Winter is always a quieter time for high school recruiting, with college coaches focused on their own seasons and the majority of uncommitted high-level prospects electing to wait to commit until the spring — or until the dominoes from the coaching carousel and transfer portal stop falling.
But with Caleb Wilson, the second-highest-ranked available senior, announcing he’s committing to North Carolina over Kentucky late Thursday night, the 2025 class rankings needed a shuffle; the updated 2025 ESPN 100 also led to some shifts in the top 25 classes.
North Carolina cracks the top 10: Despite already signing two ESPN 100 guards, the Tar Heels’ 2025 class looked relatively disappointing in December. They missed on most of their top targets, including No. 1-ranked recruit A.J. Dybantsa and UConn-bound shooter Braylon Mullins. But Hubert Davis and his staff made up for it by landing Wilson, who had a recruitment with plenty of twists and turns.
Georgia Tech moves up: The Yellow Jackets were once involved with Wilson until they were cut out of the race months ago, but Damon Stoudamire has his program making waves on the recruiting trail, making a late surge to beat out Arkansas (and Oregon) for top-50 big man Mouhamed Sylla, a top-five center in the 2025 class.
Who’s left? There’s still plenty left to play out in the 2025 class, as four of the top-15 prospects remain uncommitted, even after Wilson’s pledge.
Nate Ament (No. 4) doesn’t seem particularly close to making a decision, while Brayden Burries (No. 11) is also still working through his list. Koa Peat (No. 9) has appeared to be on the verge of a commitment for months, with Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Houston and Texas still on his list. Then there’s Alijah Arenas (No. 12), who recently reclassified from 2026 into the senior class.
Here’s how the classes are stacking up as we await more commitments.
Note: Class rankings are determined by a mathematical formula weighting different factors related to the quality and quantity of players in the class.
Top recruit: Cameron Boozer (No. 3)
Jon Scheyer continues to keep Duke at the top of the recruiting pecking order. He had to work harder than initially perceived for the commitments of Cameron Boozer (No. 3) and Cayden Boozer (No. 16), the sons of former Duke big man and NBA veteran Carlos Boozer, but ultimately beat out Miami for the twins. The Boozer brothers bring winning pedigree after incredibly decorated high school careers. Shelton Henderson (No. 32) is a big-bodied wing, while Nikolas Khamenia (No. 21) has boosted his stock with his performances on the USA Basketball circuit.
The Blue Devils also remain involved with top-five prospect Nate Ament.
December ranking: 2
Top recruit: Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 6)
Kelvin Sampson landed the program’s highest-ranked recruit of the modern era, while also signing his backcourt of the future. Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 6) was one of the biggest breakout stars in the country last spring, then dominated at multiple events in the summer. Isiah Harwell (No. 13) committed in September, becoming just the second five-star prospect to pick the Cougars since 2012. He’s a poised guard who is adept as a playmaker but can also make shots from the perimeter.
Harwell will pair with Kingston Flemings (No. 20), the No. 1 player in the state of Texas and yet another five-star recruit. Flemings is a quick point guard who loves to beat his defender and get into the paint, where he can finish in traffic or create for a teammate.
In-state four-star guard Bryce Jackson has also signed with Houston.
December ranking: 4
Top recruit: Darius Acuff (No. 5)
John Calipari has struggled on the court in Year 1 at the helm, but he’s accustomed to getting elite recruiting classes and it looks like he will continue to do so in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks are the only program with multiple top-10 recruits right now, with Darius Acuff (No. 5) and Meleek Thomas (No. 10) both committed. Acuff, the best point guard in the 2025 class, became the 16th five-star point guard to commit to Calipari since 2009. Thomas, a big-time scorer, announced for the Razorbacks just before the early signing period. These two should form an incredibly dynamic backcourt for Arkansas next season.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Sealy (No. 65) brings versatility and size on the perimeter, and he’s aggressive with the ball in his hands.
