By MATT WHITFIELD
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Consensus Top 10 recruit and Silver Spring, MD native Baba Oladotun could have gone anywhere he wanted with over 50 college scholarship offers.
He chose to play in his backyard and will step on the hardwood for Maryland this fall.
“I just want to come in and compete and really impact winning and help the team win and be able to dominant as a freshman,” he told ZAGSBLOG at the USA Basketball U18 mini-camp. “[I’ll] do what the coach asks of me and make the fan base happy and make my family proud.”
The 6-foot-10 Oladotun, a 2027 NBA Draft lottery prospect, stands out on the court due to his size, shot, playmaking, mobility, and versatility.
“I think I’m one of the most versatile players in the country,” he said. “I have a very unique game. I create for others. I create for myself. I’m a really talented shot maker. I work on my craft a lot with pull shots, getting to the mid range, mid post. And, I’m an underrated defender interior, exterior I can guard 1 through 4.”
Oladotun has high expectations for himself and the program this upcoming season at Maryland.
“Winning a national championship, that’s a far stretch but anything’s possible if you put your mind to it,” he said. “I don’t want to put numbers out there but having really good stats, making my teammates better, being coachable, and just being a good person off the court. All that would make my freshman year rally phenomenal.”
This summer he wants to work on adding strength. And while only 17, he already has some relationships with his future Maryland teammate
“Pharel Payne is a guy I talk to often,” he said. “Andre Mills now and then. DJ Wagner, I actually meet him on an Arkansas visit. We actually became cool. That’s someone I’m definitely looking forward to play with. I used to watch his Youtube clips.”
Oladotun says there’s some shades of Kyle Kuyzma, Paul George, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James to his game. He spent 10 days with Durant in LA last summer working out and his trainer. Like Durant, Oladotun wants to be legendary in college himself.
“I don’t really believe in stat sheets, but I want that,” he said. “I’m not going to lie. Quote me on this, I want to legendary I want my jersey in the rafters. I want people when they think of Maryland to think of me. Obviously, there’s other greats, Walt Williams who is one of my trainers, Juan Dixon, that came before and built this, so respect to them. But I want to be one of the best Maryland players of all time.”
While very confident and polished on the court for his age. Oladotun is extremely humble and well-spoken off it
“Shout out God, shout out my family,” he said. “I want to thank the man above. I’m thankful to my coaches here. Thank you to USA Basketball for having me at this prestigious camp and giving the opportunity to make the USA Basketball team.”
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