There are currently 19 five-stars atop the SC Next 100 player rankings for the men’s college basketball class of 2026. Thirteen are off the board, after North Carolina nabbed a commitment from No. 9 Dylan Mingo on Feb. 17. You’ll recognize the last name, given his brother, Kayden, plays for Penn State. The younger Mingo gives Hubert Davis a top-15 recruit for a fourth consecutive year.
We’re continuing to track every top commitment in the class of 2026 announcement as it happens, and breaking down the fit and more, right here.
Players are ordered by rank below. Jump to the latest commitment here.
Last updated: Feb. 17, 2026
See the full 2026 ESPN 100 player rankings here
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 2
Committed to: Duke Blue Devils
Commitment date: Nov. 14, 2025
Background: Now considered one of the elite prospects in the 2026 class, Williams didn’t emerge as a highly sought-after recruit until the calendar turned to 2025. Arizona made him an offer over the winter, but he began stacking more once the grassroots season began in the spring, when Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina joined in the pursuit following a string of tremendous performances with the Compton Magic on the Adidas 3SSB circuit. Following his stock-rising summer, Williams’ recruitment appeared to be a Duke vs. Arizona battle for most of the past few months, with Texas making a strong push to make his final list. Duke won out to jump-start its quest for a third straight No. 1 class.
How he fits: Williams possesses one of the highest ceilings in the 2026 class, given his 6-foot-11 size and rapidly expanding skill set, which includes a consistent 3-point shot. Although Duke’s roster will look dramatically different than it does now, we would expect Williams to step in and replace Cameron Boozer at the power forward position next season. Much like Boozer is a completely different prospect than Cooper Flagg, Williams will not be a do-everything, high-usage producer like Boozer. Williams is more of a two-way contributor who should be a consistent scorer and shotmaker as a freshman.
Where does Arizona turn? Tommy Lloyd and the Wildcats finally got on the board in the 2026 class last weekend, when No. 34-ranked Cameron Holmes committed to the Wildcats. They felt good about Holmes and Williams for long stretches during the summer, but Duke landing Williams does throw a wrench in their 2026 plans. The highest-touted prospect on their board is Caleb Holt (No. 6), although that’s likely an uphill battle with the likes of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and others involved.
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 3
Committed to: Arkansas Razorbacks
Commitment date: Feb. 13, 2026
Background: Smith has been considered one of the best players in the 2026 class since his first weeks as a high school student, earning multiple high-major offers in the fall of his freshman season. His recruitment, however, has taken some twists and turns. Long thought to be a Duke lean — with Georgetown looking to make up ground and keep him close to his home in Virginia — Smith let the early signing period come and go without a decision. While that wasn’t a surprise, it did open a window for another five-star guard (Deron Rippey Jr.) to commit to the Blue Devils in December. Arkansas, meanwhile, had significant momentum with Smith coming out of the fall; that only intensified once Duke signed Rippey.
How he fits: Most notably, Smith’s commitment immediately vaults Arkansas into the discussion for the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. The Razorbacks are likely just a step behind Duke for the top spot, but they’ve closed the gap considerably, with Smith joining top-35 prospects JaShawn Andrews and Abdou Toure. Smith is one of the best two-way players in the class, proving to be a winner for multiple teams during his high school career. He’s physically ready for the college game — he’s aggressive, can get to the basket and play either backcourt position — and he should fit seamlessly into any role John Calipari has planned. Opportunities should be there with current Razorbacks point guard Darius Acuff Jr. a projected lottery pick and Meleek Thomas a borderline first-rounder.
Should Duke be concerned about its 2026-27 backcourt? While Duke missing on Smith is a loss, the Blue Devils’ future perimeter was already getting crowded. With Rippey’s commitment, they now have three point guards projected for next season’s roster between Rippey, Caleb Foster and Cayden Boozer. Isaiah Evans is projected as a first-round pick, so he’s likely to leave; Dame Sarr has dropped into the second round of ESPN’s most recent big board; reserve shooter Darren Harris is only a sophomore; and five-star wing Bryson Howard will enter the program next season. There will obviously be some attrition, either to the portal or the NBA, but head coach Jon Scheyer has plenty of pieces in the backcourt.