December ranking: 5
Top recruit: Jasper Johnson (No. 17)
Mark Pope is never going to be John Calipari on the recruiting trail, but he doesn’t need to be — and Pope has answered a lot of questions about his ability to recruit high-level high school prospects with this recruiting class. There were some things working in the Wildcats’ favor: Five-star guard Jasper Johnson (No. 17) is from Lexington, and Malachi Moreno (No. 23) is another in-state recruit. But Pope still had to fight off big-time competition, particularly for Johnson.
Meanwhile, Acaden Lewis (No. 25) out of Washington, D.C., is one of the best point guards nationally.
December ranking: 3
Top recruit: Braylon Mullins (No. 14)
Winning back-to-back national championships is a nice recruiting pitch. The Huskies have already landed three top-30 recruits: Braylon Mullins (No. 14), Eric Reibe (No. 22) and Darius Adams (No. 27). It’s the first time since the ESPN recruiting database started in 2007 that UConn has had multiple top-25 recruits in the same class.
Adams can play both guard spots, while Mullins is one of the elite shooters in the class. Reibe, a left-handed 7-footer, is a skilled big man and the No. 2 center in the country. Dan Hurley also landed skilled Australian native Jacob Furphy.
December ranking: 6
Top recruit: Jaden Toombs (No. 52)
Andy Enfield built a competitive team for Year 1 in the ACC — also his first season as the Mustangs’ head coach — but he’s bringing his high school recruiting success at USC to Dallas.
The Mustangs had three ESPN 100 prospects commit early: Jaden Toombs (No. 36), Nigel Walls (No. 66) and Jermaine O’Neal Jr. (No. 99). And during the early signing period, they added another in B.J. Davis-Ray (No. 70). Toombs’ elite rebounding ability should translate early to the college level; Walls needs to physically develop but has a high ceiling; and O’Neal can make plays at both ends of the floor. Davis-Ray brings a wide array of offensive skills.
December ranking: 8
Top recruit: A.J. Dybantsa (No. 1)
When Kevin Young took over in Provo, it was clear the program was willing to provide the resources to compete for top talent and upgrade the roster. It paid off quickly.
In December, BYU landed the No. 1 prospect in high school basketball when A.J. Dybantsa picked the Cougars over Alabama, North Carolina and Kansas. Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 wing, is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft and possesses an advanced skill set and an incredibly high ceiling. Young is planning to surround Dybantsa with plenty of talent, including ESPN 100 center Xavion Staton (No. 34) and four-star big man Chamberlain Burgess.
December ranking: 25
Top recruit: Caleb Wilson (No. 7)
We mentioned back in December that the Tar Heels, despite missing out on A.J. Dybantsa, were still taking some big swings in the 2025 class, but a borderline top-25 ranking was unlikely to be where they finished. Then Caleb Wilson, one of the top prospects left on the board, committed to North Carolina over Kentucky. Given his size and two-way ability, he is one of the highest potential players in the class.
Before Wilson picked Carolina, Hubert Davis had two ESPN 100 guards already signed in Derek Dixon (No. 50) and in-state prospect Isaiah Denis (No. 76). Both players can really shoot from the perimeter, while Dixon has more of a college-ready frame.
December ranking: 9
Top recruit: Jalen Haralson (No. 19)
If and when Micah Shrewsberry gets things going in South Bend, he’s going to look back on late September 2024 as the week that took the Irish to a new level. Within a five-day span, the Fighting Irish landed three ESPN 100 commitments, including the program’s highest-ranked prospect in the modern era. It started on a Monday with Brady Koehler (No. 92), followed by the big target: Top-20 recruit Jalen Haralson (No. 19), the best boys’ high school player in the state of Indiana. Notre Dame beat out Indiana for Haralson. Two days later, ESPN 100 wing Ryder Frost (No. 78) committed. Three-star center Tommy Ahneman rounded out the group before the month ended.
