DALLAS — SMU men's basketball announced a historic signing class for the 2025-26 season, headlined by four-star prospects Jermaine O’Neal Jr., Jaden Toombs, and Nigel Walls.
The class is ranked as high as No. 6 nationally by ESPN. This marks the highest-ranked class in program history, SMU revealed Tuesday.
The 2025 class ranks third in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), trailing only powerhouse programs Duke (No. 1) and Notre Dame (No. 5), according to ESPN.
Meet the new Mustangs
Jermaine O'Neal, Jr.
- Position: Forward
- Height/Weight: 6-5, 175 lbs
- Ranking: No. 88 (ESPN), No. 111 (On3), No. 126 (247 Sports)
- School: Dynamic Prep, Irving, Texas
The son of former NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal, O’Neal Jr. has already built up an impressive résumé. During his junior year at Dynamic Prep, he averaged 13.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, helping lead his team to a 23-1 record and a No. 16 national ranking in the SCNext Top 25.
Jaden Toombs
- Position: Center
- Height/Weight: 6-10, 245 lbs
- Ranking: No. 38 (ESPN), No. 45 (On3), No. 47 (247 Sports)
- School: Dynamic Prep, Irving, Texas
Toombs is ranked as highly as No. 6 nationally at the center position and No. 3 overall in Texas, according to SMU. He was named to the 2024-2025 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Boy's High School Player of the Year watch list and has been a part of the USA Basketball program since 2022. During his junior campaign at Dynamic Prep, Toombs averaged a double-double of 12.8 points, and 10.3 rebounds with 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks.
Nigel Walls
- Position: Forward
- Height/Weight: 6-10, 195 lbs
- Ranking: No. 62 (ESPN), No. 57 (On3), No. 58 (247 Sports)
- School: St. Francis Episcopal, Houston, Texas
During his junior year at St. Francis Episcopal, Walls averaged 13.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals. In the summer of 2024, Walls played for JL3 Elite in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League and averaged 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21. 4 minutes in 15 games.
A good recruiting class is necessary for any team hoping to compete. For SMU, it's coming at the perfect time as the Mustangs hope to establish themselves in their first couple of seasons as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
