Baba Oladotun leaning on vets ahead of year one with Maryland men's basketball: "I definitely got a rude awakening"
One year ago today, five-star Baba Oladotun still had yet to make his decision on where to would spend his college career as Maryland and Georgetown were among the suitors battling for the local Blake star. Now, Oladotun is just nine days away from making his Maryland men's basketball debut with Bucknell arriving for the regular season opener for a 7 PM tipoff on Nov. 2.
"I can't really explain how the moment is going to feel when I walk out that tunnel, see all the red and the jerseys and all that," Oladotun said. "I'm definitely going to get a little emotional. The excitement is definitely astronomical and can't wait to get on the floor."
Yet after reclassifying from 2027 into the 2026 class, then missing the entire regular season and suiting up for the final two games of Blake's state title run, the transition to College Park has proven to be easier said than done.
"I definitely got a rude awakening," he recalled about his first practice. "They push me to higher expectations here."
Across a pair of open exhibitions against Georgia Tech and West Virginia, Oladotun totaled six points, two rebounds, three turnovers and five fouls across 34 minutes. Though the length allowed him to flash defensively with a pair of steals against Georgia Tech then a block against West Virginia, Oladotun admitted the transition to the college game was met with "a lot of physicality" and proving to be "way faster" than expected.
"I'm used to just like being able to control the pace and just go at my own speed," Oladotun added.
Yet he also pointed to a pair of new arrivals who have helped ease his transition: Bishop Boswell and Robert Jennings Jr.
Citing consecutive Elite Eight appearances to end his time at Tennessee, Oladotun tabbed Boswell as a "winner, great winning pedigree."
"They see I'm a freshman, a true freshman, 17 years old, don't really know too much so I just try to accept coaching from them obviously as my big brothers."
Oladotun has been able to showcase himself as an all-around player after assistant Devin Johnson noted, "he might be a better passer than a scorer."
"At 16, being able to get your own rebound and push it up the floor and see the floor, his ability to see the floor and pass the ball is unbelievable," Johnson added.
Oladotun arrives as the latest impact local signing, following Derik Queen, Julian Reese, Anthony Cowan and Melo Trimble among others, but the Blake star also serves as the first five-star under Buzz Williams.
"We've never had that before. We've never had his talent before. And we're excited to have it," Johnson said. "His ability to pass the basketball, his ability to see the floor, his IQ, along with scoring at 17 years old, playing with 23 and 25 year olds -- that is unbelievable.
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