The college basketball world is already buzzing about the future, just weeks after an electrifying end to the 2024–25 NCAA season. Florida emerged as national champions, edging out Auburn in a thrilling final showdown. The SEC stood proud, sending an astounding 14 teams to the NCAA Tournament. But as the dust settles on this past season, all eyes are turning to the next generation of talent—especially the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2027, Baba Oladotun.
A 6-foot-8 forward from James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, Oladotun has captured national attention. Ranked as the top prospect in ESPN’s 2027 class, he’s being courted by several top-tier programs. However, it’s Kentucky—and specifically new head coach Mark Pope—who appears to have made the deepest impression.
In a recent interview with On3 Sports, Oladotun’s father, Ibrahim, shared his emotional reaction to Pope’s recruiting approach. “I was blown away. It almost brought me to tears,” Ibrahim said during a Nike EYBL event in Memphis. “Everything that’s happening to him is very historic. That’s just remarkable. Kentucky basketball, bluegrass and all of that stuff are a big deal. It’s living the dream.”
The Oladotun family’s admiration for the Wildcats runs deep. Ibrahim couldn’t say enough about the program’s legacy and the impact Coach Pope is making early in his Kentucky tenure. “It’s a great program. It’s probably one of the best in the country,” he added. “To match that with Coach Pope, that’s incredible. I like his energy. He also has NBA experience. It’s a very good program. It doesn’t get better. They’re the blue bloods.”
Coach Pope has been working tirelessly this offseason, hitting both the transfer portal and the recruiting trail hard as he builds for the future. His efforts with Oladotun not only speak to his recruiting savvy but also to his emotional intelligence—something that clearly resonated with the Oladotun family.
The recruitment process is only just beginning to ramp up for the class of 2027. Starting June 15, NCAA rules will allow college coaches to directly contact these rising stars. However, Ibrahim Oladotun plans to shield his son from the pressures of early stardom.
“I definitely want to handle all the calls,” he said. “I want him to focus on just being a kid and keep working. I’m going to handle that. We’re going to tell everyone the same thing. I mean, he’s 16. Remember, he’s 16. Some of these kids are 18.”
With such a mature support system and a deeply grounded perspective, Baba Oladotun is well-positioned to navigate the intense spotlight ahead. And as Coach Pope continues to build a new era of Kentucky basketball, his early connection with the nation’s top young talent might just prove historic.