December ranking: 11
Top recruit: Kaden Magwood (No. 42)
Bruce Pearl has a trio of ESPN 100 prospects in the fold, with a mid-November surge that netted Kaden Magwood (No. 43) and Sebastian Williams-Adams (No. 45). Magwood is a dynamic guard who plays with a ton of aggression offensively, constantly looking to make a play. He can light up the scoreboard in a hurry and is capable of huge scoring performances. Williams-Adams should fit Pearl’s system perfectly, given his length and versatility on the defensive end. The third member of the group is Simon Walker (No. 98), an in-state perimeter shooter.
With a top-15 recruiting class in the fold — including the top-ranked player in the state of Mississippi in Jamarion Davis-Fleming (No. 91) — Chris Jans continues the momentum started by back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. The best player in the class is King Grace (No. 68), a terrific scorer who can get points at all three levels. Center Tee Bartlett (No. 88) and four-star wing Cameren Paul are also committed.
Syracuse was one of the first to strike in the 2025 class, landing talented forward Sadiq White (No. 29) out of North Carolina last spring. He’s a terrific athlete and will either replace current freshman Donnie Freeman or play alongside him in one of the most explosive frontcourts in the country. But the commitment that pushed the Orange into the top 15 was Kiyan Anthony (No. 32), son of future Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony. Anthony is an elite scorer with supreme confidence and unlimited range on his jumper.
Red Autry is also bringing in a pair of wings in four-star Australia native Luke Fennel and three-star Aaron Womack from Milwaukee.
Shaka Smart has built his last couple of Marquette teams via roster retention and experience, and he’s bringing in a four-man group that will have the ability to grow within the program.
Nigel James (No. 52) rose nearly 50 spots in the rankings during his high school season; he brings toughness to the point guard spot. Fellow ESPN 100 prospects Michael Phillips II (No. 93) and Adrien Stevens (No. 98) join him in the class. Phillips, who reclassified from the 2026 class, has huge upside while Stevens is aggressive going to the rim. Three-star wing Ian Miletic rounds out the group.
Georgia Tech flashed in Damon Stoudamire’s first season at the helm, beating Duke, North Carolina and Clemson. And while the Yellow Jackets haven’t built on that momentum this season, there’s some real promise on the recruiting trail. They rose up the rankings when top-50 center Mouhamed Sylla (No. 35), a top-five player at his position, picked Georgia Tech over Arkansas and Oregon in mid-January. Akai Fleming (No. 49) committed shortly after last season ended; he can score and is physically ready for the next level.
Four-star guards Eric Chatfield and Brandon Stores, as well as three-star center Cole Kirouac, are also signed.
After entering the month of November without a single commitment in 2025, Bill Self and Kansas had a fantastic three-week surge that vaulted the Jayhawks into the rankings. The first domino was the best of the group, with elite guard Darryn Peterson (No. 2) choosing the Jayhawks over the likes of Ohio State, Kansas State and USC. He’s the best guard in the 2025 class and one of the best scorers in high school basketball. Peterson will be joined in Lawrence by fast-rising forward Samis Calderon (No. 97) and two-sport star Jaden Nickens.
With top-30 prospect Bryson Tiller included, this could have been a top-10 class — but Tiller enrolled early at Kansas in order to redshirt and prepare for next season.
Danny Sprinkle’s first full recruiting class in Seattle is shaping up to be a good one. The Huskies have two top-50 commits leading the way in Niko Bundalo (No. 28) and J.J. Mandaquit (No. 46). Bundalo is a high-ceiling prospect with the ability to make shots from the perimeter and make plays off the bounce, while Mandaquit is one of the better true point guards in the class. Four-star shooting guard Courtland Muldrew rounds out the trio.
The Crimson Tide secured a spot in the rankings when top-50 prospect Davion Hannah (No. 45) picked Bama over Cincinnati, Missouri and Ohio State. He joins a group that includes four-star prospects London Jemison (No. 47) and Amari Allen. Jemison is a versatile wing who continues to progress as a perimeter shooter, while Allen can also make shots from deep and should provide depth right away. Missing on top prospect Dybantsa hurts, though.
