The early signing period for high school seniors begins on November 13. Over the next several days, we’re going to hear a lot of announcements from top prospects revealing their future destinations. Those decisions will have a huge impact on the schools that have been chosen — and the ones that were passed up.
But you didn’t come here to get the news. You came here to get the buzz. As the founder and owner of Stockrisers.com, I spend a lot of time speaking with high school prospects, their families, their coaches and many college coaches on the hunt. As such, I hear a lot of buzz about what’s happening in the recruiting world. Now I’m ready to pass it along to you, the Hoops HQ reader.
Here’s the latest on some of the top remaining high school seniors who have yet to announce their college decisions:
AJ Dybantsa, 6-9 forward, Utah Prep, Hurricane, UT
Regarded by many recruiting experts as the No. 1 player in the senior class, Dybantsa transferred from Prolific Prep to Utah Prep, largely because of his close relationship with head coach Justin Yamzon. Dybantsa is a true do-it-all forward with a great blend of IQ and skill. He was able to reclassify from the Class of 2026 and still remain the nation’s top-rated prospect.
In a landscape where college hoops has ultimately turned into NBA free agency, Dybantsa has asserted himself as a “super max” guy in the NIL world. The question is, who is going to pay top dollar and with the A.J. Sweepstakes?
Alabama, North Carolina, Kansas State are among the finalists, but all indications are this is coming down to Kansas and BYU. Why BYU? Because Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith and Danny Ainge have been directly involved in making sure the Cougars are properly funded, as evidenced by head coach Kevin Young’s recent victories. So it’s not out of the question that BYU could throw $3 to $4 million at Dybansta.
Kansas State is still in the chase, but in the end, I think Dybantsa will end up in Provo, for one year anyway.
Nate Ament, 6-9 forward, Highland School, Warrenton, VA
Ament is another highly rated prospect with guard skills in a wing man’s body. One of the best passers in the country, Ament brings length and versatility. NBA scouts have raved about his ability to not only create for others, but also his mobility.
The latest buzz on Ament is that he wants to be part of a package deal with Shelton Henderson, a six-foot-six five-star wing from Texas. Those two attended Duke’s Countdown to Kraziness on October 4. Ament signed a shoe deal with Reebok and recently visited Tennessee. Louisville is also in the thick of this one, and conventional wisdom says that it is going to come down to the Cardinals and Blue Devils.
Chatter on the recruiting circuit indicated that Ament’s Louisville visit was pushed up just a week after Henderson took his trip there. In addition, Duke just landed Nikolas Khamenia, who played on the USA U18 Americup team with both Ament and Henderson. That could be quite a trio.
Pat Kelsey is in a great position to land Ament, but in the end, it’s hard to go against Duke on this one.
The Top Freshmen for the 2024-25 Men’s College Basketball Season
Cooper Flagg leads the list, and Rutgers wing Ace Bailey right behindKoa Peat, 6-8 forward, Perry High School, Gilbert, AZ
For a guy who is built like an NFL linebacker (which is what his father used to be), Peat has done an admirable job keeping his recruitment rather quiet.
Peat actually has a lot of football in his bloodlines. Not only was his father Todd a linebacker in the league, but his brother Andrus was a first-round pick by the New Orleans Saints. Peat is a physically overpowering player with skills to match. His first offer came from Arizona State nearly two years ago, and his stock has only risen from there.
Peat will officially visit Baylor this weekend. Houston and Texas are also in the mix. The Sun Devils’ blossoming NIL program, combined with Peat’s local ties, make it likely that he will land at ASU. Peat also once said it would be cool to get drafted to his hometown team, the Phoenix Suns. So, why not stay local for college?
Caleb Wilson, 6-9 forward, Holy Innocents Episcoal, Atlanta, Ga.
