A very strong senior class leads The Elite 25 rankings, with 6 of the top 10 players, and 11 of the top 25 on this list coming from the 2025 class. AJ Dybansta is a truly elite talent and looks the part of a future NBA superstar. He was an easy choice at no.1, even with the elite talents of the no.2 player on this list, Cameroon Boozer.
One freshman (class of 2028) made the list, a player with as much upside as anybody but a lot to prove over the coming four years.
Overall the world of high school basketball is loaded with talent and the future of basketball is in very good hands.
The Elite 25
1) AJ Dybansta – SF – Utah Prep – C’2025 – AJ is widely considered the best basketball prospect in the world outside of the NBA, right up there with Duke freshman Cooper Flagg. After transferring to Utah Prep AJ is in for a big senior season and there is a fierce recruiting battle going on for his services. He’s got incredible size for wing and can score effortlessly over most defenders. He’s a special athlete, a big time shot-maker and an overall elite player. He’s got all the makings of a franchise player who promises to elevate one lucky franchise and be one of the faces of the league for years to come. The NBA future is in good hands.
2) Cameroon Boozer – PF – Miami, FL – C’2025 – There’s not much new to say here. Boozer has been an elite talent for a few years now and continues to shine as one of the premier talents outside of the NBA. He’s as smooth and as advanced of a scorer as I’ve seen at the high school level. All signs point to him committing to play for Duke but no decision has yet been announced. UPDATE: The Boozer twins are going to Duke!
3) Darryn Peterson – SG – Canton, OH – C’2025 – Peterson is a standout two-way player who looks like a clear cut one and done lottery pick. He’s not the biggest guard out there but has length, good quickness and awesome instincts. He’s a polished scorer from 3 levels and is also a terrifying on-ball defender. He doesn’t get the attention of Dybansta and Boozer but he’s well on his way to being a star and soon the country will know his name.
4) Caleb Wilson – PF – Atlanta, GA – C’2025 – Wilson is an elite forward prospect who has all the physical tools, great athleticism and a modern game. He’s a smooth offensive talent who can face-up, drive the ball to the basket and has great touch from mid range. He’s built in the mold of Chris Bosh/Kevin Garnett and has a chance to be a big time NBA player.
5) Tyran Stokes – SF – Prolific Prep – C’2026 – A power-wing/combo forward with an intriguing skill-set, Stokes is a unique player who can out-muscle and overpower opponents at the high school level and is coming along nicely with his ball skills and perimeter game. He’s a nightmare in transition and once he gets up a head of steam he’s nearly impossible to stop. He’s not yet a knockdown shooter but has made big strides with his shot and is becoming more of a complete basketball player.
6) Miikka Muurinen – PF – Sunrise Christian (Finland) – C’2025 – Muurinen has been flying up the rankings over the past year and is looking like one of the top prospects in the 2025 recruiting class. He’s got an awesome mix of size and skill, showing an ability to score inside and out and he’s an excellent athlete for a 6-10+ player. He gets a lot of Lauri Markkanan comps and those look to be accurate.
7) Nate Ament – SF – Manassas, VA – C’2025 – Ament is another fast rising prospect who has gone from relative obscurity to 5-star status and one of the top prospects in his class. He’s a smooth 6-9 wing with a sweet jumper, great feel for the game and a very clear NBA level skillset. He’s got a thin, wiry frame and will have to add strength over the coming years but he’s got plenty of time to do that.
8) Brandon McCoy – PG – Bellflower, CA – C’2026 – McCoy is an explosive guard who is a blur in the open court and dangerous when attacking the rim. He’s got good size for a lead guard and more than enough size/athleticism to be a very high level NBA guard. His quick first step and above the rim ability is impressive. At this point he’s one of the top 2 or 3 prospects in the 2026 recruiting class.
9) Alijah Arenas – SG – Chatsworth, CA – C’2026 – Alijah has always been a bucket, now he’s growing into a legit NBA guard/wing with a solid 6-6 frame. He’s highly skilled with the ball in his hands and has a level of polish we don’t often see from high school juniors. He’s a solid athlete but certainly isn’t an elite high flyer. He’s got the size to play above the rim but doesn’t blow you away with his athleticism. His polished, skill-based game more than makes up for his lack of elite burst and bounce.
10) Kameron Mercer – SF – Cincinnati, OH – C’2028 – Only a freshman, Mercer is an elite talent with special upside, who obviously has a long time and a lot of growth left to go before cementing himself as a future lottery talent. He’s an impressive 6-7 athlete who competes at a high level and brings it on both ends. His physical tools are elite but what really separates him from the pack is his intensity and commitment to playing both ends and playing the game the right way. I’m super excited to see how he develops over the coming years.
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