The 2026 Nike Hoop Summit showcased top basketball prospects, with Tyran Stokes emerging as the consensus No. 1 overall pick. Notable performances included Tajh Ariza's return to Team World and Bruce Branch III's impressive showing after reclassifying.
Gone are the Cooper Flaggs and AJ Dybantsa-level headliners, but the 2026 Nike Hoop Summit still delivered. The Portland stop marks the true beginning of the NBA Draft cycle, and this year's prospects gave scouts plenty to chew on.
Tyran Stokes headlined this year's class as the consensus No. 1 overall prospect, while Tajh Ariza - son of Trevor - made his return to Team World after suiting up for them a year ago. Bruce Branch III entered the event as the top-ranked player in the 2027 class before reclassifying to prove himself against stiffer competition, and Finnish sensation Miikka Muurinen brought the same explosive athleticism that turned heads at EuroBasket last fall. Meanwhile, Beckham Black ā younger brother of Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black ā stood out as the best player on the Portland Generals during scrimmages.
HoopsHype was on the ground for every practice and scrimmage leading up to Saturday's game, the 16th edition of the Hoop Summit in Portland.
Here are standouts that left an imprint throughout the week.
If there's a safe, high-floor prospect in this class, it's Caleb Holt. He scores at all three levels ā attacks the rim and finishes through contact, and knocks down threes with enough consistency to keep defenses honest. As a catch-and-shoot weapon, he's already translatable at any level.
The defense may be the more impressive part. Holt is a legitimate point-of-attack stopper who can also help on the weak side, making him one of the better two-way prospects in his high school class. Ball handlers already struggle to turn the corner on him, and when they do, he's disciplined enough to cut off angles and challenge at the rim.
The Anthony Edwards comparisons have circulated, but they feel overstated... particularly in the athleticism department. Holt can play above the rim, but he isn't jumping out of the gym. The safer comp is probably someone who wins with skill and IQ before raw explosiveness.
Hoops Summit performance: 34 minutes, 24 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 7 steals, 2 fouls, 50% FG (9-18), 44.4% 3FG (4-9), 5 turnovers
Jordan Smith's stock has climbed steadily throughout his senior year, and his reported 6-foot-9 wingspan has become his calling card, making him one of the more disruptive on-ball defenders this class has seen in some time. During a Portland Generals scrimmage, he pressed full-court and made the opposing point guard slip and fall twice before reaching midcourt. The Donovan Mitchell comparisons stem largely from that rangy frame, but unlike Mitchell, Smith's offensive game needs improvement, particularly as a shooter from deep. He's effective attacking the rim as a ball handler, but he's nowhere near a three-level scorer yet. How his playmaking develops as a passer will be worth monitoring next season, when he'll line up alongside Abdou Toure at Arkansas.
Hoops Summit performance: 25 minutes, 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 fouls, 45.5% FG (5-11), 3 turnovers
His confidence on the court matched his No. 1 ranking and for good reason. Stokes is dynamic with the ball in his hands, already comfortable pulling up from deep off step-backs and off-the-dribble threes, and he gets to the rim against smaller defenders with enough ease to finish above it. He's also smart enough to be a weapon off the ball, which separates him from a lot of prospects at this stage.
The areas to watch: his shot-making consistency doesn't quite match his confidence yet, and defensively, he matches up fine against his peers but fouls too much. Throughout practice, he was one of the most communicative players on the floor, wearing his heart on his sleeve, occasionally to his own detriment.
Hoops Summit performance: 25 minutes, 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 5 fouls, 54.5% FG (6-11), 4 turnovers
An absolute bucket getter. Crowe averaged over 40 points per game his senior year and just became California's all-time leading scorer. The southpaw can get his shot whenever he wants, and he's something of a throwback with the mid-range as his go-to. He's not the quickest guard, but his footwork is exceptional, and throughout the week in Portland he scored at ease against this level of competition.
The questions are on the margins. He'll need to add size, because the physicality of the next level could limit his impact if he doesn't. Defensively, the effort is there, but staying in front of quicker guards is an area that needs real development before it becomes a strength rather than a liability.
Hoops Summit performance: 20 minutes, 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 54.5% FG (6-11), 50% 3PT (1-2), 4 turnovers
He will make most of his bread as a deflection king. His shot came and went throughout the practices, but his fingerprints were everywhere when he was on the floor, especially on defense. His release point on his shot is still a work in progress, but he has improved consistently. At the tail end of regulation, he hit two huge free throws to force overtime (despite being a poor free-throw shooter), which saved the U.S.
