CHICAGO – Another week brings another wave of commitments, as more of the nation’s top 2026 prospects come off the board and the recruiting picture across the country continues to come into focus. With college basketball season right around the corner, programs are making their final recruiting pushes and setting the stage for the season to come. Here’s what went down over the last week:
Pitt Makes Big Statement With Two Huge Commitments
Pitt made a serious statement on the recruiting trail, securing commitments from two of the nation’s top-100 prospects in Jermal Jones, a 6-foot-4 guard from Riverview, Fla., and Chase Foster, a 6-foot-9 forward out of Baltimore. The IMG Academy teammates will finish out their senior seasons together before reuniting in Pittsburgh next summer, giving Jeff Capel and his staff a strong foundation for the coming seasons.
The recent addition of general manager Jay Kuntz, formerly of West Virginia, already appears to be paying off in big ways, as the Panthers continue to build momentum on the recruiting trail. Another name to monitor for Pitt is four-star guard Jasiah Jervis from Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.), who included Pitt among his final five schools after visiting in early September. Michigan State, NC State, Illinois and Tennessee are also in the mix, but it’ll be interesting to see how hard Pitt pushes following Jones’ commitment. Either way, the Panthers are piecing together one of their most impressive classes in recent years.
Rick Barnes and Tennessee Continue Adding Pieces
Tennessee entered the week with one commitment already in place: four-star wing Ralph Scott, who joined the Vols back in late September. This week Manny Green, a 6-foot-6 wing from Ellenwood, Ga., and Marquis Clark, a 6-foot-2 guard out of Chicago each pledged to Tennessee, giving Rick Barnes and his staff a strong three-man core to build around.
In addition to locking in those commitments, the Vols still have several key prospects left on their radar. Five-star guard Deron Rippey Jr. out of Blairstown, N.J., and Christian Collins, a five-star forward from Bellflower, Calif., are both scheduled to visit Knoxville later this month, and while Tennessee isn’t necessarily the favorite for either, they remain very much in the mix. Jasiah Jervis, a 6-foot-5 guard out of White Plains, N.Y., will also take a visit in the coming weeks, and 5-foot-11 guard Miles Sadler out of Scottsdale, Ariz., has already visited, but with additional visits planned, Tennessee appears more of a long shot in Sadler’s recruitment for now.
Providence and UConn Bolster 2026 Classes with Key Four-Star Additions
Two Big East programs made major moves on the recruiting trail. Kim English and Providence landed their first commitment in the 2026 class with four-star guard Aiden Derkack, a 6-foot-5 standout from Colonia, N.J., who will play his senior season under Kevin Boyle at Spire Academy. Derkack brings energy, toughness and versatility to the backcourt as a high-motor guard who can score, defend and set the tone with his competitiveness. His brother, Jordan Derkack, played at Rutgers last season before transferring to Dayton this spring. Providence remains in pursuit of five-star guard Caleb Holt out of New Market, Ala., who visited recently but is still expected to take his time with a decision.
Later in the day, Dan Hurley and UConn struck again on the trail, earning a commitment from four-star Colben Landrew out of Marietta, Ga., a win that came over several SEC schools along with former Big East foe Louisville. Landrew joins fellow four-star Junior County, a 6-foot-4 guard out of Manti, Utah who committed just a few weeks ago, giving the Huskies another strong early start in their 2026 class. UConn continues to target five-star guard Dylan Mingo out of Farmingdale, N.Y., who plans to take more visits before trimming his list or announcing a decision.
Oklahoma State Adds Another Four-Star to 2026 Class
Oklahoma State added another major piece to its 2026 class with the commitment of four-star forward Latrell Allmond, joining fellow top prospect Jalen Montonati in what’s shaping up to be a standout group for Steve Lutz and his staff. Allmond, a 6-foot-8 forward out of Richmond, Va., brings a tough, physical style of play that should quickly make him a fan favorite in Stillwater. In Allmond’s recruitment, the Cowboys were believed to have made the strongest overall push, pairing their resources with a genuine connection that ultimately sealed the deal. Looking ahead, Overtime Elite guard Parker Robinson is another name to keep an eye on. The 6-foot-5 shotmaker from Olney, Md., visited campus last week, and Oklahoma State currently looks like the team to beat in his recruitment.
Texas Tech Lands In-State Guard Dakari Spear
Texas Tech picked up a major in-state commitment with the addition of Dakari Spear, a dynamic 6-foot-5 guard out of Colony, Texas. Spear brings versatility and athleticism on both ends of the floor, showcasing explosive playmaking ability and elite defensive potential, which is a perfect fit for Grant McCasland and his system in Lubbock. Another name to keep tabs on for Red Raider fans is Darius Bivins, a 5-foot-11 guard from Alexandria, Va. and Bishop O’Connell, who’s set to visit Texas Tech at the start of the college season. With Spear now on board, the Red Raiders’ focus shifts to that early November visit, as Bivins stands out as their top remaining 2026 target.
Gonzaga Gets Big Boost with 6-10 Center Sam Funches
Gonzaga snagged a major commitment on Friday, securing four-star big man Sam Funches from Madison, Miss. The 6-foot-10 center chose the Zags over Ole Miss, Mississippi State and LSU, giving Mark Few and his staff their first American high school pledge of the 2026 cycle after adding top international prospect Jack Kayil from Germany earlier this month.
Looking ahead, Gonzaga will turn its attention to two key high-school prospects over the next month. Four-star Luca Foster, a 6-foot-5 guard from Wayne, Pa., visited this weekend, while four-star Cam Holmes, a 6-foot-6 wing out of Goodyear, Ariz., will visit in early November. Landing one of these two guards will be crucial in shaping a 2026 class that Zags fans will be excited about.
Chris Jans, Mississippi State Land Rising Prospect Jalyn Collingwood
Mississippi State and Chris Jans landed one of the summer’s biggest risers with the commitment of four-star wing Jalyn Collingwood, a versatile 6-foot-5 prospect from Washington, D.C. Collingwood’s stock soared over the past few months as he reeled in offers from Michigan State, Texas Tech, Maryland, Ohio State and several others before ultimately choosing the Bulldogs. Mississippi State has quietly built a strong foundation on the high-school recruiting trail, signing four four-star players in its 2025 class and already securing three more in 2026. Collingwood joins center Ladarius Givan and guard Willie Burnett III, a pair of four-star prospects from Virginia, in a class that is giving the Bulldogs plenty of early momentum.
The staff remains in pursuit of four-star center Tristan Reed out of St. Louis, Mo., who recently trimmed his list to five schools: Mississippi State, Michigan State, Ohio State, Maryland and Missouri, as his recruitment heads toward the home stretch.
LSU Adds Explosive Wing Kevin Thomas
LSU added its third big commitment of the 2026 cycle on Friday when four-star Kevin Thomas announced he will be heading to Baton Rouge. The 6-foot-6 wing out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. is one of the most explosive prospects in the class and joins four-star Herly Bruts and three-star Marcus Vaughns in the Tigers’ 2026 group. Another name to watch for LSU down the stretch is four-star Adam Oummidoch out of Overtime Elite. The 6-foot-5 guard from Arlington, Va. visited LSU in mid-September and is in the process of wrapping up visits, with a decision likely within the next month or so. Matt McMahon and his staff have done a fantastic job building this early 2026 class.