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 4
Committed to: Missouri Tigers
Commitment date: July 18, 2025
Background: Crowe didn’t wait until the end of the July live period to make his commitment, setting a date for mid-July in advance. He also never announced an official school list. For much of his recruitment, though, Kentucky and USC were considered the primary contenders: Crowe’s father played with Kentucky assistant Jason Hart and the two remain friends, and the Trojans made him a priority throughout the process. But over the final few weeks, Missouri emerged as the favorite and was able to land the top-five scorer.
How he fits: Crowe is one of the elite scorers in high school basketball, averaging better than 23 points per game on the Nike EYBL circuit. He’s explosive with the ball in his hands and is an adept playmaker who can get others involved. At Missouri, Crowe will likely become the team’s best offensive player early, although point guard Anthony Robinson and UCLA transfer Sebastian Mack could return to Columbia in 2026-27 and take the pressure off Crowe. It’s also worth noting that Dennis Gates & Co. have made some real headway with fellow five-star Toni Bryant (No. 13).
What’s next for Kentucky and USC? Crowe would have been the ideal start of the 2026-27 roster for either Kentucky or USC, but both programs have talented prospects remaining at the top of their boards. The Wildcats are in pursuit of No. 1 prospect Tyran Stokes, No. 5 Caleb Holt, and five-star point guards Taylen Kinney (No. 17) and Deron Rippey Jr. (No. 18), among others. USC is eyeing Christian Collins (No. 2), Brandon McCoy (No. 6) and Tajh Ariza (No. 20) at the top.
2026 SC Next100 ranking: 7
Committed to: Maryland Terrapins
Commitment date: November 19, 2025
Background: Oladotun was the No. 1 prospect in the 2027 class before reclassifying up in August, where he remained in the top-10 player rankings despite still being 16 years old. He’s been on the high-major radar for years, earning power conference offers as a high school freshman. His recruitment took several turns over the past few weeks, and he was initially considering Kentucky and Virginia Tech before cutting them from his list. Then Arkansas looked like the favorite down the stretch. Ultimately, it became more of a local battle between D.C. rivals Georgetown and Maryland. Buzz Williams and the Terps won this round.
How he fits: Williams is already beginning to put together a young and talented core for next season that should keep Maryland in the mix in the Big Ten. Oladotun possesses a high level of skill for someone his size, and he has excellent shotmaking ability and plenty of defensive versatility. The Terps already had top-50 scorer Kaden House in the fold in the 2026 class, and freshman guards Darius Adams — a former McDonald’s All-American — and Andre Mills are both currently averaging double-figures for Maryland.
After missing on Oladotun and Arafan Diane, what’s next for Arkansas? In addition to Oladotun, top-25 prospect Arafan Diane also announced his commitment on Wednesday, picking Houston over a handful of suitors. That included Arkansas, although the Razorbacks had faded in recent weeks. While they entered the early signing period with a top-10 class, there was hope in Fayetteville of landing another high-impact recruit before the close of the period. The 2026 class is far from over for John Calipari’s program, though, as the Razorbacks are still in the mix for Jordan Smith (No. 2), Caleb Holt (No. 6) and Brandon McCoy (No. 7).
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 9
Committed to: North Carolina Tar Heels
Commitment date: Feb. 17, 2026
Background: Mingo, the younger brother of Penn State Nittany Lions freshman guard Kayden Mingo, has been considered one of the premier guards in the 2026 class since early in his high school career. His recruitment was fluid for much of the past several months, with a number of different schools vying for the lead. There was some early thought he could follow his brother to Penn State, while Alabama Crimson Tide, Miami Hurricanes and UConn Huskies all received visits before being cut later in the process. Baylor Bears was also once viewed as the favorite in the fall. But Mingo visited North Carolina in early November and the Tar Heels made their move, ultimately cementing themselves down the stretch.
