Syracuse basketball is not an early leader for five-star SF Jarace Walker
By Neil Adler
Jarace Walker, an elite talent in the 2022 class, seems a bit higher on a few other schools than Syracuse basketball.
At this juncture, Syracuse basketball target Jarace Walker says that three teams stand out to him, according to a report – and the Orange isn’t one of them.
Of course, given that the five-star small forward still has two seasons of high-school ball remaining at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., Walker’s recruitment is going to take twists and turns.
By no means is the ‘Cuse completely out of the running for the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Walker, who is rated in the top 10 nationally across the 2022 class by several of the primary recruiting services. He is also either the No. 2 or No. 3 small forward in his class.
But for now, though, fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Virginia Tech and a pair of Big Ten powerhouses in Michigan and Maryland appear as the early leaders for Walker’s services, per an article by 247Sports’ Travis Branham.
Since Syracuse offered Walker on June 15, he has landed more than a dozen scholarship offers, according to a review of various recruiting Web sites. Among those other offers are from the ACC’s Florida State and Notre Dame, along with Kansas State and five SEC crews in Arkansas, Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia.
Additionally, squads that have shown interest in Walker, but have yet to offer him a scholarship, include North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisville, Villanova, Arizona and Georgetown, according to recruiting services.
Syracuse basketball target Jarace Walker is singing praise on Virginia Tech, Michigan and Maryland.
Walker, who hails from New Freedom, Pa., is an agile, physical and versatile wing who excels at driving to the rim, has excellent floor vision, and rebounds well. In the 247Sports piece, Walker says that the Hokies, so far, are prioritizing him the most.
“They told me they have a lot to offer in terms of the campus, their coaching, their knowledge, the players they get into the League, their skill development coaches, just a couple of key pieces when deciding for a college,” Walker said.
The Orange faces stiff competition and an uphill battle to win the recruiting bout over Walker, although the ‘Cuse does have a tantalizing pitch, in that he could link up with another 2022 five-star prospect and top-15 player in Dior Johnson.
Johnson, the No. 1 or No. 2 point guard overall in the 2022 recruiting cycle, committed to Syracuse earlier this year and has said that he plans to bring more stellar recruits with him to Central New York.
If things don’t work out with Walker, the Orange continues to target several other 2022 small forwards. Among them are four-star Chris Bunch, four-star Kamari Lands, four-star Ty Rodgers, and three-star Yann Farrell.