High school basketball has begun, and ESPN's December recruiting player rankings update examines what transpired throughout the fall to help set the stage for an intriguing winter slate. The 2025 ESPN 100 group now rivals last year's class, which is currently the talk of college hoops -- particularly following Alijah Arenas' announcement that he intends to reclassify.
A.J. Dybantsa keeps a firm grip on the No. 1 spot on the strength of some outstanding performances. He is laser-focused on the high school season in front of him, but told ESPN back in November he has moved his college decision timeline up and will likely make an announcement this month. He'll change the landscape no matter which program -- his finalists are Alabama, BYU, Kansas and North Carolina -- he chooses.
Elsewhere, there was movement among the fluid junior (2026 ESPN 60) and sophomore (2027 ESPN 25) rankings. We also added additional prospects to our positional rankings, for you to know about.
Let's break down the five biggest takeaways from our latest update, including insights from coveted uncommitted five-star recruit Nate Ament on his recruitment.
Updated player rankings:
2025 ESPN 100 | 2026 ESPN 60 | 2027 ESPN 25
Darryn Peterson jumps to No. 2
Cameron Boozer and Peterson are talented enough to rank No. 1 in most classes, and both will continue to challenge A.J. Dybantsa for that spot in 2025. But Peterson's overall game has been impactful for quite some time. His move up a spot from No. 3 to No. 2 has nothing to do with Boozer -- who is arguably the most accomplished player in the class and, on most nights, the best and most productive player in the game. But Peterson was the best player on the court when he scored 33 points to help Prolific Prep (Calif.) beat Boozer's Columbus (Fla.) 66-54 in November.
Peterson's college fit: The Ohio native will be a dynamic fit in Kansas in 2025-26.
His defensive rebounding stands out, and his mentality to push the pace will instantly make the Jayhawks a more explosive fastbreak team. Expect Kansas to have a higher usage rate using ball screens in the half court. Peterson stands close to 6-foot-6 with a 6-10.5 wingspan, and has the physical tools and mindset to excel in Bill Self's stringent man-to-man defense. He will be Kansas' most impactful recruit since 2014 No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, and projects as a high NBA draft lottery selection.
Kingston Flemings is a five-star recruit
The uber-productive Flemings impacts winning. The Houston commit is a downhill playmaking guard with a sturdy frame, great vertical bounce and high-end power and body control to finish through contact. His tight handle, basketball IQ and poise work in harmony on the offensive end to read the floor and understand when to score or when to run the offense and set up others. Flemings hovered near five-star status for a while, but his recent impactful performances to open the season, along with his on-court traits, finally elevated him in this update.
Flemings' college fit: Entrusting a freshman to run the point will be a new experience for Kelvin Sampson. However, the Cougars now have three five-star recruits on the way -- an unprecedented recruiting success for the program -- and Flemings has both the talent and winning qualities Sampson and his staff prioritize.
"He'll be our starting point guard and we will put the ball in his hands," assistant coach Kellen Sampson said. "He is such a good paint touch point guard who puts pressure on the defense. He can kick and spray it out."
Houston expects to return two starters next season -- Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp -- plus the versatile incoming recruit Isiah Harwell. Sampson noted Flemings would fit in and contribute well.
"We love how he's a lockdown defender," he said. "We've had seven different seasons where someone has made 100 3-pointers. People think defense and rebounding, and they assume we're a ground-and-pound team. We have always had high-volume 3-point guards and wings."
Flemings parlays everyday work habits, unselfishness and competitiveness with his on-court point guard abilities. He reminds me of a combination of Eric Gordon, who played for Sampson at Indiana, as well as Marcus Sasser, who was under Sampson at Houston. Flemings isn't as good of a shooter yet, but the rest of his game and approach are the same.
Three Florida prospects on the rise
Toni Bryant, 2026 PF
Bryant's ascent isn't new. The Tampa native has steadily improved his game for quite some time, but the 2026 forward elevated himself to five-star status on the strength of several qualities that stand out immediately. He has a 6-10 frame and 7-3 wingspan plus a long stride, secure hands and an explosive, quick bounce. He also scores best in the paint with short drives, rolls or a jump hook. At the rim, Bryant is great at catching lobs and quick to the glass for offensive putbacks. He's a solid rim protector at this stage and a plus switch defender.
Bryant's outstanding and projectable traits enhance his giftedness and his desire to win. He possesses a teachable spirit and is a great teammate.
North Tampa Christian (Fla.) head coach Zach Reynolds also raved about the growth of Bryant's basketball IQ.
"He is reading the play in front of him," Reynolds said. "He makes sound decisions and can see a play ahead, too. He does not get rattled and does not try to do too much."
College program radars he's on: Cal, Florida, Florida State, Kansas, Houston, Missouri, UCF and others have been on Bryant hard. They all see the production and potential.