How he fits: Mingo has been hampered by injuries for much of this high school senior season — he only returned to the court late last month. When he’s at full strength, though, he’s one of the best guards in the 2026 class. He has a great physical profile, with outstanding positional size and length, which allows him to be an effective player defensively and on the glass. But he’s at his best with the ball in his hands, playing downhill. And, there will be plenty of minutes on offer for doing just that in Chapel Hill next season. Hubert Davis found a gem at the point guard spot in current freshman Derek Dixon, but he and Mingo can coexist in the backcourt together.
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 10
Committed to: USC Trojans
Commitment date: Oct. 22, 2025
Background: No player in high school basketball boosted his stock more during the fall than the 7-foot Ratliff, who moved up an eye-popping 76 spots in the SC Next 100 in December. Injuries kept him out of action last summer, but he has shown high-level NBA potential since returning to the court — including making nine 3-pointers in a game last fall. He’s the son of former NBA veteran Theo Ratliff and the twin brother of fellow highly ranked four-star recruit Darius Ratliff.
How he fits: Eric Musselman and the Trojans could feature one of the most talented and versatile frontcourts in the country next season, with both Ratliff twins, as well as the potential return of sophomore Jacob Cofie. All three can score, all three are skilled and all three can protect the rim. Adonis, however, has real one-and-done potential if he adapts to the physicality of the college game. He moves incredibly well for his size and is a terrific shooter.
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 11
Committed to: Arkansas Razorbacks
Commitment date: May 15, 2025
Background: While highly ranked prospects from the state of Arkansas have typically stayed home for college — ironically, Malik Monk choosing John Calipari’s Kentucky over Arkansas was one of the high-profile exceptions — the Razorbacks had to do some work to land Andrews. He had LSU and Missouri among his final three, with Dennis Gates’ Tigers appearing to be in a strong position down the stretch. But Calipari has proved he still has juice with five-stars.
JJ Andrews is a BEAST 🔥 24 points and 10 boards for the Arkansas commit as Brad Beal Elite beats Oakland Soldiers 94-78 @NikeEYB pic.twitter.com/HF6yxctCer
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) July 17, 2025
How he fits: The No. 1 player in the state of Arkansas, Andrews has been on the radar of top programs for multiple years. He has tremendous physical tools and is aggressive going to the basket on the offensive end. Although he’s not a prolific perimeter shooter, he did shoot 40% from 3-point range during the EYBL regular season with just about one make per game. It’s always unclear who will return to a Calipari-coached roster, but Andrews should have an early role when he arrives in fall 2026. Unsurprisingly, the Razorbacks are in pursuit of a slew of other five-stars in 2026.
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 12
Committed to: Ohio State Buckeyes
Commitment date: Oct. 21, 2025
Background: Thompson has been the subject of a fierce Big Ten — and national — recruiting battle for a long time. He broke out as a sophomore in high school, with offers from several regional high-major programs already in tow. As things progressed this past summer, three schools emerged for his commitment: Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan.
When Michigan landed a commitment from No. 54 Quinn Costello last month, however, the Wolverines faded from contention and it became an incredibly tight race between the Hoosiers and Buckeyes. In the end, Jake Diebler was able to keep the Lebanon, Ohio, native home and land the first true statement recruit of his tenure. Thompson also gives Ohio State its highest-ranked recruit since No. 13 D’Angelo Russell in 2014. He joins four-star point guard Marcus Johnson (No. 28) and four-star forward Alex Smith, both also from the state of Ohio, for the Buckeyes’ 2026-27 roster.
How he fits: Given his 6-9 size, 7-4 wingspan and shooting ability, Thompson’s ceiling is incredibly high. He was one of the most impressive players during the July live period, scoring 30-plus points on five separate occasions and shooting nearly 40% from behind the arc during the spring and summer on the adidas 3ssb boys’ circuit. He should start immediately upon arriving in Columbus next season, especially since the Buckeyes will have four seniors — including up to three starters — in their rotation. If Devin Royal returns, he and Thompson could form a versatile forward tandem causing matchup nightmares for opponents.
