LAS VEGAS — We’re officially in the heart of recruiting season, and some of the top prospects in the 2026 class are starting to let their destinations be known. Many of the top players were on display last weekend in Las Vegas for The Border League, one of the pre-eminent high school showcases on the recruiting circuit. Hundreds of head coaches and assistants were on hand watching the best of the best take flight.
There was a lot of news to track in the world of recruiting, and events will develop quickly in the weeks to come. Here are the biggest headlines from the recent rash of commitments.
Kansas and Bill Self Land Four Top-100 Prospects
Bill Self’s Jayhawks have fallen on hard times the last couple of years, but they were big winners this past week with five-star Taylen Kinney and four-star I Trent Perry both committing to Kansas. This gives the Jayhawks an early foundation of skill, toughness, and versatility in the 2026 class.
Kinney, a 6-foot-1 guard from Newport, KY, is a smooth passer who can create for others but isn’t afraid to score it himself. He has a dynamic offensive game that can keep defenses off balance. Perry, a long, physical 6-foot-5 wing out of Link Academy, is the kind of two-way piece Self has built his best teams around: unselfish, adaptable, and wired to compete.
It was already a big week for Kansas, but then the weekend made it even better. On Friday, 2027 four-star Javon Bardwell, a 6-foot-6 wing out of Overtime Elite, became the Jayhawks first commit in their ‘27 class. While on Sunday, four-star Davion Adkins, a 6-9 forward out of Dallas, became the fourth Top-100 prospect to commit to Self in the span of a week.
As Kansas looks to finalize its 2026 recruiting class, Bill Self and his staff remain firmly in the mix for some of the top remaining talent in the country. Headlining the board is five-star phenom Tyran Stokes, the consensus No. 1 player in the nation, who recently visited Lawrence and is also considering Oregon, USC, and Kentucky.
The Jayhawks are also pursuing a trio of notable four-star prospects: versatile forward Alex Constanza from SPIRE Academy, dynamic wing Maxi Adams out of Sierra Canyon, and skilled center Ethan Taylor of Link Academy, a teammate of recent KU commit Trent Perry. With multiple blue-chip targets still in play, Kansas appears poised to make another major splash before closing out its 2026 class.
A Pair of Surprises: Abdou Toure to Arkansas, Tahj Ariza to Oregon
Four-star wing Abdou Toure committed to Arkansas on Friday, becoming John Calipari’s second pledge in the 2026 class. This was unexpected as many recruiting insiders had Toure pegged for Providence. (The recruiting site 247Sports predicted a 70% percent chance Toure was going to Providence.) A 6-5 wing out of West Haven, Connecticut, Toure brings major upside on both ends of the floor. His commitment gives Arkansas another cornerstone for the future as they continue to build in Calipari’s second season, with five-star guard Jordan Smith Jr. and four-star wing Arafan Diane also emerging as key targets to watch in the 2026 recruiting cycle.
But one of the bigger surprises of the recruiting season (so far) came on day Friday five-star wing Tajh Ariza announced he will attend Oregon. The 6-foot-9 wing from Bellflower, California, kept his recruitment largely under the radar, with Kansas, Oregon, and USC emerging as the primary programs in pursuit. Ariza was widely expected to stay home and play for USC.
A surefire NBA prospect, Ariza brings elite length, athleticism and feel for the game, traits that run in the family. He’s the son of longtime NBA veteran Trevor Ariza, who played 18 seasons in the league and won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2009. Ariza joins four-star Kendre Harrison in Oregon’s 2026 class, a two-sport standout who also plans to play football for the Ducks next season.
With Ariza off the board, USC will now shift its focus to several top in-state prospects. One of their primary targets is Christian Collins, a 6-foot-8 forward from St. John Bosco who has already taken a visit to campus. The Trojans are also heavily pursuing 6-foot-7 forward Tyran Stokes—the No. 1 player in the country—who will play his senior season at Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks). Additionally, 6-foot-7 forward Maximo Adams from Sierra Canyon has been on campus for visits, and USC is set to host four-star, 6-foot-10 center Josh Irving in the coming weeks. With Ariza heading to Eugene, it’s doubly important for Eric Musselman to land one or more of these local prospects.
Tom Izzo Adds Another Piece to his 2026 Recruiting Class
Tom Izzo and Michigan State continue to build momentum on the recruiting trail, securing a commitment from four-star forward Julius Avent on Wednesday. A long, athletic 6-foot-7 forward from Oradell, New Jersey who can impact the game on both ends, Avent chose the Spartans to become their second pledge of the cycle, joining four-star guard Carlos Medlock Jr. Together, they give Izzo an early foundation of toughness, versatility, and high-upside talent that fits the program’s identity.
Looking ahead, four-star guard Jasiah Jervis of Archbishop Stepinac (NY) and four-star big man Ethan Taylor of Link Academy (MO) are among the next key targets to watch for Michigan State.
