From the moment Kevin Young was hired as BYU‘s men’s basketball coach in the spring, it was clear the Cougars would have the resources to compete at the highest levels of the sport.
“It got obvious real quick that there’s not going to be a lot of things that hold us back here,” Young said in April. “When you’re trying to lead your own program, that’s a massive thing. I haven’t heard ‘no’ a whole lot.”
It didn’t take long for those words to come to fruition.
A.J. Dybantsa, the No. 1 prospect in high school basketball, committed to BYU on Tuesday, picking the Cougars over Alabama, North Carolina and Kansas. Young made Dybantsa a priority shortly after taking the job and didn’t slow down when blue bloods and recent recruiting powerhouses became more involved.
With Dybantsa — the program’s first five-star recruit since the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007 — leading the way, BYU now has a top-10 recruiting class in the country.
Note: Class rankings are determined by a mathematical formula weighting different factors related to the quality and quantity of players in the class.
Post-signing-period ranking: 1
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. 17), 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. 40) is a big-bodied wing, while Nikolas Khamenia (No. 26) has boosted his stock with his performances on the USA Basketball circuit. The Blue Devils also remain involved with top-five prospect Nate Ament.
Post-signing-period ranking: 2
Top recruit: Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 5)
Kelvin Sampson landed the program’s highest-ranked recruit of the modern era and in doing so has signed his backcourt of the future. Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 5) was one of the biggest breakout stars in the country last spring, then dominated at multiple events in the summer. Isiah Harwell (No. 19) 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. 12), 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.
Post-signing-period ranking: 3
Top recruit: Darius Adams (No. 23)
Winning back-to-back national championships is a nice recruiting pitch. The Huskies have already landed three top-25 recruits: Darius Adams (No. 23), Eric Reibe (No. 24) and Braylon Mullins (No. 25). 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 Australia native Jacob Furphy.
Post-signing-period ranking: 4
Top recruit: Darius Acuff (No. 7)
John Calipari is accustomed to getting elite recruiting classes and will continue to do so in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks are the only program with multiple top-10 recruits right now, with Darius Acuff (No. 7) and Meleek Thomas (No. 9) 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 signing period. These two should form an incredibly dynamic backcourt for Arkansas next season. Isaiah Sealy (No. 64) brings versatility and size on the perimeter, and he’s aggressive with the ball in his hands.
Post-signing-period ranking: 6
Top recruit: Jasper Johnson (No. 14)
Mark Pope is never going to be John Calipari on the recruiting trail, but he doesn’t need to be — and he 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. 14) is from Lexington, and Malachi Moreno (No. 39) is another in-state recruit. But Pope still had to fight off big-time competition, particularly for Johnson. Meanwhile, Acaden Lewis (No. 27), out of Washington, D.C., is one of the best point guards nationally.
Post-signing-period ranking: 5
Top recruit: Jaden Toombs (No. 52)
Andy Enfield built a competitive team for Year 1 in the ACC — also his first year 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 committed early: Jaden Toombs (No. 52), Nigel Walls (No. 67), Jermaine O’Neal (No. 100) — and, during the early signing period, added another in B.J. Davis-Ray (No. 72). 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.
Post-signing-period ranking: 7
Top recruit: Darryn Peterson (No. 2)
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 top-30 forward Bryson Tiller (No. 29), one of the most physically gifted players in the class. Fast-rising forward Samis Calderon and two-sport star Jaden Nickens round out the quartet.
Post-signing-period ranking: NR
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.
Post-signing-period ranking: 8
Top recruit: Jalen Haralson (No. 13)
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. 91), followed by the big target: top-10 recruit Jalen Haralson (No. 13), 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. 79) committed. Three-star center Tommy Ahneman rounded out the group before the month ended.
Post-signing-period ranking: NR
Top recruit: Sadiq White (No. 16)
Syracuse was one of the first to strike in the 2025 class, landing five-star forward Sadiq White (No. 16) 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 10 was Kiyan Anthony, the 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.
11. Auburn Tigers: Bruce Pearl has a trio of ESPN 100 prospects in the fold, with a mid-November surge that netted Sebastian Williams-Adams (No. 41) and Kaden Magwood (No. 45). Williams-Adams should fit Pearl’s system perfectly, given his length and versatility on the defensive end, while Magwood’s dynamism and aggressiveness offensively is a familiar skill set as well. The third member of the group is Simon Walker (No. 98), an in-state perimeter shooter.
