Three top-flight high school prospects who hold Syracuse basketball offers are among those recently selected for a USA Basketball junior national team event to transpire early next month, according to a press release.
In a recent media statement, USA Basketball revealed 65 athletes who are expected to compete in a junior national team minicamp from April 3 to April 6 in San Antonio. This event is taking place in conjunction with the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, which is currently ongoing.
Those chosen for this minicamp hail from the 2026, 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes. They will suit up for drills and scrimmages, while also participating in programs that focus on NCAA eligibility, education and life skills development.
65 athletes from the high school graduating classes of 2026-28 will participate in the #USABJNT minicamp April 4-6 in San Antonio!
— USABJNT (@usabjnt) March 21, 2025
» https://t.co/dcQACb6BoG pic.twitter.com/QnXMufJ1IV
Per the announcement from USA Basketball, on April 6, participants will be involved in scrimmages, including one at the Alamodome, where the Final Four is being held. Athletes at the minicamp will also attend the national semifinal games on that Saturday night.
Syracuse basketball targets will play at a USA Basketball junior national team event.
Among those picked for this minicamp are 2026 five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr., 2026 five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr. and 2027 five-star forward Babatunde Oladotun.
Rippey, offered a scholarship by the Orange in August of 2023, is from New York City. Both Smith and Oladotun reside in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The 'Cuse offered Smith in May of 2023, and Oladotun landed his Syracuse basketball offer this past June.
A top-20 national prospect, Rippey stars for the Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J., and has unofficially visited the Orange. Smith, a top-five national prospect, has also unofficially visited the 'Cuse and attends St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va.
In July of 2024, Smith helped lead the USA Basketball U17 national team to the gold medal at the FIBA World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey. Syracuse basketball assistant coach Brenden Straughn traveled to Turkey to watch Smith play in the 2024 FIBA World Cup
Oladotun, ranked the No. 1 national prospect in the 2027 cycle by some recruiting services, is a standout at James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, Md.
In early March, Smith was named to the Naismith All-America third team for the 2024-25 season. Rippey and Oladotun, meanwhile, picked up honorable mention nods for the 2024-25 Naismith All-America squads.