Maryland men's basketball freshman Baba Oladotun nearing final Team USA U-18 Roster

Ahmed Ghafir
1 hour ago
2 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE9W7wniC-k

While the new additions will begin arriving to campus later this week, the enrollment for one of Maryland men’s basketball’s signees will have to wait a little while longer and for good reason.

Freshman wing Baba Oladotun has been named among the 19 finalists for Team USA’s U-18 National Team, announced on Saturday. Oladotun will now look to survive the final round of roster cuts with the 12-player team set to depart for the 2026 FIBA U-18 Men’s America, set to begin on June 1 in Leon, Mexico.

Oladotun was part of the 35 players invited for tryouts and is one of two DMV natives to be named to the finalist roster alongside 2027 top-60 prospect J’Lon Lyons, who Maryland has prioritized ahead of the summer. Oladotun will look to become the first Maryland freshman to be named to the national team roster since Kevin Huerter made the 2016 team, though the five-star signee has previously been involved with Team USA after being part of the junior national team minicamp in each of the last three years, giving him a chance to add another accolade before he kicks off his college career.

It comes off the heels of Oladotun missing the bulk of his senior season due to a lingering ankle injury, though the Blake star returned for the state championship run before ending his high school career with the 4A ring.

“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,” Oladotun told HoopsHype. “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.”

Team USA will play in Group A against Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. Game one against Argentina is set for June 1 before facing Mexico the following day. USA will then face Brazil on June 4 before bracket play begins June 5-7.

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