adjust and counter-adjust against sophisticated defensive schemes. That experience accelerates development in ways that statistics don't capture.

His Market Value Index of 85 out of 100 reflects solid recruiting interest. That's not the elite buzz that follows consensus top-10 prospects, but it indicates multiple high-major programs tracking his development closely. The uncommitted status at this stage suggests he's taking his time with the decision. Programs respect that. A deliberate recruitment process usually means a prospect is weighing factors beyond just brand names or facilities.

What the Numbers Don't Show

Scouting reports on Oladotun mention "athletic testing" and "length" but provide limited specifics on skill development. That's typical for physical prospects who haven't finished developing. Evaluators focus on what they can measure (height, wingspan, mobility) rather than what needs refinement (shooting consistency, ball-handling, decision-making). The lack of detailed skill analysis actually works in his favor. It means evaluators haven't identified glaring weaknesses that limit his ceiling.

His Position Versatility Score of 40 out of 100 suggests moderate multi-position capability. He projects primarily as a wing with some small-ball power forward potential. That's not positionless basketball, but it's enough flexibility for modern systems. The best NBA wings can play three positions comfortably. Oladotun likely plays two positions well, which still creates value.

The elite recognition score of 10 out of 10 deserves more attention. Perfect scores in this category mean All-American honors, major camp invitations, and national award consideration. For a prospect without consensus top-15 national rankings, that level of recognition is unusual. It suggests the evaluators closest to high school basketball see something the national rankings haven't fully captured yet. Those local and regional evaluators typically spot talent before the national services adjust their rankings.

The Development Timeline

Young-for-class prospects follow a predictable pattern. They arrive on campus less physically mature than their peers but with extra development runway. Oladotun's age advantage score of 90 out of 100 means he could enter the NBA draft younger than most prospects. That matters for teams projecting long-term value. Two extra months of physical development at age 19-20 can make the difference between lottery pick and second round.

College programs recruiting him likely plan for a three-to-four-year development arc. Year one focuses on strength training and defensive fundamentals. He can contribute immediately on defense due to length and mobility. Year two develops offensive skills within a simplified role. By year three, he should have the strength and skill refinement to handle expanded responsibility. Year four (if needed) is when everything comes together.

That timeline requires patience from both the program and the player. Not every prospect accepts a four-year development plan when they arrive with five-star rankings. Oladotun's deliberate recruitment suggests he understands the reality. The best fit will be a program with a track record of developing raw big wings into professional prospects. That narrows the field to programs that prioritize player development over immediate production.

The Professional Projection

An NBA Draft Probability of 87 out of 100 is exceptional. Only a handful of high school prospects score that high. The number reflects two factors: physical tools that translate to professional basketball and a developmental path that maximizes those tools. Oladotun's height, length, and mobility check every box NBA teams want. His thin frame and developing skills create the timeline uncertainty but not ceiling concerns.

Modern NBA scouting prioritizes "two-way wings" - players who defend multiple positions and space the floor offensively. At 6'10" with perimeter skills, Oladotun fits that archetype perfectly. Even if his offensive game never becomes elite, teams will draft him for defensive versatility alone. The best-case scenario has him developing into a 15-point scorer who guards positions 2-4 and switches everything. The worst-case scenario is a defensive specialist who plays 20 minutes per game in NBA rotations. That floor is higher than most prospects ever reach.

The comparison to similar recruits helps calibrate expectations. Maximo Adams is another long wing with five-star potential in the 2026 class. Cam Williams brings similar physical tools with different skill emphases. What separates Oladotun is his combination of height, youth, and elite recognition. That specific profile doesn't come around often. Maybe five players per recruiting cycle fit all three criteria.

The College Fit Question

Uncommitted prospects with Oladotun's profile typically narrow their list to programs that check specific boxes. First: proven track record developing similar players. Second: offensive system that values floor spacing and ball movement. Third: defensive scheme that switches and values length. Fourth: strength program capable of adding 20+ pounds without sacrificing mobility.

Major conference programs in the Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12 fit that description. The SEC has programs capable of developing raw talent but often prioritizes immediate contributors. Pac-12 schools (now in flux) traditionally develop skilled big wings but lack the recruiting pull they once had. The Big East includes several programs with strong player development reputations.

His stability score of 4 out of 5 suggests he won't rush the decision. Prospects with perfect stability scores usually commit early to their dream school. Oladotun's 80% stability indicates he's methodical but not locked into one program. That creates opportunity for programs willing to invest time building relationships. The recruitment likely comes down to which coaching staff can best articulate a development plan he believes in.

What Happens Next

Summer 2025 evaluation periods will define how the recruiting services adjust their rankings. If Oladotun shows improved shooting consistency or ball-handling against elite competition, expect his rankings to climb. If evaluators see the same raw tools without skill refinement, his position might slip slightly. The 247Sports increase suggests momentum is building, but ON3 and ESPN haven't followed yet.

His commitment timeline probably stretches into fall 2025 or later. That's strategic. Waiting allows him to see which programs develop similar players successfully. It also gives him leverage if multiple programs compete for his commitment. The uncommitted status doesn't signal indecision. It signals deliberation.

College programs watching his development are looking for specific markers. Can he consistently hit 15-foot jump shots? Does his ball-handling improve enough to attack closeouts? How does his body respond to increased strength training? The answers to those questions will either confirm the five-star projection or validate the more conservative evaluations. Based on his elite recognition score and perfect offer count, the smart money is on upward movement.

The Bottom Line

Baba Oladotun represents the classic projection vs. production debate in basketball recruiting. His 91.19 PrepRanks score reflects elite physical tools and professional potential that most prospects never approach. The split between 247Sports (five stars) and ON3 (four stars) captures the uncertainty around raw big wings who play on the perimeter.

The measurement profile is undeniable. True 6'10" small forwards don't come around often. His age advantage and elite recognition scores suggest there's more development ahead. The offer count maxed out at 15 out of 15 means programs are paying attention. The moderate offer quality score (8 out of 10) indicates they're watching rather than closing, which is typical for developmental prospects.

His NBA Draft Probability of 87 out of 100 tells you everything about his ceiling. Physical tools like his don't need to reach maximum offensive potential to create professional value. Defensive versatility at 6'10" translates immediately. The offensive game just determines whether he becomes a role player or an All-Star.

For college programs evaluating him, the question isn't whether he has talent. It's whether they can provide the four-year development plan that maximizes his tools. The program that wins his commitment will be betting they can turn physical projection into on-court production. Given his elite recognition, height advantage, and professional projection, that's a bet worth making. James Hubert Blake has produced talent before, but Oladotun might be the highest-ceiling prospect the school has ever developed. By the time his college career ends, the split between four and five stars won't matter. What matters is whether someone gave him the time and coaching to become the two-way wing his measurements suggest he can be.