How big of a miss is this for Indiana? Darian DeVries and the Hoosiers were in this one until the very end, and there were stretches in the fall where it looked as if Indiana was in front for Thompson. From that perspective, it’s a difficult defeat. There aren’t a ton of obvious places to turn to for wings, although Indiana recently hosted SC Next 100 wing Vaughn Karvala (No. 30) for a visit. The Hoosiers are also in the mix for two of the top three centers in the 2026 class, Arafan Diane (No. 21) and Ethan Taylor (No. 32). Four-star guard Prince-Alexander Moody is already committed.
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 13
Committed to: Miami Hurricanes
Commitment date: Oct. 30, 2025
Background: Gaskins has been on high-major radars since he entered high school, earning power-conference offers as early as the spring of his sophomore year. The Melbourne, Florida, native, who attends Christopher Columbus in Miami, emerged as a priority recruit for the Hurricanes shortly after Jai Lucas took over in Coral Gables in the spring. The Hurricanes positioned themselves strongly, and ultimately beat out a pair of SEC programs in Texas A&M and Florida — both of which Gaskins visited in recent weeks.
Gaskins is a key commitment for Lucas, his first five-star recruit as the head coach of Miami. This commitment is also a sign that Lucas has made it a priority to keep the state’s best players home for college.
How he fits: Gaskins gives Lucas a strong frontcourt anchor moving forward, as well as a marquee name around which to build his 2026 recruiting class. The 6-8 power forward has the physical tools to make an impact at both ends of the floor, especially on the backboards. He’s more effective inside the arc but is expanding his face-up game to become more of a perimeter threat. He was at his best at the high-profile Nike Peach Jam in July, averaging 20.0 points and 10.2 rebounds in five games.
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 14
Committed to: Missouri Tigers
Commitment date: Sept. 8, 2025
Background: A 6-foot-9 power forward from Zephyrhills Christian Academy in Florida, Bryant is the No. 4 power forward in the 2026 class, averaging 13.3 points and 5.8 rebounds on the Puma Pro16 circuit this past spring and summer.
As we mentioned when Jason Crowe committed, Missouri was long considered a top contender for Bryant. Dennis Gates and the Tigers were among the first high-major schools to show heavy interest in Bryant, extending a scholarship offer in May 2024 — well before he emerged as one of the top frontcourt players in the 2026 class. A number of other programs jumped into the mix over the past 16 months, including blue bloods Kansas (March) and North Carolina (earlier this month). But Missouri brought him on campus this past weekend for the Tigers’ football game against the rival Jayhawks, and Bryant ended his recruitment less than 48 hours later.
How he fits: Bryant is the second five-star recruit in Missouri’s 2026 group, joining Crowe in what is now the only class in the country with multiple five-star prospects. Bryant’s stock has risen considerably over the past year, with his athleticism and two-way potential making an impression. He’s active in transition and on the offensive glass and is showing signs of being able to knock down shots from the perimeter.
He won’t have to shoulder a huge offensive load right away as a freshman in Columbia, particularly with high-usage point guard Crowe running the show. But expect Crowe to get Bryant involved on lobs and in fast-break settings. Bryant should be able to make an impact on the defensive end, given Missouri’s aggressive style at that end of the floor.
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 16
Committed to: Duke Blue Devils
Commitment date: Dec. 30, 2025
Background: Rippey Jr. has been on the radar of colleges since his freshman year of high school, picking up an offer from St. John’s before Rick Pitino even took over the Red Storm. By the end of his junior year, he had nearly every program in the country on his trail, with the likes of Duke, Kentucky, UCLA and Indiana joining the fray in June. He had an incredibly busy — and well-informed — recruitment, taking official visits to more than a half-dozen schools over the past few months. Duke turned up the heat as the fall progressed, making Rippey Jr. its clear priority at the point guard spot.
How he fits: Rippey Jr. is an ultra-aggressive playmaker at the point guard position, using his speed and explosiveness to make plays at both ends of the floor. He’s difficult to keep out of the lane with the ball in his hands, possessing high-level playmaking and finishing ability and a developing shooting stroke. Defensively, he is a menace for opposing guards, constantly creating havoc with his on-ball pressure. His commitment gives Duke the No. 1 recruiting class at this point in the cycle.
