Latest news with #ProlificPrep
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Five-star prospect Caleb Holt in Tuscaloosa for unofficial visit with Alabama basketball
Alabama basketball's roster for the upcoming season is ironclad, and the Crimson Tide is already making moves to bolster its class of 2026 recruits, gearing up for the March Madness runs to come. Five-star Caleb Holt is taking an unofficial visit to Alabama on Tuesday, June 10, according to On3's Joe Tipton. Advertisement On Monday, it was announced that the 6-foot-5 rising senior, originally from Huntsville, would be transferring from Grayson High in Georgia to Prolific Prep. The basketball academy, which recently relocated from California to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has produced returning UA players Aiden Sherrell and Aden Holloway, as well as former Crimson Tide freshman Derrion Reid, who transferred to Oklahoma in April. MORE FROM 2026 CLASS: Who is Alabama basketball 2026 prospect drawing Herb Jones comparisons? Meet Gage Mayfield MEET THE ROOKIES: Alabama basketball getting 'team leader' type in incoming freshman Davion Hannah Alabama basketball hosting 5-star 2026 prospect Caleb Holt for official visit It's not Holt's first time in Tuscaloosa, having visited campus on "several occasions," per Tipton. Advertisement Before spending his junior season at Grayson, Holt played his freshman and sophomore years at Buckhorn High in New Market. Grayson Rams guard Caleb Holt (3) makes an acrobatic lay up attempt while being guarded by Columbus Explorers guard Cayden Boozer (2) during the first quarter of a City of Palms Classic quarterfinal game at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla. The On3 Industry Rankings list Holt as the fifth overall recruit in the 2026 cycle and the No. 2 shooting guard prospect in the country. At the 2025 adidas Eurocamp in Italy, Holt earned MVP honors after leading his team to a championship victory while averaging 17 points, eight rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.7 assists per game. Holt's lengthy list of offers also includes Auburn, Kentucky, UConn, North Carolina, Kansas, Louisville, Ole Miss, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Houston, Tennessee and others. Advertisement Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@ This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Five-star prospect in Tuscaloosa to visit with Alabama basketball
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Duke Makes Move for No. 1 Center in Class of 2027
Duke Makes Move for No. 1 Center in Class of 2027 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As summer moves along, we're inching closer to the start of the 2025-26 college basketball season. Recruiting never stops as coaches begin connecting with players from the class of 2026 while getting a feel for the class of 2027 and identifying long-term targets to build their rosters around. Advertisement College basketball is constantly evolving, but landing elite recruits remains crucial to building a successful program. That's exactly what Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils are aiming to do as they continue reloading after recent roster changes. On Monday, one of the top prospects in the 2027 class made headlines. "Duke has reached out to 2027 5 Obinna Ekezie Jr. (@ObinnaEkezieJr). He is the #1-ranked center in his class! Per @recruitszone. Ekezie Jr., a 7-foot center and five-star prospect, plays for Prolific Prep in Napa, California, one of the top high school basketball programs in the nation. Advertisement A year ago, Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars were among the first to offer him a scholarship. At that time, both Cal and Stanford had already extended offers to the talented big man. Since then, he's picked up offers from Maryland, BYU, Miami, Virginia and Cincinnati, adding to an already impressive recruiting profile that's drawing national attention. Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer makes move for no. 1 center in class of Pendleton-Imagn Images Ekezie Jr.'s father, Obinna Ekezie, played college basketball at the University of Maryland and was selected 37th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft before playing internationally. Recently, Ekezie Jr. participated in the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Playing for Team Jones, he averaged 7 points, 3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game over three contests, showcasing his defensive instincts and raw potential. Advertisement With Jon Scheyer continuing to make big moves on the recruiting trail, Duke is clearly targeting elite size and skill early in the 2027 cycle, hoping to stay ahead in the ever-competitive ACC landscape. Related: Cooper Flagg Sends Message to Kon Knueppel Before NBA Draft Related: Cayden, Cameron Boozer Join Exclusive Duke Club Before Freshman Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
No. 1 College Basketball Recruit Makes Decision Before Senior Season
