Blake Basketball Standout, Baba Oladotun, Joins the Terrapins!

Only a few basketball players have made it from MCPS to Division I, and it’s even more rare to make it to the NBA or even be in consideration to play professionally. This is what makes Blake Basketball star, Baba Oladotun, so exceptional. Wednesday, November 19th, marked an evening with a significant decision at hand for the top-ranked recruit. Baba, ranked as the number 8 high school player in the nation, had narrowed down his top four schools to Kentucky, Arkansas, the University of Maryland (UMD), and Georgetown. Ultimately, Baba chose UMD, sparking conversations about top-ranked players staying at home and playing for their state. The community came together, with media outlets, alumni, supporters, family, and more in attendance for this prominent night in Montgomery County history, celebrating the “hometown hero.”

Before the evening, The Blake Beat sat down with Baba for a short Q&A about his recruitment as part of a special edition of our “Pawcast”. Baba mentioned, “the number one thing for me is a family aspect of the school and how I feel comfortable,” speaking on what will lead him to his decision. Baba, who completed official visits to each of his top schools, has “a pretty good familiarity with the coaching staff and the student body of all the schools on my final list,” which led him to a well-informed final decision. 

While Maryland was just one of several top-tier schools and programs recruiting him, Baba’s decisions came down to deeper connections: his family, his roots, and the vision of the coaching staff. Both his older sisters are already attending UMD, making the place familiar to him. The relationship he built with the head men’s basketball Coach, Buzz Williams, was also a huge factor in Baba’s recruiting process. Based on this, Baba’s decision was made on “the relationship Coach Buzz Williams made with me and my family from the get-go… it’s close to home as well,” as said in The Blake Beat’s interview with Baba post-commitment. 

The community proved to be proud and excited for Baba, with crowds lining up outside Blake’s main gym hours before his announcement. The Blake Beat spoke with Fox 5 anchor and reporter Chad Ricardo, as he awaited the exciting evening. “I think that Baba is a phenomenal student athlete and comes from a great family… whoever he chooses tonight is getting an outstanding young man,” Chad Ricardo said in support of Baba. 

Principal Adelekan and many administrators and staff from Blake High School attended Baba’s commitment announcement. Mr. Adelekan shared with The Blake Beat: “I’m here not only as the Principal, but to support Baba.” Adding that he thinks it’s amazing how an athlete of Baba’s stature is attending public school and still striving. 

When asked, Blake’s athletic director, Mr. Fribush, shared that it has been great to see the outpour of support for Blake Athletics over the last few years. Adding that “Baba brings a lot of attention to himself, but one of the nice things is he brings a lot of attention to his teammates, the team as a whole, and the school.”  Mr. Fribush emphasizes that Baba is such a great person to root for: “It’s not like it’s a hassle for us to have all this attention, it’s really a good thing for the school.”

Baba Oladotun’s recruitment is more than just another commitment day; it’s a statement. For Baba, it’s a chance to stay rooted in his community and grow in a place he knows and loves. For the UMD Terps, it’s a building block for future success. His arrival could very well reshape the trajectory of Maryland basketball in the coming years. The Blake Beat wishes him and his future all the best!!

Be sure to check out our feature on the evening on YouTube.

Written by TBB’s Eldana Hailemariam and Giselle Wyche