Big news rocking the high school basketball world! Five-star sensation Ryan Hampton is making a huge move to DME Academy. This isn’t just a transfer; it’s a strategic play for one of the nation’s top prospects. What does this mean for his future, and how will it shake up the Class of 2027?
One of the nation’s most prodigious high school basketball talents, Ryan Hampton, has made a significant move, transferring from Dynamic Prep to the acclaimed DME Academy. This pivotal decision for the five-star recruit underscores his commitment to advanced player development and further solidifies DME Academy’s reputation as a premier destination for elite student-athletes in high school basketball.
Hampton is not unfamiliar with the high-stakes world of elite basketball, being the younger brother of RJ Hampton, a former AAU sensation and the 24th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. This familial legacy undoubtedly shapes Ryan’s ambitious trajectory and the intense scrutiny surrounding his burgeoning career, positioning him as a standout prospect in the upcoming generations of basketball stars.
In an exclusive interview, Ryan Hampton expressed his primary motivation for choosing DME Academy. “My family and I chose DME for a number of reasons,” Hampton stated, “but my main reason was the player development aspect. I saw Mikel Brown Jr. go from a really good player to an exceptional one, and that track record deeply resonated with me.” This strategic transfer highlights a clear focus on refining his skills and maximizing his immense potential.
The 6-foot-7 small forward has experienced a dynamic prep school journey. His freshman year was spent in Texas, followed by a mid-sophomore season transfer from South Central Prep in Oklahoma to Jermaine O’Neal’s Dynamic Prep program, also based in Texas. Under O’Neal’s tutelage, Dynamic Prep reached the prestigious Chipotle Nationals tournament finals, showcasing Hampton’s ability to perform at the highest levels of prep school transfers.
Widely regarded as a generational talent, Ryan Hampton is consistently ranked among the top prospects in the Class of 2027. ESPN currently places him at No. 6 in their ESPN60 rankings, 247Sports lists him at No. 7, while Rivals slots him within the top-five. Many evaluators believe he possesses the highest potential in his class, an assessment fueled by his exceptional physical attributes and advanced skill set.
Hampton’s game is characterized by supreme athleticism and a versatile scoring repertoire. As a three-level scoring threat, he excels on the catch, off the bounce, and through offensive rebounding. His elite run-and-jump athleticism significantly impacts the game defensively and on the glass, complemented by a formidable wingspan that allows him to be a disruptive force, generating deflections, blocks, and steals against opponents.
As one of the most heavily recruited players in the country, regardless of class, Ryan Hampton holds an impressive array of scholarship offers from top NCAA Division I programs. Institutions such as USC, Kansas, Louisville, Texas, Villanova, Indiana, and Auburn are among the many vying for his commitment, underscoring the high regard in which he is held by collegiate programs and his bright future in basketball recruiting.