As they gear up to take their talents to the next level at their respective programs, we’re celebrating each of them. Meet the future of hoops:

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This year’s group of high school seniors have already caught the world’s attention with their versatile and elite skillsets, but soon, college hoops fans will know their names, too.

With arguably the highest ceiling in his class, 6-9 forward Nate Ament can already do it all, with the drive to continuously fine-tune the framework of his three-level scoring. The locks on defense are there, too. Mind you, with a handle and quickness to break down defenders in transition and off the wing, he’ll be a problem for people for a lot of years.

The world has known the name AJ Dybantsa for a minute now, and that’s because the 6-9 Brockton native is really like that. With otherworldly athleticism and shot-creating skills that look like they’re straight from an NBA arena, it’s no surprise that hardly any have rivaled his vice grip on the No. 1 ranking in the class of 2025.

After completing one of the most successful high school careers in recent memory, featuring four state championships and three EYBL Peach Jam titles, Cameron Boozer is already looking to up the ante at Cameron Indoor next season. Consistency is the backbone of his game, with sneaky defensive instincts that will be sending shots into stands across the ACC next season.

You don’t have to look far for John Calipari’s next great point guard. Darius Acuff Jr. has cemented himself as one of the best scoring lead guards in the country. The EYBL Scholastic, USA Basketball and Peach Jam circuits have all witnessed the show that the future Arkansas point guard puts on, tuned to the sound of the ball constantly falling through the net.

It doesn’t get much smoother than Darryn Peterson getting buckets. The 6-6 combo guard who’s heading to Kansas this fall has quietly been improving his already elite offensive arsenal. Between registering a near triple-double in his Chipotle Nationals debut and winning co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game, Peterson’s heading to the Jayhawks with dominance on his mind.

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One of the most versatile players in the class of 2025, Jazzy Davidson makes things happen on both ends of the floor: she can get to the rim with her quickness and shifty handles, knock down shots, play off of her teammates and block the best person on the floor. Jazzy will be taking her flashy game to USC in the fall.

Grace Knox is a 6-2 wing with major bounce. The Etiwanda star can block shots, rebound, score and dunk. If that sounds flashy, imagine what she’ll do next year at LSU. Knox, who is part of the country’s No. 1 recruiting class (per ESPN), will fit right in with the Tigers. For more on Grace, flip to page 70.

When the ball is in her hands, Agot Makeer makes winning plays every single time. The 6-1 combo guard from Toronto with an all-around game can dish it, shoot it, run the floor and snag rebounds. All of that potential has Gamecocks fans hyped for the program’s future. Under Dawn Staley’s nurturing vision, Makeer is a star in the making. 

Just give Aaliyah Crump the ball because when she’s got it, magic happens. The 6-1 guard can create her own shot from anywhere on the floor, which makes her tricky to cover considering she’ll release it from well beyond the three-point line, too. Texas has a sharpshooter on the way. 

Don’t think just because her last name is Betts that Sienna is a carbon copy of her older sister, Lauren. But, we do have to  say that the thought of them playing together next year at UCLA is pretty exciting. The five-star power forward can knock down shots from beyond the arc, hit an ill step-back from the mid-range and finish at the rim, just like her big sis. Getting buckets must run in the fam. 

Aaliyah Chavez is on her own wave. The five-star standout is an elite and next-level efficient scorer with nine 50-point performances in her high school career (yes, you read that right). She’ll take her generational talent to Oklahoma, but if there’s one thing you should know about our High School Diarist, she’s never been one to listen to the critics. Instead, Chavez lets her game do all the talking. 

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The last 12 months have been a flurry of camps, tournaments, events and enacting his own clinics on defenders and offensive threats alike. And the wide-spread recognition has rightfully poured in. “It’s just kind of recent, like my freshman, sophomore year. I realized that I loved basketball once I shot out my sophomore year and I just kept wanting to play,” Chris says. “Because most people, they’ll just stop and quit, but I kept going and worked harder, and it motivated me.”

The 6-10 center with the bag of a guard has always been one of the tallest among his peers. But it wasn’t until his freshman season at Riverside Academy that he began building toward his future. Alongside his trainer, coach James Parlow, Chris crafted the foundation of the skill set that we see today. One dribble, with a shoulder into the chest, straight into a two-hand flush. Face up fadeaways from the same spot. Pull-up middies off the pick-and-roll. The handles to create coast-to-coast in transition and for others. 

“I feel like every year I got two times better than where I was the year before, which is the goal. Just development. A lot of skill work, working on having a lot of skills,” Chris says. “The goal was to be a versatile big that can guard all positions, handle the ball, shoot the ball, take a guy off the dribble, all those types of things. That was our plan, and I worked and got better and it came to life.” 

Despite the pieces falling into place, Chris was forced to sit out the entirety of his sophomore season after transferring to Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. Transfer rules ruled him ineligible. While the team went on to capture its second straight state championship, Chris was holed up in the lab trying to close the gap between himself and the top-ranked prospects who had been grinding for their keep since middle school. “I was just thinking, Be in the gym and catch up to everyone,” Chris says.

He entered the summer with a Big Easy-sized chip on his shoulder and led the school to its third consecutive state title the following season, averaging 13.9 points and 10.2 boards a game. Now, he’s taking his double-double game to the acclaimed Link Academy in Missouri. 

At the program that’s produced the likes of Ja’Kobe Walter, Jordan Walsh and current Texas freshman Tre Johnson, Cenac Jr is taking advantage of every glimmer of opportunity that presents itself. He’s assumed the role of the squad’s head honcho, electing to lead through actions and let his voice follow as he builds out the habits for his future. “The main thing right now for me is winning the national championship with these guys that I’m at Link with,” Chris says. 

The journey has been rewarding, ranking as high as the No. 7 player in the class of 2025. But that feeling of catching up still hasn’t faded. There are more levels to climb before reaching the ultimate goal. 

“It feels good, but at the same time, it’s not the only place that I want to be at. The rankings now, it’s cool. But the NBA, and lasting in the NBA for a long time, is the main goal. I can’t be complacent.”

Photos via Getty Images. Portrait by Marcus Stevens.

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