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Baba Oladotun, a promising 6-foot-10 prospect for the 2027 NBA Draft, has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant. He will attend Maryland next season and has been mentored by Durant and Walt Williams.
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Baba Oladotun is another name to watch in the 2027 NBA Draft. A three-level scorer listed at 6-foot-10, he dazzled throughout this year's Nike Hoop Summit with an offensive repertoire that drew Kevin Durant comparisons... and for good reason. The two have a relationship, with Durant serving as a mentor alongside former NBA player Walt "The Wizard" Williams.
Last summer, Oladotun was reclassified from the Class of 2027 to 2026, following in the footsteps of Cooper Flagg and AJ Dybantsa before him. He will attend Maryland next season, and was already drawing offers from programs like Kentucky as a sophomore.
Oladotun spoke with HoopsHype after a Team World practice, discussing the influence his father had on him (including teaching him the Dream Shake), his relationship with Durant, his mentorship under Williams, and more.
Baba Oladaton: It's been very inspiring. I dreamed as a kid just to be at this camp. I watched it on TV pretty much all my life. It's really inspiring to be here. It's a blessing from God. I've been getting better all week. I've received some really good coaching.
BO: The culture it brings. It is a really prestigious game. But it's not just one of those All-Star Games where they're just playing and no defense and stuff. The coaches really bring it out of you here and bring the fire out of you, and it kind of simulates college basketball. It's the family atmosphere. Yeah, I'm really grateful to be a part of this.
Baba Oladotun is a 6-foot-10 basketball prospect known for his scoring ability, drawing comparisons to Kevin Durant, and is set to enter the 2027 NBA Draft.
Baba Oladotun has a mentorship relationship with Kevin Durant, who has influenced his game and development as a player.
Baba Oladotun will attend the University of Maryland for the upcoming season.
After being reclassified from the Class of 2027 to 2026, Baba Oladotun began receiving offers from top programs, including Kentucky, as a sophomore.

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Houston Rockets' Hakeem Olajuwon (34) looks to pass the ball under defensive pressure from the New York Knicks' Patrick Ewing during the first quarter of the fifth game of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden 17 June 1994. (Photo by BOB STRONG / AFP) (Photo credit should read BOB STRONG/AFP via Getty Images)
BO: Man, it's like a full circle moment. Obviously, he came from Nigeria and played at Virginia Tech. And yeah, he didn't get the opportunity to represent his country. Obviously, people know he's Nigerian now because the connection through me. But I feel like me carrying his legacy, like the whole Yoruba language and just being here connecting with a lot of guys and just wearing the jersey, seeing that the green and white flag... I haven't been back since I haven't been to Nigeria. So it's really encouraging just to represent it, still being tapped into my culture.
BO: Yeah, man, my dad showed me a lot of footwork on Hakeem growing up. So a lot of my moves that I make, even on the perimeter and the post, are based on footwork. And Hakeem played soccer, and I played soccer as a kid, so a lot of the Dream Shake, obviously, you guys know that. A lot of up and under, step-throughs, turn-of-faces, all the moves that I got in my bag that are from Hakeem.
BO: He doesn't really even do any moves, bro. I think I said this in an interview, like, he just fouls, uses his elbows and stuff. And it's like, I can't really do anything. We haven't played in a long time. I'm going to get him back for sure. Once I get drafted, I'm going to get him.
BO: He just taught me patience and poise. A lot of my workouts are tailored on the moves, weaknesses and stuff that I do in the game. And it really challenges me. Like, he always tells me the truth whenever I have a bad game, whenever, like, I'm not doing something right. And he praises me, too. He praises me when I'm doing well, when I have a good game. And he really encouraged me to make other people better. We call it MOBs. So, yeah, that's something that I take from him.
BO: Man, it was the best feeling in the world. I always like to take something positive from the negative. You know, me missing my senior season, obviously, I really didn't expect that. I wanted to be out there with my guys. But at the same time, I think it gave my teammates a lot more room to grow. It gave more spotlight on them. We went 25-3, and they won 20 straight games without me. So, I think a lot of my guys are committing to D2 schools, a couple D1s. So, yeah, it's the best feeling in the world, man. That was my goal, just to change the atmosphere in Montgomery County basketball.
BO: I mean, not too much to say. I mean, they recruited me pretty well. Their entire staff was great. Coach Pope, they hosted me on a great visit. So it was no knock to them. It was just that Maryland was the best fit for me. And that's what it came down to.
BO: Not really. Walt Williams, I mean, he's one of my trainers. He's a good voice to have off the court, and he didn't really pressure me to go to Maryland. It was kind of like a collective effort. But I mean, it's a plus, you know, just having him there. Obviously, he was a legend there and a great player in the NBA. So, yeah, that's the perks of it.
BO: We have similar play styles and similar frames. And I like to say I take a lot of its and bits from his game, just like the way he moves. He taught me a lot about getting downhill, and it really definitely helped to shape my game a little bit, like just getting downhill, hitting backboard shots. He worked on some weird old stuff, like, old move stuff. That kind of helps me in games. I pull out something like, oh yeah, they know I got that from the Wizard.
BO: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, KD, he's a great person, great stand-up guy. Actually, I worked out with him a couple times. Last summer, I went to California, did a couple workouts with him with some of his trainers. It was really routine.
He's so disciplined, so I take a lot of stuff from him, and I'll call, text, check on him, and he checks on me too as well.
BO: Man, the biggest thing he told me was, like, just the discipline aspect of everything. Staying key to your work in the gym. Not getting off track with like the followers, the money, the social media and like staying true to why you're playing the game.
Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks on from the court during the final minutes of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
BO: Nah, nah. He just told me not to let it like... Yeah, that's ironic, right? I donât do that Twitter mess. That's not me.
BO: I take a lot from LeBron's game, just his IQ and how he sees the court. And I also take a lot from Bam Adebayo, just like his footwork in the four. My middle name's Adebayo, actually, so like, that's a fun fact. But I take a lot from just how he's poised inside the mid post and stuff. And I also take a lot from Jabari Smith. This is his catch-and-shoot game. Obviously,he's not like a superstar in the NBA, but I like the way his play style. And then Brandon Ingram, like, gets his spots, rising over defenders.
Apr 10, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) watches his teammates during warm ups before the Trail Blazers play against the LA Clippers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images
BO: Yeah, a lot. Dame Lillard. We're cool. I went to his camp, got his number. We check in. He talks to me all the time. Just give me tips and advice and just play hard. That's it.
BO: I think I need to improve my leadership. I feel like I'm a very vocal person, but I think like taking charge more. Especially like coming to my role at Maryland, we're trying to win a national championship. So it starts from day one. I'm just going to be a leader. I just want to make sure I'm getting better at my rebounding as well. Being more physical, off the glass, and being more intentional with that.
BO: I think everything. Yeah, I want to be like a perfect player. I don't want to have any weaknesses. So I have a couple weaknesses right now, so I want to sharpen all those before I get to Maryland. So that's another one goal for me.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Baba Oladotun Q&A: 'I want to be like a perfect player, I don't want to have any weaknesses'