Baba Oladotun is already forcing his way into the 2027 NBA Draft picture.
ESPN’s early Big Board put the Maryland freshman at No. 21, a strong first signal that evaluators see him as more than just another high-end recruit. Before he has even played a college game, Oladotun has landed in first-round territory, and that says plenty about how quickly his stock is moving.
The timing matters, too. This draft cycle is already being shaped by NIL, which has made it easier for top college players to stay put instead of rushing into the league.
Braylon Mullins of UConn and Florida’s Thomas Haugh are the clearest examples so far; both chose to pass on the 2026 draft even though they were ranked 17th and 13th on last year’s top-100 board. That kind of decision has opened the door for experienced college players like Motiejus Krivas, Alex Condon, Dame Sarr, Matt Able, Amari Allen, Ivan Kharchenkov, Juke Harris, Tyler Tanner, Patrick Ngongba II, Malachi Moreno, Trey McKenney, Tounde Yessoufou, and Milan Momcilovic to sit firmly in the early first-round mix.
But Oladotun stands out because he’s not a returner. He’s a freshman who has already generated serious buzz.
Maryland’s 2026 class looks loaded, and Oladotun is right at the center of it. The five-star small forward finished at No. 14 nationally in the final Rivals150, a rise that matched the momentum he built over the cycle. He signed his National Letter of Intent on November 20, 2025, locking in as a major part of Buzz Williams’ future group.
What has scouts leaning in is the combination he brings to the table: size, scoring touch, length, and defensive versatility. ESPN’s board reflects that appeal, with evaluators clearly buying into both the present skill and the long-term upside. His shot-making and fluid athleticism fit the modern game, and Maryland is expected to give him a significant role from the jump.
The next step is physical. Oladotun arrives in College Park with a lean frame, boxy shoulders, and a high center of gravity, but he already shows a willingness to play through contact.
Adding strength will help him absorb bumps, keep his driving lines intact, and become a more reliable rebounder. It should also improve his balance and stability, two things that will matter once he’s dealing with the physicality of Big Ten defenders.
That’s the path here. The talent is obvious, the ceiling is obvious, and the No. 21 ranking is just the early marker of where this could go. In a draft class full of uncertainty, Oladotun has given himself a real runway to rise.
In Other News...
Malik Washington Is Suddenly Drawing The Kind Of Attention Maryland Fears
Malik Washington spent part of the summer at the Manning Passing Academy, working as a camp counselor and still managing to catch the eye of NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay. For Maryland, that kind of attention is a little jarring and a little encouraging at the same time, because Washington is already coming off a freshman season that put him on the map as one of the Big Tens more intriguing young quarterbacks.
He was left off preseason all-conference honors, which is hardly an insult so much as a reminder that the next step has to come on the field, not in the buzz around it. With new offensive coordinator Clint Trickett in place, Washington enters the season trying to build on that first year and keep his name attached to Maryland for the right reasons, even as outside speculation about his long-term future starts to creep in. [Read more 🡒]
Former Terp Neeo Avery Returns To Maryland After Heartbreaking Turn
Neeo Avery is coming back to College Park in a different role, one that keeps him close to the Maryland program after a football life changed far earlier than expected. The former Terrapins linebacker has re-enrolled at Maryland and will work with the team as a student assistant while finishing his sociology degree, giving him a place around the program even after medically retiring from the sport.
For Maryland, the move is as much about continuity as it is compassion. Avery will remain connected to a locker room that already knows him well, with head coach Mike Locksley and the staff supporting his return to campus in a new capacity. It is a reminder that for some players, the end of a playing career does not have to mean the end of the bond with the program. [Read more 🡒]