CHANTILLY, Va. – The top uncommitted prospects in the country are still keeping programs guessing. From Tyran Stokes to Qayden Samuels., these elite players are drawing interest from multiple powerhouse schools, with each recruitment seemingly evolving by the week. Some names are closer to decisions, while others are just getting things started.
I broke down the latest on the top 10 uncommitted prospects, who’s trending where, and which schools are making the biggest moves to land these program-changing talents.
Tyran Stokes (No. 1)
Tyran Stokes’ recruitment has stretched on longer than expected, and the picture is as unsettled as ever. The 6-foot-7 forward out of Louisville, Ky. is officially down to Kansas, Kentucky and Oregon after naming his finalists in early November, but what once looked like Kentucky’s race to lose back in October has become far less clear.
Kansas has made a real push, with assistant Kurtis Townsend in to watch his first home game at Rainier Beach this week. Oregon continues to stay involved as well, and his midseason move from Notre Dame to Rainier Beach has added another wrinkle to an already drawn-out process. Even his recent Vanderbilt offer indicates he may not be choosing strictly between those “final” three.
As it stands, we may still be a ways away from a decision for the nation’s No. 1 prospect, and lately I’ve started to think Kansas’ interest is more legitimate than many expected, making them a program worth keeping an eye on down the stretch despite his deal with Nike.
Jordan Smith Jr. (No. 2)
Duke has long been viewed as the frontrunner for Jordan Smith Jr, a 6-foot-3 guard from Fairfax, Va., but recent weeks have created real uncertainty. I was at Smith’s game Thursday, where Arkansas, Kentucky and Georgetown all had coaches in attendance, while Duke was notably absent.
A major storyline is Duke’s pursuit of Deron Rippey Jr., a 6-foot-2 guard out of Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. After months of trending toward NC State, the latest intel points to Duke now being in the lead. With an already three-man class, Rippey’s potential commitment raises questions about how Smith may fit as the fifth-wheel. Duke won’t turn him away if he wants to go, but the situation is clearly shifting and worth monitoring.
Arkansas and John Calipari, who watched Smith on Thursday, remain a serious factor, and Georgetown continues to push with Ed Cooley also in attendance on Thursday night. Smith’s recruitment is expected to stretch well into 2026 as these pieces continue to sort themselves out.
Caleb Holt (No. 5)
For much of Caleb Holt’s recruitment, Alabama was widely viewed as the frontrunner to land the 6-foot-5 guard out of New Market, Ala., in what many expected to be a long, drawn-out process. That perception began to shift this fall as Holt took additional visits, including trips to Arizona in early October and Houston later in the month. Providence, Kentucky and Ole Miss have all also been involved, but the growing list of visits has made it clear that Alabama may no longer be the sure destination many once assumed.
Both Arizona and Houston left strong impressions during their visits, and each program has emerged as a legitimate team to watch. Holt is still expected to wait until the spring to announce his decision, and all indications are that this recruitment will stretch deep into the high school season, if not into the transfer portal window, before we gain real clarity on where things ultimately stand. Alabama, Arizona and Houston are the three main schools to monitor in the last few months of Holt’s recruitment.
Dylan Mingo (No. 6)
Dylan Mingo, a 6-foot-5 guard from Glen Head, N.Y., cut his list to four schools in late November: Baylor, North Carolina, Penn State and Washington. Washington has since faded, leaving Baylor, North Carolina and Penn State as the three programs sitting in decent positions.
Penn State is particularly interesting with Mingo’s brother now a freshman at the school. Despite the team’s struggles, the possibility of playing together has become more realistic than it once seemed. Baylor previously recruited and landed VJ Edgecombe, Mingo’s former high school teammate, and developed him into a one-and-done NBA player. Mingo has formed a strong relationship with the Baylor staff, and their guard development track record remains a major draw. North Carolina recently hosted Mingo on an official visit, and feedback from that trip was overwhelmingly positive, with sources indicating the Tar Heels are in a solid position to land the five-star guard.
All three schools remain confident and firmly in the mix, and I was told this week that Mingo expects to have his recruitment wrapped up before the end of the calendar year. No clear favorite has emerged just yet, positioning this to be a tight three-team race all the way to the finish.