The more interesting ripple effect of his commitment, however, is what this means for Duke’s point guard situation next season. Current starter Caleb Foster still has one year of eligibility after this season, and his growth as a junior this campaign has been positive. Former five-star recruit Cayden Boozer is also slated to be back, even with his brother, Cameron, likely a top-three draft pick in June. Does Scheyer keep all three or play two of them together?
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 17
Committed to: Duke Blue Devils
Commitment date: Oct. 21, 2025
Background: Howard was one of the fastest risers in the 2026 class over the past 12 months, entering the spring as an unranked prospect and coming out of the fall as a five-star recruit. The son of former NBA veteran Josh Howard, Bryson had a blueblood recruitment that featured a final list of Duke, North Carolina Tar Heels and Kentucky Wildcats. But after a visit to Durham in September, the Blue Devils took the lead and were able to seal his commitment.
How he fits: There’s always plenty of moving parts when it comes to projecting future Duke rosters, but Howard’s elite shotmaking prowess should help the Blue Devils, regardless of which players are still in Durham next season. He can really shoot the ball from the perimeter, and his ability to stretch a defense can only help ballhandlers Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer and fellow five-star guard Deron Rippey Jr. How many minutes will Howard get from day one? That will depend on the strides current sophomore Darren Harris makes in the offseason, as well as whether current potential first-round picks Dame Sarr and Nikolas Khamenia turn pro.
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 18
Committed to: Kansas Jayhawks
Commitment date: Sept. 28, 2025
Background: Kinney has been one of the top-ranked point guards in the 2026 class for most of the past two years, earning high-major offers and interest as far back as 2023. He was long considered a Louisville lean — the program had extended a scholarship offer under then-coach Kenny Payne. Kentucky and Indiana were also involved since early in his recruitment, and he took trips to both campuses as a high school junior. But it was a late August visit to Kansas that seemed to turn the tide for the Kentucky native. The momentum flipped from Louisville to the Jayhawks, who held off the rest of Kinney’s finalists down the stretch.
How he fits: Kinney should slot seamlessly into the point guard spot that should be vacated by 2025 No. 2 recruit Darryn Peterson, who has a chance to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft. Like Peterson, Kinney is more scorer than distributor, but he’s continuing to progress as a playmaker; his gravity as a scorer and his ability to get into the lane off the dribble help create open looks for his teammates, too. The Jayhawks are still in pursuit of top-50 prospects Davion Adkins and Ethan Taylor, both frontcourt players, but there has been positive buzz about incoming freshman Kohl Rosario, who could be Kinney’s backcourt mate next season.
Louisville just missed out on Kinney. Where do the Cardinals go from here? With Mikel Brown Jr. expected to be a one-and-done lottery pick at the point guard position, coach Pat Kelsey still needs a replacement to run the show for 2026-27. The Cardinals are still in the mix for Deron Rippey Jr., a five-star point guard and one of Kinney’s positional rivals this past summer on the Adidas circuit. If Rippey goes elsewhere — which seems to be the likely result as of now — Kelsey might have to wait for the transfer portal to find his point guard.
More top recruits
These players were five-stars at the time of their commitment announcements.
2026 SC Next 100 ranking: 23
Committed to: Texas Longhorns
Commitment date: Nov. 17, 2025
Background: Goosby has been a priority in-state recruit for Texas schools for more than two years, earning high-major offers as early as the summer after his freshman year of high school. The Longhorns began recruiting Goosby — whose brother is an offensive lineman on the football team — under Rodney Terry. The five-star guard was one of Miller’s first calls after he took over, and the Longhorns maintained a steady pursuit the whole way through. Over the last few weeks, it appeared like a Texas-BYU battle for Goosby, but the homestate Longhorns won this battle.
How he fits: Miller has done a terrific job building out his future perimeter group in this 2026 class. Along with Goosby, the Longhorns will be bringing in SC Next 100 wings Bo Ogden and Joe Sterling, two of the premier shooters in the country. Goosby isn’t the shooter those two are, but he’s a more versatile offensive player and can get his points in a variety of ways. Starting guards Tramon Mark and Jordan Pope, as well as sixth man Chendall Weaver, are all seniors, so there should be plenty of perimeter minutes to go around next season in Austin.
