Syracuse Basketball Recruiting: Eric Ayala May Reclassify To 2017

Feb 22, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; A general view of the Carrier Dome during the second half of the game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Syracuse Orange. The Orange won 78-75. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2017; Syracuse, NY, USA; A general view of the Carrier Dome during the second half of the game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Syracuse Orange. The Orange won 78-75. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Tons going on as it pertains to Syracuse basketball recruiting, with four-star prospect Eric Ayala mulling a reclassification to 2017.

The spring has proven busy so far when it comes to the Syracuse basketball squad and its recruiting efforts for next season.

On April 20, Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog tweeted that four-star point/combo guard Eric Ayala would remain in the 2018 class after debating a reclassification to 2017.

However, Rivals.com has now published a report that the 6-5 Ayala, a native of Hockessin, Del., is still leaning toward a 2018 college enrollment. Although he left open the possibility that he could reclassify to 2017.

For what it’s worth, the article’s author, Corey Evans, predicts that Ayala, who attends the Putnam Science Academy, will suit up for the Orange in the 2017-18 campaign.

This is encouraging, should it occur, because Ayala would add depth to the ‘Cuse’s 2017-18 roster, which currently features just two lead guards, sophomore Frank Howard and incoming freshman Howard Washington.

Ayala holds scholarship offers from a bevy of programs, such as Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Maryland, Miami, Oregon and St. John’s, although a bunch of those offers are for the 2018 class.

Four-star prospect Oshae Brissett has signed his national letter of intent to play for SU, Jim Boeheim announced via cuse.com.

More recruiting nuggets…

The 6-8 forward, who attends Athlete Institute Prep in Mono, Ontario, and hails from Mississauga, Ontario, recently received the Canadian High School Player of the Year award for the 2016-17 term.

He joins the aforementioned point/combo guard Washington, who is Brissett’s high-school

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teammate and ranked as a three or four-star prospect, along with four-star power forward/center Bourama Sidibe, as Orange commits who have signed their national letters of intent to don a ‘Cuse uniform this fall.

Meanwhile, Elijah Hughes, who averaged about seven points a contest this past season as a freshman for East Carolina but will transfer, is planning visits to Seton Hall, Iona and Syracuse, per a report by Zagsblog’s Zagoria. He is apparently checking out the Central New York campus from May 16-18, says Zagoria.

The 6-6 guard, a native of Beacon, N.Y., would have to sit out in 2017-18. Then, he would possess three years of eligibility. I’ll mention here that Hughes, in his senior year of high school, played with SU redshirt freshman Matthew Moyer at the South Kent School in South Kent, Conn.

Finally, four-star wing Jordan Tucker, is getting some Syracuse love on the 247Sports Web site.

On April 30, four recruiting analysts posted via the 247Sports Crystal Ball that they predict Tucker will pledge his services to Boeheim & Co. Tucker is currently down to Georgia Tech, Oregon and SU.

The 6-7 guard/small forward, whose hometown is White Plains, N.Y., attends Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., near Atlanta. My gut tells me that the Orange is gaining momentum with Tucker, who expects to reveal his decision in the next few weeks.

Next: Syracuse Football Conversation With Jay Bromley (Post 2017 NFL Draft)

Presently, the ‘Cuse has three open scholarships for 2017-18, and I believe that landing Ayala and Tucker are the priorities. We’ll of course keep you posted on everything that’s going on as it transpires. While my fingers are crossed for some positive recruiting developments unfolding soon!