Bruce Branch (No. 8)
I’ve had a lot of people reach out about Bruce Branch in recent days, but the reality is that he’s still very early in the recruiting process. Branch, a 6-foot-7 forward out of Gilbert, Ariz. who recently reclassed from 2027 into the 2026 class, has no visits scheduled, and with Prolific Prep’s demanding national schedule, it may be a month or more before anything gets officially planned.
BYU is one school that has shown significant interest so far, along with Louisville, Arizona and Kansas, according to a source. Another source emphasized that his recruitment is completely wide open with no early favorite at this time. Given the recent reclass and the timing of his season, it may be a while before anything truly meaningful develops in his recruitment.
Christian Collins (No. 9)
Collins, a 6-foot-8 forward from Bellflower, Calif., has kept his recruitment relatively quiet, but he is currently focused on three schools: UCLA, Oregon and Kentucky. From the sources I’ve spoken with, Kentucky holds a clear lead, while Oregon and UCLA have significantly tapered off. I’m told both programs have essentially stopped contacting him, leaving Kentucky as the only school still actively recruiting the talented forward.
There was speculation that Collins might commit during the early signing period, but that clearly never materialized. At this point, a decision does not appear imminent, and this recruitment will almost certainly stretch into the spring of 2026. Even in my direct conversations with Collins, there’s no indication he’s nearing a commitment and it seems as if he’s focused on the high school season more than his current recruitment.
Brandon McCoy (No. 10)
Much like Collins, Brandon McCoy appears likely to extend his recruitment well into the spring. Unlike Collins, however, very little about McCoy’s process has been public. He has been involved with Arkansas, Miami, Michigan and Alabama, visiting all four, and those programs have appeared to remain the most active with him at this stage. McCoy, a 6-5 guard from Bellflower, Calif., has not narrowed his list, and he told me he has no additional visits planned at this time.
In his senior season at Sierra Canyon, McCoy is locked in on the high school season, and his recruiting situation does not seem to be a major focus right now. The expectation has long been that he would commit in the spring, and all signs still point in that direction with no clear leader at this point.
Deron Rippey Jr. (No. 16)
Five-star Deron Rippey, a 6-foot-2 guard out of Blairstown, N.J., spent much of the fall touring the country, visiting nearly ten schools and many of the top programs in college basketball. His final visit was to NC State, and for a time, sources involved in his recruitment viewed the Wolfpack as the team to beat. That changed last weekend, when momentum shifted sharply in Duke’s favor. One source, who once pegged NC State as the sure-fire destination, now believes Duke holds the upper hand and is destined to secure the commitment.
Rippey is expected to announce his decision in the coming weeks, and his choice is a major domino that has yet to fall in the recruiting world. If he does commit to Duke, giving the Blue Devils a four-man class, the question becomes how that affects Jordan Smith Jr., the No. 2 prospect in the country and a player Duke has long been considered the favorite to land. Duke certainly would take Smith Jr. if he wants to commit, but whether Rippey’s impending commitment changes anything has yet to be fully seen.
Qayden Samuels (No. 19)
Qayden Samuels, a 6-foot-6 wing from District Heights. Md., may be a bit closer to a commitment than some of the other remaining prospects in this class. He told me this week that he is considering only two schools: Georgetown and Alabama, with sources indicating the Crimson Tide are currently leading the way. He also mentioned that he is still working on setting up a date to commit, suggesting he could be closer to announcing than many of the other prospects on this shortlist.
Samuels, one of the top scorers in the class, would fit perfectly at Alabama under Nate Oats, but only time will tell if that actually comes to fruition. His scoring ability and versatility will make him an immediate-impact prospect wherever he lands, and both programs have clearly envisioned him as a key piece for their future.
Jaxon Richardson (No. 20)
Richardson is another prospect who has obviously been quite deliberate with his recruitment. He cut his list to four in mid-November, and at this point he appears to be in a holding pattern. USC, Ole Miss, Alabama and Creighton remain the contenders for the explosive wing, one of the most athletic players in high school basketball. Richardson has visited all four programs and told me last week that he plans to make his decision toward the end of the high school season.
There was some chatter last week that Creighton may have emerged as the frontrunner, but sources behind the scenes indicated that no clear favorite has taken shape. This recruitment will be one to monitor as we move into the spring, and a decision is not expected until then.
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