As temperatures rise across the country, so does the intensity in basketball gyms. The summer basketball circuit is ramping up, bringing together many of the nation's best high school players for a stretch of high-stakes competition. One of the biggest names to watch is Tyran Stokes, the top-ranked player in the class of 2026. Stokes, who plays for Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, has become a priority target for nearly every major college basketball program in the country. With dozens of coaches eyeing him, the summer circuit will be an important showcase for the 17-year-old phenom. Advertisement The Bleacher Report basketball social media team recently shared a post highlighting Stokes' return to the court. "No. 1 ranked prospect Tyran Stokes is returning to AAU basketball." Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Stokes has lived in several cities, including San Diego and Atlanta. He now resides in Napa, California. During his eighth-grade season, he played in the prestigious Nike Peach Jam on an under-16 team, showcasing his talent against older competition. Before his freshman year of high school, Stokes enrolled at Prolific Prep, a program known for developing elite prospects. In his second season there, he was joined by fellow star AJ Dybantsa, who reclassified to the class of 2025 and will attend Brigham Young University this fall. There had been speculation that Stokes might also reclassify, but that no longer seems likely. Notre Dame High School (CA) forward Tyran Stokes (4). Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images After leaving Prolific Prep, Stokes transferred to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. There, he dominated opponents, averaging 21 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Advertisement Stokes is widely regarded as one of the most versatile players in the nation. Top programs like Kansas, Louisville, and Kentucky have shown strong interest in his recruitment. He visited Kansas back in April and had a trip to Kentucky on the schedule, though he ultimately canceled the visit to Lexington. As the summer progresses, all eyes will be on Tyran Stokes as he continues to rise through the ranks and shape the future of college basketball. Related: Duke's Cedric Coward Sends Strong Message on Jon Scheyer At NBA Draft Combine Related: Tyrese Proctor Makes Clear Decision on NBA Draft After Leaving Duke
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Watch: Incoming KU basketball guard Darryn Peterson drills go-ahead shot at Nationals
Prolific Prep guard Darryn Peterson (24) shoots a free throw during the second half of the Grind Session High School Basketball World Championships against DME Academy at Coffin Sports Complex Kansas, on Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Lawrence. Future Kansas basketball guard Darryn Peterson, the co-MVP of Tuesday night's McDonald's All-America game in Brooklyn, New York, two days later was instrumental in leading Prolific Prep (California) to a victory in the quarterfinals of the 16th-annual Chipotle Nationals in Fishers, Indiana. The 6-foot-5 native of Canton, Ohio, scored 28 points with 12 rebounds and eight assists in No. 6 seed Prolific Prep's 81-80 overtime victory over No. 3 seed Long Island (New York) Lutheran at Hamilton Southeastern High School. Advertisement 'It's almost normal. That stuff all comes with it,' Peterson told Jason Jordan of ESPN in referring to a hectic travel schedule. Peterson is ranked No. 2 in the recruiting Class of 2025 according to ESPN. 'It's been pretty crazy over the last couple of days. McDonald's was nonstop just with intense practices and a lot of different things they had us doing, then I came straight here and had practice,' Peterson added, speaking after the victory. 'I tried to sleep the rest of the day to be ready for today. I usually have at least some time to rest in between, but it's just been nonstop.' Peterson, the first high school athlete to sign an NIL deal with Adidas, scored 10 points in the fourth quarter of a close game. Advertisement 'I just love the game, everything about it,' Peterson told ESPN. 'I just focus on the task at hand. I don't think about anything but what I'm doing right now. I don't think about next year or the future or anything like that. I was only focused on this game today. This game requires extreme focus. I feel I've got to do that every night to be in my zone and get wins.' After missing his first six 3s, he drilled a deep 3 with 6.5 seconds left in regulation and his team down by one. The New York team was able to hit two late free throws and force overtime. Prolific Prep won the OT 13-7. 'My coaches joked to me that that was the only 3 I made all game,' said Peterson, who scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter. He has averaged 32.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game this season. Advertisement 'I wouldn't even know that because I shot it like I've been making them all night. That's the thing for me. This game requires extreme focus. It's been a crazy week and crazy couple of days. But I don't want to lose so I'm putting everything into winning Chipotle Nationals,' he added. Of Peterson's performance, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report and NBA TV/Turner wrote: 'The creativity, pacing, counters, shotmaking, athletic finishes, demeanor — just off the charts sharp and advanced. Best prospect in high school basketball.' Prolific Prep (35-5) advanced to meet Dynamic Prep (Texas) in Friday's semifinals (1:30 p.m. Central, ESPN2). Dynamic Prep defeated Link Academy (Missouri) 74-55 in the quarterfinals. Advertisement Prolific Prep (California) (34-5) is making its fifth appearance at Chipotle Nationals and is seeking its first national title in school history. According to the Chipotle Nationals website: 'The National High School Invitational (NHSI) was created in 2009 by Paragon Marketing Group to provide a platform for the top, nationally ranked high school basketball teams in the country to compete against one another in a season-ending tournament. 'Over the course of 15 years, this event (previously titled DICK'S Nationals and GEICO Nationals, taking place in Washington D.C., New York, Florida) has crowned the best high school basketball teams in the country. In 2024, the event moved to Indiana and became the Chipotle High School Basketball Nationals.'
