July has a way of shaking things up in the recruiting world, and the most important month of the rankings calendar did its part once again in 2024. The impact of the past five weeks or so is too broad to summarize in a single story, but some of the most notable rankings implications of what Rivals witnessed on the road this month are outlined below.
Peach Jam Topping: Awards | Apprenticeship | Five stock-risers | A busy Sunday’s recruitment talk
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2025 Classifications: Rivals150 | Team | Position
2026 Rankings: Rivals150
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FINNISH IMPORT MIIKKA MUURINEN IS ABOUT TO MAKE A CONSIDERABLE LEAP
Versatility is everything in the modern game, and there are no more versatile prospects than the 6-foot-2 Muurinen, whose height, fluidity and ability to play deep make him a rare prospect with a high ceiling.
The July live period saw Muurinen lead his 16U Brad Beal Elite team to a Peach Jam Championship while ranking among the event leaders in scoring and shooting 14-of-28 from 3-point range. The forward demonstrated extremely impressive perimeter skills and showed flashes of shot creation as well as the ability to block shots both in the paint and on the perimeter in the title game – a game in which Muurinen finished with 21 points on just eight shots.
Currently ranked as the #39 prospect in the Rivals 2026150Muurinen has the look of a top-15 prospect lately and possesses both the length and well-rounded skill set to attract serious attention from NBA general managers in the future. He could very well be a one-and-done type of player as he gets stronger and becomes a more motivated rebounder.
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JORDAN SMITH IN THE CONVERSATION FOR THE TOP SPOTLIGHT IN 2026
Jordan Smith already carries a five-star rating and a reputation for being one of the best guards in the Rivals 2026150. What he did at Peach Jam, however, demonstrated his development and announced to all who were paying attention that he should be mentioned in the same breath as Brandon McCoy Jr. It is Tyrant Stokeswho are ranked 1st and 2nd respectively in the 2026 Rivals150.
Smith, who currently sits on the No. 7 line in the Rivals150, spent July leading his Team Takeover squad to the Peach Jam semifinals, averaging 12.9 points, five rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He shot 74 percent from the floor in seven games against tough competition.
One of the few lingering criticisms of the 6-foot-4 Smith’s game is his lack of consistency as a long-range shooter. And while the sample size was incredibly small, the fact that he shot 8-of-12 from beyond the arc at Peach Jam is encouraging. Smith is a lock to be in the top five in the next update, and his name doesn’t seem out of place in the internal debate over the No. 1 position.
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CENAC JR. MAKES A STRONG CASE FOR TOP 10
Probably the best prospect on the Puma Circuit, Chris Cenac Jr. Cenac spent July doing the same things that earned him a 21-spot jump in the last update. Cenac’s evolving face-up game and turnaround jumper are becoming more consistent and reliable. His athleticism and ability to finish above the rim in traffic have long been his calling cards, but Cenac has added a touch of finesse to his offensive game lately and has become a more versatile weapon because of it.
Cenac’s development has been surprisingly linear and impressive over the past year. Now it looks like the top 15 Rivals150 is very close as we approach the Fall Update.
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MATTHEW ABLE PREPARED TO ENTER THE 2025 RIVALS150
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Every now and then, a player who was once viewed as a high-potential prospect but has yet to translate his potential into high-level production will suddenly see his game click before his senior season. As it turns out, that’s exactly what happened to Florida’s point guard. Matthew Capablewho we are first wrote and was rated a three-star prospect in September 2022.
For the better part of two years since, Able has been inconsistent from both a production and effort standpoint across a range of appearances… until this summer. Now one of the reliable boxscore-stuffers on the adidas 3SSB circuit, Able averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game at the 3SSB Championships this month, and his obvious potential quickly turned into head-turning production.
However, the 6-foot-5 guard isn’t just a scorer, as his ability to defend multiple positions and terrorize passing lanes was evident as he thrived at Austin Rivers Southeast Elite this summer.
Able, who has received offers from shows like Michigan, Miami It is Northwest in the last few months, it will certainly enter the rankings and may well add a fourth star in the process.
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in Rivals.comthe leader in college football and basketball recruiting coverage. Be the first to know and follow your teams by signing up here.