Sean Miller Secures First 2026 Commitment
Four-star guard Bo Ogden, a talented high-IQ shotmaking guard, committed to Texas on Wednesday, becoming Sean Miller’s first 2026 pledge as he begins his first season leading the Longhorns. Ogden, a 6-5 wing who was also considering Purdue and Tennessee, is a native of the state of Texas and the son of Chris Ogden, who is in his second season as Texas basketball’s general manager and has been on staff since 2021-22. This is a significant in-state pickup for Miller, adding a versatile scorer who can impact the game with his shotmaking and in a variety of other areas. Up next, Texas will turn its attention to another top in-state target: five-star guard Austin Goosby.
Junior County Commits to Hurley and the Huskies
Four-star guard Junior County committed to UConn on Thursday, becoming Dan Hurley’s first addition to the Huskies’ 2026 recruiting class. County, 6-5 guard from Salt Lake City, Utah, is a long, versatile defender with the ability to score from all three levels, combining high-level shotmaking with impressive length and athleticism. He chose UConn over Maryland, Arizona, Purdue, and Indiana, giving the program early momentum in what could shape up to be a strong class.
County’s commitment helped ease Hurley’s pain after he lost Abdou Toure’s to Arkansas on Friday. UConn remains heavily involved with four-star wing Colben Landrew, who visited campus this past weekend and five-star guard Dylan Mingo, the two highest-priority targets left on the board for Hurley and his staff.
Athletic Wing Ralph Scott is Headed to Tennessee
Tennessee secured its first commitment for the 2026 class with long, athletic wing Ralph Scott, who will play his senior season at IMG Academy. The 6-foot-8 forward chose the Vols over Texas A&M, Houston, and Purdue, bringing a high ceiling to Knoxville in the coming seasons. Coach Rick Barnes has been putting in serious work on the recruiting trail and has several high-profile visitors lined up for the next month, including five-star prospects Deron Rippey Jr. and Christian Collins. Additionally, four-star forward Latrell Allmond, who visited in September, remains a key target, with Virginia and Oklahoma State also serious contenders.
Hartman Joins Michigan’s Four-Man Class
Four-star guard/wing Joseph Hartman committed to Michigan and head coach Dusty May on Wednesday. The son of Florida assistant coach Carlin Hartman, Joseph opted to play elsewhere and had a ton of suitors throughout his recruitment. Known as a big guard who plays with toughness, high basketball IQ, and great feel, Hartman chose Michigan over Minnesota, Iowa, Butler, and other programs. He joins what is already a jam-packed 2026 class that includes Quinn Costello, Malachi Brown, and Marcus Moller.
Inside Thierry Darlan’s Groundbreaking Move from the NBA G League to Santa Clara
The 6-foot-8 guard, who averaged 10.9 points in the G League last season, will join the Broncos as a junior with two years of eligibility remaining
Four-Star Trey Beamer Commits to Boston College
Since Earl Grant took over at Boston College in 2021, the caliber of recruit the program attracts has steadily improved. That continued on Friday with the commitment of four-star Trey Beamer, a 6-2 guard from Martinsville, Virginia. He gives the Eagles a fearless offensive presence, a confident ball handler and shotmaker who brings toughness and playmaking to the backcourt. Beamer became the program’s highest-ranked recruit since Jarius Hamilton committed to Boston College back in 2018.
Jalen Montonati Stays Home and Commits to Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State’s ability to keep the top player in the state at home is a win that goes beyond the rankings. Montonati, a skilled 6-foot-7 wing from Owasso, Oklahoma had no shortage of options, but chose to stay in Oklahoma, following in the footsteps of his father, Brian, who also played for the Cowboys.
In an era where top prospects often look past local schools, Montonati’s commitment carries both meaning and momentum. For the Cowboys, it’s not just about adding a versatile scorer who can stretch the floor and create mismatches, it’s about planting a flag in the 2026 class and showing that Steve Lutz, who led the Pokes to a 12-th place finish in the Big 12 in his first season as head coach, intends to build with talent from his own backyard. Montonati brings skill, toughness, and the kind of presence that can help draw other high-level recruits to Stillwater.
With Montonati now on board, the Cowboys are shifting their focus to several key targets. One of the top names is Latrell Allmond, a 6-foot-8 forward from Richmond, Virginia, who visited Stillwater in mid-September and is set to announce his college decision on October 13, with Oklahoma State expected to be among his finalists. Another name to watch is Cameron Lomax, a 6-foot guard out of Frisco, Texas, who made his visit in late September. Meanwhile, 6-foot-8 power forward Chase Foster from Baltimore, Maryland, is scheduled to be on campus on October 18.
Four-Star Herly Brutus headed to LSU
LSU added a solid, versatile piece to its 2026 class with the commitment of Herly Brutus this week. He’s a 6-foot-5 wing from The Villages, Florida with a strong motor and a smooth scoring touch. Plus, with a name like his, he’s likely to land on Trilly Donovan’s All-Name Team during his college career. Brutus fits well into Matt McMahon’s fast-paced style and brings two-way impact that provides valuable depth as the Tigers continue building for the future. Brutus is the second member of LSU’s recruiting class so far, joining Marcus Vaughns, and with several top targets still on the board such as four-star forward Kevin Thomas out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Adam Oummidoch, a 6-5 guard from Arlington, Virginia, the Tigers aren’t finished adding talent just yet.