Hoops Summit performance: 26 minutes, 11 points, 2 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks, 5 fouls, 60% FG (3-5), 50% 3PT (1-2), 4 turnovers
In person, Muurinen's size and skill set had scouts and executives salivating. The combination of three-point shooting and above-the-rim play at seven feet is rare enough to keep him near the top of his draft class, and his move to Partizan in Serbia only added to the intrigue.
The concerns are real, though. He still needs to fill out; his basketball IQ has room to grow, particularly around shot selection, and he has a habit of disappearing for long stretches. The immaturity off the court has been well-documented. But the highlight reel - the dunks, the alley-oops, the shot-blocking - has a way of making scouts look past the deficiencies, and his raw skill set makes that easy to justify.
Hoops Summit performance: 15 minutes, 10 points, 8 rebounds (4 offensive), 2 steals, 3 fouls, 55.5% FG (5-9), minus-21 on the floor
Hands down, Oladotun had the most surefire upside on the World Team all week. He's a three-level scorer who isn't shy about pulling up from deep or settling into the mid-range, and his length makes him nearly unblockable when he rises up. The ability to space the floor, handle the ball, and move with that kind of footwork at his size will have NBA scouts circling his name.
The Durant comparisons are inevitable given the tall, lanky frame. But like Durant coming up, he'll need to add weight to hold up against the physicality of college and eventually the pros. The other thing to watch is consistency. He can look completely dominant one moment and disappear the next, which was the case throughout the week. The talent is undeniable. He didnāt get to play much during the game, but the maturity and reps will determine how quickly it all comes together.
Hoop Summit performance: 6 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 33.3% FG (1-3), 2 fouls
Jan 2, 2026; Mesa, AZ, USA; CIA Bella Vista (AZ) guard Miles Sadler (1) against Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy (TX) during the HoopHall West Tournament at Skyline High School. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Sadler was the one player on Team World that had viewers' eyes wide open after the game. He was essentially the only effective ball handler on his side, nearly willing Team World to an upset by finishing around the rim, nailing threes off the dribble, and changing pace in ways that got him wherever he wanted to go. He also kept the pick-and-roll humming for his bigs, particularly fellow Canadian Paul Osaruyi, who looked far more engaged with Sadler running the show.
Throughout the week, his speed was consistently his sharpest weapon getting to the rim. His shot is already pretty efficient - once he tightens that up further, his game jumps to another level. He lacks height, but makes up for it with tenacity, picking pockets on defense with a Chris Paul-like instinctiveness. West Virginia fans have a lot to look forward to next season.
Hoops Summit performance: 43 minutes, 29 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 fouls, 55.5% FG (10-19), 60% 3FG (3-5), 60% FT (6-10), 11 turnovers
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 11: Abdou Toure #7 and Paul Osaruyi #13 of Team World high five during the second half against Team USA at Moda Center on April 11, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
Another prospect who left Portland with a higher stock than he arrived with. He was one of the few World Team players who stood out during practices, looking fluid offensively and intense on defense. His shot wasn't particularly consistent throughout the week, but the mechanics were sound enough that you could see the upside. When it started falling during the game, the potential was right there on display.
The flashes of a legitimate two-way star are real. The good news is he'll be playing at Arkansas for John Calipari, who has a track record of developing guards into NBA-caliber players. Paired with Jordan Smith Jr., that Arkansas backcourt has a chance to be one of the most dynamic in the SEC next season.
Hoops Summit performance: 25 minutes, 19 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 5 blocks, 61.5% FG (8-13), 66% 3FG (2-3)
A high-character, immediate-impact player, Morillo can do a bit of everything. From catch and shooting to bringing the ball up under press coverage, he contributes in the margins. The shot is there, but just needs to show up more consistently. For him to take the next step, he'll need to be more aggressive and clean up his efficiency.
He heads to Illinois next season, which already has a plethora of guards. But he has the talent to carve out a role. The most telling detail from the week was how Morillo made a point of personally thanking as many NBA personnel and media members as he could after practices and scrimmages. It's a small thing, but it says something about who he is, and those things tend to matter as careers develop.
Hoops Summit performance: 21 minutes, 12 points, 2 rebounds, 3 steals, 36.3% FG (4-11), 50% 3FG (2-4), 3 turnovers
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: 2026 Nike Hoop Summit Notebook: Standouts for Team USA and Team World
Tyran Stokes was the consensus No. 1 overall prospect at the 2026 Nike Hoop Summit.
Notable players included Tyran Stokes, Tajh Ariza, Bruce Branch III, and Miikka Muurinen.
Bruce Branch III entered the event as the top-ranked player in the 2027 class and showcased his skills after reclassifying.
The event marked the beginning of the NBA Draft cycle, providing scouts with valuable insights into the skills of emerging basketball talents.
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