sports
July evaluation period opens for 2027 basketball recruits
College coaches begin two weeks of in-person scouting at shoe-company tournaments and grassroots events. The period follows a season in which several freshmen ranked among the nation's top players.
Jul 8, 11:27 AM·1m read1 source
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College coaches will travel across the country starting Thursday for the first of two live evaluation periods in July. They will attend shoe-company tournaments and independent grassroots events to assess high school prospects in the class of 2027. The schedule comes after a season in which three freshmen finished among the top players nationally.
Cameron Boozer was named consensus Player of the Year, AJ Dybantsa led the nation in scoring, and another freshman earned SEC Player of the Year honors.
Roster construction changes Coaches are operating under a five-year eligibility model that begins when a player enrolls full time or reaches the academic year after turning 19. Rising salaries have kept some players in college longer, while stricter NCAA rules now apply to international prospects.
Michigan's national championship team started five transfers, four of whom joined the roster the previous offseason.
Top prospects in class of 2027 Marcus Spears Jr. holds the top spot in the SC Next 100 rankings after averaging 20.9 points and 8.7 rebounds on the Nike EYBL circuit. Beckham Black, the younger brother of Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black, ranks second after averaging 12.3 points and 8.3 assists at the FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Turkey.
Black was the only 2027 prospect named to the tournament's all-star five team.
