On3 drop. This gent lumps us with the field as it comes to Thomas, albeit doesn’t seem to have much more than crumbs on rationale.
5-star Predictions: Calling my shot on top 2025 basketball recruits
by:
Jamie Shaw
about 6 hours
Football season is in full swing which means top hoopers are visiting colleges every weekend. Mid way though September has the recruitment process in the 2025 class becoming a little more into focus. Interesting enough, at this point in the cycle only three (of 14) five-star players have committed. The recruiting process has been a bit slower developing for the 2025 class.
Not only has the process been slow developing, there have been more twists and turns than ever. The fluidity of for a player’s recruitment process has been steep and quick.
With that said, things are picking up. So let’s take a mid-September snapshot to see where things stand with each player with a five-star rating, and if each recruitment were to end today – understanding how fluid the process is and things can change quickly – where I would predict them to go.
Updated 2025 On3 Industry Ranking
Five-Star Plus+ SF AJ Dybantsa
INTEL: This recruitment is as up in the air as one can be. Three things that we do know at this point. The first,
AJ Dybantsa is down to seven schools. Secondly, he is currently scheduled to visit all seven officially prior to the November signing day. Third, his father stated that the plan is to commit in February.
Dybantsa took his Auburn official early, and he has recently visited Kansas and Kansas State. He is still scheduled to have four upcoming visits. UNC (9/20), Alabama (9/27), Baylor (10/4), and BYU (10/11) are those dates.
Some NBA scouts are calling Dybantsa possibly the best domestic high school prospect they have scouted in a decade or so. In the age of NIL, schools are trying to recruit and bring in difference-makers. While Alabama and BYU are the two schools almost every source close to the recruitment mentions, a couple of sources are starting to name-drop other schools as well. Things could change as we continue to move along with this one, but all seven schools are said to have a chance here.
Prediction: Alabama
Confidence Level: 15%
Biggest Threat: BYU
Five-Star Plus+ PF Cam Boozer
INTEL:
Cam Boozer and his twin brother
Cayden Boozer, recently took unofficial visits to Duke, Miami, and Florida. From talking to people around the recruitment, while it has not been officially stated yet, those are the presumed final three schools in their recruitment. The pair had already taken official visits to each school in 2023 and because of NCAA rules, they both had to get updated looks in an unofficial capacity.
The general thought among sources is that a decision could come soon. However, no future visits or a commitment date have been announced at this point. According to sources around the recruitment, many are telling me that Miami is the trending program. With that said, the family does have strong ties to Duke and the area. I am told the Blue Devils have put up a strong fight here. One source also mentioned to me that they would not be surprised if Florida made at least some kind of move on their visit. I am told these visits gave the Boozers something to think about, so continue to watch for timelines and dates.
Prediction: Miami
Confidence Level: 30%
Biggest Threat: Duke
Five-Star Plus+ SG Darryn Peterson
INTEL:
Darryn Peterson has recently taken official visits to USC, Kansas, and Ohio State. He still has an upcoming date on the books with Kansas State on 9/27.
In speaking with sources around the recruitment, the general thought remains that Kansas carries the momentum. However, continue to pay attention to the visits he goes on. It is worth mentioning here as well that Peterson is an Adidas athlete who played on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit with the Phenom U program and transferred to Prolific Prep which is an Adidas-featured high school.
Prediction: Kansas
Confidence Level: 60%
Biggest Threat: Ohio State
Five-Star Plus+ PF Caleb Wilson
INTEL: For a while, Arkansas was the school that many were talking about. Then, after
Caleb Wilson’sperformance in Peach Jam, other schools started to ramp things up for the 6-foot-9 forward.
Talking with sources close to the recruitment, Arkansas is still the school talked about the most often. However, I am told, that the September in-home visit with BYU opened Wilson’s eyes. Sources also said that he enjoyed the Kentucky visit and I have been told to not sleep on Georgia Tech in this process. What, a month ago, seemed like an Arkansas-based recruitment has been opened up a little by the process. Wilson has stated he plans to sign during the late period and will be paying close attention to the season. So, if that timeline remains, there is still time for things to play out.
Prediction: Arkansas
Confidence Level: 25%
Biggest Threat: Kentucky/BYU/Georgia Tech
Five-Star Plus+ PF Koa Peat
INTEL: While
Koa Peat has already taken five official visits, the three that he has upcoming are the three schools that sources have consistently told me to watch throughout the process. Peat is scheduled to visit Duke on 9/20, Baylor on 9/27, and Arizona on 10/4.
