A.J. Williams Reclassifies to the 2027 Recruiting Class

A.J. Williams, the No. 1-ranked prospect in the class of 2028, announced on Tuesday that he will reclassify into the 2027 class. By moving up a year, Williams will be eligible for the 2028 NBA draft after he turns 17 on June 28 and is projected as a lottery pick.

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Williams earned a gold medal with Team USA at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup and helped the Georgia Stars win the 15U Nike EYBL Peach Jam. On the Nike EYBL circuit, he was the only player at Peach Jam to average 20 points and eight rebounds while shooting 80 % from the free-throw line, according to Cerebro Sports. His summer performance propelled him to the top of the 2028 rankings in August, a spot he held until his reclassification. With his departure, Yann Kamagate—ranked No. 2—will assume the No. 1 position for the 2028 class.

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Williams explained that his experience moving up to the 17U level convinced him he was ready to compete with the 2027 cohort. He emphasized that his combination of maturity, physicality and all-around talent would allow a seamless transition to college basketball a year ahead of schedule.

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“I put in the hard work, and felt ready to accelerate the process,” — J. Williams

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Williams is weighing nine potential programs—Duke, North Carolina, Auburn, BYU, UConn, Georgia, Illinois, Georgia Tech and Mississippi State—and intends to schedule official visits this fall. His early entry reshapes the recruiting landscape for both the 2027 and 2028 classes.

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