Cornelius Ingram Jr., 2025 G/F
Ingram, a Florida commit, moves into the top 50 within the class of 2025, a move that has been a long time coming for the versatile guard/forward. He can score both on and off the ball, and he showcases playmaking ability as needed. Ingram has high-end athleticism with a burst of next-level speed that allows him to cut and change direction instantly.
Ingram's college fit: Ingram's defensive ability should allow him to see the court at Florida early and often. In addition to his talent, Ingram is developing on both ends of the floor. Expect the Gators to utilize him as a big wing or a forward, as his instincts and decision-making are much improved. Defensively, his straight-line speed, lateral speed, anticipatory skills and discipline allow him to guard and switch. He reminds me of Chicago Bulls forward and former Florida State star Patrick Williams.
Additionally, Ingram is a highly visible -- and important -- recruit for Florida and Todd Golden. His father, Cornelius, starred for Florida's football team and went on to the NFL. Along with fellow ESPN 100 recruit Alexander Lloyd, landing a pair of nationally-ranked in-state prospects establishes the Gators within their home base.
Matt Able, 2025 SG
Able made our shot-makers list over the summer, and now lands inside the top 50. The 6-6 Miami commit continues to show high-end shooting, along with the ability to drive and score with either hand.
Able's college fit: Hurricanes coach Jim Larrañaga has had great success with guards, and Able reminds some around the program of former Miami star and current Toronto Raptors wing Bruce Brown.
2025 wing Nate Ament details his recruiting process
The five-star Virginia native is one of the top uncommitted prospects in the country. Below, the No. 4 recruit shares his timeline for a decision -- which he says he hopes to make after his last two visits in February -- as well as his perspective of the programs in the running for him.
"I will take two visits in February: The North Carolina at Duke game and then Arizona at Kansas State," Ament said. "I'm going to try and squeeze in a Kentucky visit as well. I want to play for a coach and staff I can trust. A program's plan for me and for other players they are recruiting is important. How they value me as a player and person is most important to me."
Duke Blue Devils: "They see me as an NBA-sized wing with length and guard skills. Their former and current players are impressive and they can help me defensively. I played and won a gold medal with Nikolas Khamenia at the FIBA AmeriCup with the U18 USA team, and he's incredibly selfless. The Boozers are winners. Coach [Jon] Scheyer is a great guy and tells me I would be an ideal fit with them. I'm excited about the visit when they play North Carolina in February."
Notre Dame Fighting Irish: "Coach [Micah] Shrewsberry and I were together at USA Basketball. ... My parents love him and he really cares about his players. [The Fighting Irish] run a fast-paced and NBA-oriented offense. All the knowledge he has coaching Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (as a Boston Celtics assistant) -- those are the players I aspire to grow into. Knowing that he has worked with those players and coached in the NBA, he is someone I could trust with my future."
Kansas State Wildcats: "They were at my game in Boston against A.J. Dybantsa. They like my versatility and competitiveness. They also let me know I have more room for improvement. Coach [Jerome] Tang tells me what I need to hear when it comes to growth in my game. I value that. They are a family-oriented staff."
Tennessee Volunteers: "I love coach [Rick] Barnes. He's one of the all-time winningest coaches, and he coached Kevin Durant. He has a development plan for me. He sees me like a KD, but he knows I'm my own player. His message is that if I continue to work, I can be something special in the game."
Texas Longhorns: "Texas is an up-tempo team, a winning program that allows their freshmen to make a big impact -- like Tre Johnson is doing now. Their strength and conditioning program has great resources, which I need. They want me to put all their resources behind my development and help me prepare for the next step, which is the NBA."
Kentucky Wildcats: "Mark Pope has been here a few times. He's a high-energy coach. He pours that into his players. Watching his team, he puts his players in position to succeed. Their spacing is so good. It's a very appealing system, and coach Pope is such a high-character person. You feel his energy."
Alijah Arenas reclassifies to 2025, is ranked at No. 15
The son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas announced his intention to reclassify to the class of 2025 on Monday night, accelerating his potential impact on college basketball -- assuming he makes the requisite academic progress to achieve senior status.
I like this reclass for Arenas. At 6-6, Arenas -- who will turn 18 in March -- shows continuous improvement and has the scoring mentality to produce big numbers. With the ball in his hands, he gets to his spots with a controlled, low handle. He will elevate over defenders and utilize a compact, quick pull-up jumper. He drives with purpose which feeds his off-ball movement.
His arrival adds even more potency to this senior class. It's hard for a player who reclassifies to maintain his ranking in an older class. Arenas, who was No. 4 in ESPN's 2026 rankings, falls to No. 15 in 2025, and will be evaluated as a senior moving forward. Arizona, Alabama, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Texas, UCLA and USC are all in pursuit. He unofficially visited Arizona, where his father was a star, a few weeks ago.