The program that I hear the most from sources around the recruitment is Arizona. I continue to hear about the proximity to his family and familiarity with the program. One source recently told me that there is mutual interest, but to watch what happens with the Boozers at Duke, with regard to Peat. I am told that Baylor has carried some intrigue throughout the process. While it has been said to me that Arizona is the program everyone is currently chasing continue to pay attention to visits, timelines, and how things play out.
Prediction: Arizona
Confidence Level: 30%
Biggest Threat: Duke
Five-Star Plus+ SF Nate Ament
INTEL: One thing we know about Nate Ament’s process is that sources believe that he is willing to play the long game. This recruitment has not even gotten started yet. He has not taken any official visits at this point, or set publicly any type of commitment or visit timeline.
With that said Duke and Virginia are the two programs that have built the longest-standing relationships with Ament at this point. They are also the two campuses that the five-star wing has been on the most. I am told that going into the visits, Duke is the school that a lot of programs will be chasing. Ament told me that not only does he want to see how the teams play, especially the ones with new coaches, but he also wants to see where others in his class land. However, with that said, having an entire process ahead of him, watch what visits he sets and how things will play out.
Prediction: Duke
Confidence Level: 25%
Biggest Threat: Virginia
Five-Sar Plus+ SG Meleek Thomas
INTEL: The process for
Meleek Thomas has been fast, at times, and slow. Right now, things have slowed down. Over the summer, around his official visit, sources told me that UConn had all the momentum. That has since died down some and Arkansas is the program that has picked up a lot of the steam. Thomas has taken a September official visit to Arkansas as well as officially visiting Calipari while he was still at Kentucky.
Pittsburgh and Auburn have been Thomas’ other two official visits and the Five-Star Plus+ guard has an upcoming date set with Alabama. While Arkansas is the program sources are telling me as current momentum, continue to watch the visits Thomas takes and if a timeline is put out.
Prediction: Arkansas
Confidence Level: 45%
Biggest Threat: The field
Five-star PG Mikel Brown Jr.
INTEL:
Mikel Brown recently announced he would play his senior season of high school at Orlando (FL) DME Academy. Alabama, Ole Miss, Indiana, and Providence are the four official visits brown has already taken. He has upcoming dates with Kentucky (9/27), Maryland (10/25), UCF (11/3), and Arizona (11/21).
This process is said to go into the late recruiting period. Sources around the recruitment tell me that Brown will not only be watching teams play this season, but he will also be paying attention to where other players in this class commit. One source told me recently that this one could be relatively open at this point. Things can change quickly, so continue to pay attention to the visits and if a timeline arises.
Prediction: Louisville
Confidence Level: 15%
Biggest Threat: Alabama
Five-star SF Jalen Haralson
INTEL:
Jalen Haralson last issued a
top nine schools and set official visit dates to Auburn, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Indiana, and Purdue. He has taken four of the official visits with Purdue still left on 9/21.
The school I have continued to have sources mention to me in this recruitment is Indiana. However, I have one source who has consistently told me to keep an eye on Notre Dame. Things can change quickly in the recruiting process so continue watching the visits.
Prediction: Indiana
Confidence Level: 25%
Biggest Threat: Notre Dame
Five-star PF Chris Cenac
INTEL: The process started so late for
Chris Cenac. With that said, he is continuing to play catch-up with his recruitment. Already the 6-foot-10 forward has taken two official visits, Houston and Tennessee. He currently has upcoming dates set with Auburn (9/20), Kentucky (9/27), Ariznasas (10/19), and LSU (11/9).
A source close to the recruitment told me that LSU is prepared to do what it takes to stay in this one until the end. The two other programs I consistently hear from sources are Arkansas and Kentucky. I am told also that Auburn and Tennessee might have staying power, and it will be interesting to see what kind of move those schools can make. Continue to watch the visits. Sources have said they expect Cenac’s decision to come during the late period, so also watch to see if a timeline officially comes out.
Prediction: LSU
Confidence Level: 20%
Biggest Threat: Kentucky
Five-Star CG Brayden Burries
INTEL:
Brayden Burries recruitment has been kept very quiet. With that said, I do not have much of a feel for things just yet. With that, three of the schools I have heard are involved are Tennessee, Arizona, and Duke. Continue watching upcoming visits and if a timeline is released.