The Syracuse basketball team got stung a bit on Tuesday night, as 2018 prospect Nate Roberts has decided to play for Mike Hopkins’ UW program.
You can’t win them all.
I’ve contributed to Inside The Louse House for close to a year now (which I love, love, love, by the way), with a focus on covering the Syracuse basketball outfit. Of particular interest to me is recruiting.
It’s a pain-staking business, the recruiting world, and one that can break your heart over and over again, only to then elate you time after time.
Lots of ups and downs.
Six to 12 months ago, I penned a bunch of columns about head coach Jim Boeheim and his staff seeing a bevy of top-flight talents pick other powerhouse schools rather than the ‘Cuse.
Frankly, that trend became disappointing, frustrating and ever-so annoying.
Then, the Orange found its juice.
In the 2018 class, five-star forward Darius Bazley committed to Syracuse, followed by three-star guard/forward Buddy Boeheim, the son of JB, and, most recently, four-star guard Jalen Carey.
We also landed 2019 three-star guard Brycen Goodine, who oozes with potential.
Things have appeared delightful of late in Central New York.
But the roller-coaster ride that is recruiting just took a turn, albeit maybe a small one, in the other
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direction.
Nate Roberts, a 2018 big man out of Baltimore, revealed that he will suit up for Washington, which is led by former long-time SU assistant Mike Hopkins.
Roberts, a 6-11 power forward rated as either three or four stars depending on the recruiting service, chose the Huskies over the ‘Cuse and Nebraska.
A top-200 guy nationally, he currently attends the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., along with Buddy Boeheim. Hey, Buddy, what happened??? Only kidding.
First and foremost, let’s congratulate Roberts, Hopkins and the entire UW family. This is a tremendous get for the Huskies. Although not super highly ranked, I believe that Roberts has a ridiculous amount of upside.
Hopkins reportedly began recruiting Roberts while still coaching at Syracuse, so it doesn’t surprise me that this high-school stud ultimately wanted to head out west.
Although SU is a better-known basketball brand with a Hall of Fame head coach at the helm, you can’t say Roberts has made a bad selection. Hopkins, I bet, will build something special at Washington, and Roberts has a chance to get in on that at the ground floor.
Plus, he may receive more minutes at UW, especially early on, as the ‘Cuse could have as many as six forwards/centers on its roster in 2018-19. Crowded!
To reiterate, I’m rooting for Roberts and Hopkins. In the recruiting arena, some dudes decide to come, and others don’t. We’ll move on.
Even without Roberts, the Orange’s 2018 class is pretty darn fantastic. Bazley is a top-10 prospect. Carey is generally regarded as a top-50 player. Buddy Boeheim is a lights-out shooter. And East Carolina transfer Elijah Hughes, a promising guard, is eligible beginning in 2018-19.
At this juncture, JB & Co. still have a minimum of one scholarship available to dole out for 2018-19. It’s not clear to me if they are actively recruiting anyone else in high school. Perhaps they will look to the graduate transfer or traditional transfer markets again.
Beyond the next two terms, Syracuse also remains busy. It has a slew of scholarship offers out there to members of the 2019 and 2020 classes.
The latest offer has gone to Elijah Hutchins-Everett, a 6-10 power forward/center from the Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, N.J., where Carey is presently a senior. Hutchins-Everett is a four-star prospect in the 2020 class.
Next: Syracuse Basketball: Top 30 Players in School History
So a lot to digest for a future on the Hill that, in my opinion, is still going to shine extremely bright.
Oh, and the upcoming season starts in a mere matter of weeks. I’ve cleared my schedule.
You should do the same.