12. Mississippi State Bulldogs: With a top-15 recruiting class in the fold — including the top-ranked player in the state of Mississippi in Jamarion Davis-Fleming (No. 90) — Chris Jans continues the momentum started by back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. The best player in the class is King Grace (No. 69), 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.
13. Alabama Crimson Tide: The Crimson Tide secured a spot in the rankings when top-25 prospect Davion Hannah (No. 22) picked Bama over Cincinnati, Missouri and Ohio State. He joins a group that includes four-star prospects London Jemison (No. 49) and Amari Allen. Jemison is a versatile wing who continues to progress as a perimeter shooter, while Allen also can make shots from deep and should provide depth right away. Missing on top prospect Dybantsa hurts, though.
14. Washington Huskies: 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. 48). 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.
15. Cincinnati Bearcats: For the third consecutive class, Wes Miller is bringing in a pair of ESPN 100 prospects. Shon Abaev (No. 30) is the higher-ranked prospect of the two; he committed after the early signing period, choosing the Bearcats on Thanksgiving. He’s a terrific scorer, capable of shouldering a large offensive load. He’ll play alongside Keyshaun Tillery (No. 50), a tough-minded point guard who makes an impact at both ends of the floor.
16. Florida Gators: The Gators have two ESPN 100 prospects, both from the state of Florida. Cornelius Ingram Jr. (No. 32) 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. 38) isn’t far behind him in the rankings; he can play either guard position and score in a variety of ways.
17. Marquette Golden Eagles: 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. There are two ESPN 100 prospects atop the quartet in Michael Phillips II (No. 92) and Nigel James (No. 97). Phillips, who reclassified from the 2026 class, has huge upside, while James brings toughness at the point guard spot. Four-star Adrien Stevens and three-star wing Ian Miletic round out the class.
18. Michigan Wolverines: 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 due to 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.
19. Iowa State Cyclones: TJ Otzelberger has made a habit of getting his high school recruiting work done early in the cycle and that was the case with his 2025 class. Both of the Cyclones’ ESPN 100 prospects — Jamarion Batemon (No. 73) and Xzavion Mitchell (No. 81) — 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 someone who should fit well in Iowa State’s system given his competitiveness and defensive intensity.
20. Butler Bulldogs: After a difficult first season 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 next season. Jack McCaffery (No. 85) — yes, that McCaffery family — and Azavier Robinson (No. 93) are the headliners of the group, but there’s a third four-star prospect in the fold in North Carolina native Jackson Keith.
21. Georgia Bulldogs: 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. 46) is the lone ESPN 100 prospect, but he’s a good one. He has plenty of athleticism, is fantastic in the open floor and gets most of his production off his explosiveness. Wilkins will be joined at Georgia by four-star frontcourt players Kareem Stagg and Jackson McVey.
22. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Georgia Tech flashed in Damon Stoudamire’s first season at the helm, beating Duke, North Carolina and Clemson, and now he’s looking to build on that momentum. Akai Fleming (No. 54) committed shortly after last season ended, and he’s the anchor for the class. 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.
23. LSU Tigers: Matt McMahon has eschewed quick-fix recruiting tactics since taking over in Baton Rouge and has landed four ESPN 100 prospects in the last two classes. This year’s group features Jalen Reece (No. 63), a playmaking point guard who consistently creates shots for himself and others. Four-star wing Mazi Mosley and four-star center Matt Gilhool are also committed to the Tigers. Mosley is very good in mid-range and at the rim, while Gilhool offers an intriguing skill set.
24. Penn State Nittany Lions: Mike Rhoades has always been at his best as a coach when his team is led by a tough, aggressive point guard at both ends of the floor. That’s why Kayden Mingo should be such an important commitment for the Nittany Lions. The New York native loves to make plays off the bounce and apply heavy ball-pressure at the other end of the floor. Four-star forward Mason Blackwood can score inside and out, while three-star center Justin Houser is an in-state pickup.
25. North Carolina Tar Heels: The Tar Heels are still taking some big swings in the 2025 class, so this is unlikely to be where they finish — but with Dybantsa off the board, most of the eggs are in the Caleb Wilson basket moving forward. With that said, Hubert Davis does have two ESPN 100 guards already signed in Derek Dixon (No. 55) and in-state prospect Isaiah Denis (No. 60). Both players can really shoot it from the perimeter, while Dixon has more of a college-ready frame.