The Gators have two ESPN 100 prospects, both from the state of Florida. Cornelius Ingram Jr. (No. 26) is an incredibly intriguing player. He’s the son of former NFL tight end Cornelius Ingram and made waves on the Nike EYBL circuit with his explosiveness and highlight-reel ability in transition. Alexander Lloyd (No. 30) isn’t far behind Ingram in the rankings; Lloyd can play either guard position and score in a variety of ways.
For the third consecutive class, Wes Miller is bringing in a pair of ESPN 100 prospects. Shon Abaev (No. 24) is the higher-ranked of the two; he committed after the early signing period, choosing the Bearcats on Thanksgiving. He’s a terrific scorer who is capable of shouldering a large offensive load. He’ll play alongside Keyshaun Tillery (No. 48), a tough-minded point guard who makes an impact at both ends of the floor.
There are no Asa Newells in Georgia’s 2025 class, but the Bulldogs are still tracking for a top-25 class even without a five-star prospect heading to Athens. Jacob Wilkins (No. 51) is the highest-ranked player in the class. He has plenty of athleticism, is fantastic in the open floor and gets most of his production off his explosiveness. Kareem Stagg (No. 84) is a new member of the ESPN 100; he’s rapidly improving and has an opportunity to make a two-way impact early in his college career. Four-star 7-footer Jackson McVey is also joining the class.
T.J. Otzelberger has made a habit of getting his high school recruiting work done early in the cycle — as was again the case with his 2025 class. Both of the Cyclones’ ESPN 100 prospects — Jamarion Batemon (No. 71) and Xzavion Mitchell (No. 80) — were committed before the July live period began. Iowa State also has pledges from guards Macari Moore and Killyan Toure.
Batemon stood out in the spring and summer as a prospect who should fit well in Iowa State’s system given his competitiveness and defensive intensity.
After a difficult first year at Butler, Thad Matta had the Bulldogs in the bubble hunt last season — and now has two ESPN 100 prospects and a top-25 class coming to Hinkle Fieldhouse in 2025-26. Jack McCaffery (No. 84) — yes, that McCaffery family — and Azavier Robinson (No. 94) are the best of the group, but there’s a third four-star prospect in the fold in North Carolina native Jackson Keith. Three-star Canada native Efeosa Oliogu committed in January to round out the group.
Michigan saw a huge jump in the rankings just before the early signing period, when Dusty May landed his first five-star recruit as head coach: Trey McKenney (No. 18). The in-state guard is one of the tougher matchups in the class because of his strength and ability to score at all three levels. McKenney joined a class that already included four-star wing Winters Grady and New Zealand native Oscar Goodman, who broke out at last summer’s FIBA U17 World Cup.
Eric Musselman brought two ESPN 100 prospects with him from Arkansas in the 2024 recruiting class, and he’s got a top-75 duo coming to Southern California next season. The Trojans didn’t have a single commitment coming out of the early signing period, but beat out Vanderbilt, Ohio State and SMU for Jerry Easter (No. 41) in late November and then flipped Elzie Harrington (No. 64), who had originally committed to Harvard. Musselman has traditionally built his rosters via the transfer portal, but he’s establishing a strong talent base with high school recruits so far at USC.
After 13 straight wins to start the season, Porter Moser’s Sooners have struggled in SEC play — but there’s talent entering the fold in 2025-26. The headliner is two-sport star Alec Blair (No. 56), who is also a highly touted baseball prospect and was the biggest riser in the rankings during his senior season. The 6-foot-6 lefty has great size as a ball handler and playmaker off the bounce. Joining him in Norman will be ESPN 100 big man Kai Rogers (No. 81), who put up impressive numbers on the grassroots circuit last summer, as well as 7-foot Denmark native Andreas Holst.