This one is a good old-fashioned blueblood battle between North Carolina and Kentucky. In just six months of being Kentucky’s head coach, Mark Pope has made himself a threat on the recruiting trail. Wilson visited Big Blue Nation in September and followed that by moving up his commitment timeline. Kentucky fans naturally assumed that meant he is headed to Lexington.
Wilson is a true four-man with a high motor and plenty of improving skill. His strong frame and the fact that he prides himself on defense has shaped him into the Top-10 prospect that he is. He has also become one of the best defenders in the country.
Wilson visited Chapel Hill unofficially this month, but I’m hearing that Hubert Davis did not gain much ground. The buzz on Wilson’s recruitment is that it is Kentucky’s battle to lose.
Chris Cenac Jr., 6-10 forward, Link Academy, Branson, MO
Cenac was way under the radar this time last year, but then he dominated the NXT Pro16 Puma circuit over the summer. Cenac was also named MVP of the NBPA Top-100 camp, which drew the attention of plenty of college coaches, most notably John Calipari.
My sources told me that Cenac was very impressed by Arkansas’ campus on his vist there, not least because he was joined by Arkansas commit and fellow five-star senior Darius Acuff Jr., who has been building a relationship with Cenac in hopes of convincing him to come to Fayetteville. Calipari’s staff was also at Link Academy a week before Cenac’s visit. They are obviously all in on this one.
The other school most prominently involved in Cenac’s recruitment is Kentucky, but while it is tempting to build a narrative on the battle between Calipari and his former school, the buzz tells me that Arkansas is way ahead.
Darryn Peterson, 6-5 guard, Prolific Prep, Napa, CA
Peterson will announce his commitment on November 1, and the buzz on him is clear: He is heading for Kansas. Bill Self hosted Peterson on a visit in June, and sources told me Peterson was blown away by the program.
It’s also worth noting that Peterson starred on the Adidas circuit, and Kansas is a very important Adidas school. If Peterson commits to KU on Friday as expected, he will have an immediate impact. (Ed note: As predicted, Peterson committed to the Jayhawks on Friday.)
Meleek Thomas, 6-4 guard, Overtime Elite, Atlanta, GA
Thomas is a scary athlete as well as one of the most crafty scorers in this class. If you need a bucket, Meleek Thomas is the man you call. The one area he needs to improve is his physical strength. Could he defend with this frame at the college level? Maybe, but he will have to gain muscle pretty quickly.
In June people thought this recruitment was over and UConn was a hefty lock. Now, however, UConn is not as deeply in the mix as they once were.
Alabama, Arkansas, and Kansas State have emerged as the three programs to beat to land Thomas. He’s visited with the Tide, has visited Arkansas, and visited Kansas State this past weekend. It is worth noting that his transition to OTE could have an effect on his recruitment, since John Calipari has been heavily invested in OTE guys, most recently landing current Arkansas freshman Karter Knox.
Calipari has recruited Thomas since he was an eighth-grader and they have a long-established relationship. Nate Oats has put himself in prime position as well. As for K-State who hosts him this weekend, the entire staff has been involved. All three have a really good chance to land Thomas, but if I had to make a prediction, I would go with the Hogs.
Shelton Henderson, 6-6 forward, Bellaire High School, TX
Simply put, Henderson is a beast. He has one of the most college-ready frames in the entire class. His shooting needs some improvement, but his strength and versatility make him a can’t-miss prospect.
Henderson’s list is down to three: Duke, Louisville and his home state school, Texas. Recently, there has been a lot of Duke buzz around Henderson’s recruitment. As I mentioned earlier, many think he’s interested in being part of a package with Nate Ament.
Henderson has taken all three official visits. It’s likely he already has an idea of where he could be going. Clearly Duke is the school to beat, but I am not counting out Louisville and Pat Kelsey. I’m told the Cardinals did an excellent job during Henderson’s official visit. Louisville was the program I once signaled as the underdog in this one and Duke has recently gained tons of ground recently as Jon Scheyer is in hot pursuit.
