JJ Andrews Makes Major Leap in 247Sports Rankings Following EYBL Breakout
The lone commitment in Arkansas’ 2026 recruiting class is turning heads—and rising fast. JJ Andrews, who pledged to the Razorbacks two weeks ago, made a significant jump in the latest 247Sports rankings, released Tuesday. He now ranks as the No. 17 overall player in the country, climbing 25 spots from his previous position. Though still listed as a four-star prospect, Andrews is knocking on the door of elite status, with only 11 five-stars currently in the cycle.
Andrews also saw a notable rise in the 247Sports Composite rankings, moving up nine spots to No. 28 overall. He now holds a 0.9876 composite rating.
His rankings surge follows two standout weekends on the Nike EYBL circuit in Memphis and Kansas City. In Memphis, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward averaged 20.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 53.8% from the field and 50% from three over four games.
He continued that momentum in Kansas City. While Friday’s performance was modest, he still contributed to a 79–69 win. On Saturday, he exploded for 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting, adding six boards, four assists, and two steals in Brad Beal Elite’s 79–71 win over City Rocks.
247Sports national analyst Travis Branham was in attendance for both sessions and came away highly impressed.
“The 6-foot-6 small forward is clearly a ‘dude’ in this class and on the brink of a major jump up the rankings,” Branham wrote. “His athleticism, strength, and expanded skillset are nightmares for high school defenders. He’s stuffing stat sheets, and he did it again Saturday.”
Andrews capped off the weekend with two more strong showings. He scored 21 points in a 77–70 win over Drive Nation, making 13 of 16 free throws, and followed that with 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists in a 90–71 win over Indy Heat as Brad Beal Elite finished 4–0.
247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein also updated his evaluation of Andrews:
“He’s a big and physical scoring wing with a 7-foot wingspan and a powerful frame. Early on, he thrived using a bully-ball style. Now, he’s added more finesse to his game. He still excels going downhill and finishing through contact, but his perimeter shot is coming along. His free-throw form can be inconsistent, but he’s shown a smoother release from deep.
Defensively, he has all the tools to be versatile and disruptive—especially in switch-heavy systems—but must commit more consistently on that end, particularly against quicker guards.”
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