The success of Mikel Brown Jr. at DME Academy is creating a ripple effect, attracting more elite talent to the Florida-based program. The latest top prospect to make the move is Ryan Hampton, a top-five player in the 2027 class, who just announced his transfer. Hampton is betting that the same environment that transformed Brown can do the same for him, leaving his old school behind to chase a similar developmental leap.
Why Did Ryan Hampton Choose DME Academy for His Junior Season?
ESPN’s Paul Biancardi broke the news of the transfer on social media, reporting that Hampton will join DME Academy. The 6-foot-6 wing pointed to player development as the main reason for his decision.
“My family and I chose DME for a number of reasons, but my main reason was the player development aspect. I saw Mikel Brown Jr. go from a really good player during his first three years in high school to a great player in his senior year,” Hampton explained to Biancardi.
Recruiting News:
Ryan Hampton tells ESPN he is transferring to DME Academy. He currently sits at No.6 in the class of 2027.“My family and I chose DME for a number of reasons, but my main reason was the player
development aspect. I saw Mikel Brown Jr. go from a really good… pic.twitter.com/wq2V6BI4kr
— Paul Biancardi (@PaulBiancardi) August 27, 2025
This move marks Hampton’s second transfer in two years. He began high school at Rockwall-Heath in Texas before joining Dynamic Prep for his sophomore season. He spent that year in Irving, Texas, on a loaded roster that featured top-100 2025 prospects Jaden Toombs and Jermaine O’Neal Jr. The team was coached by former NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal, who offered high praise for Hampton before his departure.
“[Ryan] is still scratching the surface. He’s still raw, to be honest. He’s an elite-level scorer, he’s a tough shot taker, and also a tough shot maker. Very few people can do that,” O’Neal said in an earlier interview with KSR.
O’Neal even compared Hampton’s game to that of Hall of Famer Paul Pierce, noting similarities in how both players create and convert difficult shots at a high clip.
“Paul Pierce took a lot of tough shots, but he made a lot of tough shots,” O’Neal said. “Ryan is going to be a tough shot maker. At his size, 6-foot-6, 6-foot-7, he’s long and can raise up over everybody. He can really shoot the ball, really score, and has a knack for being able to put the ball on the floor, getting to the basket, or pulling up.”
Hampton’s elite scoring ability was fully displayed during this summer’s Nike EYBL circuit with Drive Nation. At Peach Jam in July, he put up staggering numbers, averaging 26.8 points while shooting an efficient 61.4 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from three-point range.
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That impressive performance helped him secure offers from major college programs, including SMU, LSU, Louisville, Auburn, Tennessee, Texas, Kansas, and Maryland. Schools like Kentucky, Indiana, Ole Miss, USC, Villanova, and NC State are also actively pursuing the versatile wing.
Now, with his move to DME Academy, Hampton is betting on himself and the program’s track record. Seeing Brown’s transformation firsthand was enough to convince him that this was the right step to maximize his development before making his college choice.
