In initial Rivals rankings, Syracuse basketball 5-star target inside top 5 nationally

Recruiting service and media outlet Rivals.com has released its initial national rankings for the 2027 cycle, and a relatively new Syracuse basketball recruiting target is highly placed in this inaugural top 60.

Elite DMV product Baba Oladotun, a top-flight forward in this cycle, arrives as five stars and No. 3 around the country in the 2027 class, per Rivals.com.

The 6-foot-9 small forward/power forward is a rising sophomore at James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, Md. While his recruiting process likely has a long way to go, Oladotun already has amassed more than 20 high-major offers, according to recruiting services and his X page.

In late June, Orange coaches offered a scholarship to Oladotun, and it's great to see the 'Cuse get involved in his recruitment so early on.

Syracuse basketball already faces steep competition for 2027 five-star forward Baba Oladotun.

In addition to his debut national ranking at Rivals.com, ESPN currently rates Oladotun as No. 1 nationally in his class, No. 1 at power forward and No. 1 in Maryland.

This spring and summer on the AAU circuit, Oladotun received praised from national analysts and scouts for some of his performances while suiting up for the 15U squad of the Oxon Hill, Md.-based Team Durant in Nike's EYBL league.

Also in recent months, Oladotun has earned high marks for his play at various showcases, including the National Basketball Players Association ("NBPA") Top 100 Camp in Orlando, Fla., and the Nike Elite 100 Camp in St. Louis.

Beyond Syracuse basketball, Oladotun's full offer sheet includes schools such as Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Texas, Indiana, Maryland, Florida State, LSU, Hawaii, Cincinnati, Butler, Michigan, Rutgers, Southern California, UCLA, Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisville, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Howard and Bryant.

Despite being only a rising sophomore in high school, this is an impressive list of offers for Oladotun. Plus, his offer sheet will expand, as college coaches will be able to begin initiating direct communication with 2027 prospects on June 15 of next year.

When disclosing the Rivals.com initial 2027 rankings, top national analyst Rob Cassidy had this to say about Oladotun. "There were some highs and some lows for the 6-foot-9 Oladotun on the grassroots circuit this year, but when he was good, he was great. The Maryland-based wing has the type of upside that could put him on the No. 1 line down the road as he becomes more assertive and consistent in nearly every facet, as his physical gifts and budding skill set are impressive to say the least. He moves incredibly well for a young prospect of his size and has shown signs of consistent long-range shooting ability. ... OIadotun, who boasts a high basketball IQ for his age and limits silly mistakes, shines mostly as a scorer these days. Still, his frame is promising and should allow him to become an impactful defender and rebounder at the highest levels as he gets stronger."

To date, I'm aware of at least one other offer that Syracuse basketball has made in the 2027 cycle. Also in late June, the Orange offered a scholarship to four-star power forward Zion Green, a 6-foot-8, top-20 national prospect who goes to the Imhotep Institute Charter High School in Philadelphia.

By the way, in late June, the 'Cuse coaching staff was on hand to watch both Green and Oladotun as they competed for their high school programs amid a scholastic live period.