Here’s why Syracuse basketball will have the nation’s No. 1 class in 2022
By Neil Adler
Syracuse basketball, should Dior Johnson play for at least one year on the Hill, could position itself for a top-ranked 2022 class.
CBS Sports recently did a roundtable predicting which school, other than Duke or Kentucky, would next secure a No. 1 recruiting class – and Syracuse basketball, unsurprisingly, didn’t make the cut.
The CBS Sports writers spoke of fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member North Carolina, Big Ten powerhouses Michigan and Michigan State, and Texas out of the Big 12.
Putting my allegiance to the Orange aside, though, I honestly believe that the ‘Cuse is setting itself up for an elite 2022 recruiting cycle, one that could end up No. 1 overall across the country if a few breaks fall Syracuse’s way.
First and foremost, Orange commit Dior Johnson has to actually set foot in Central New York for one season. Johnson, a five-star point guard who is universally regarded as a top-15 prospect in the 2022 class, could absolutely decide to head straight to the professional ranks.
However, if he does don a ‘Cuse uniform, he has said that he plans to bring other stellar recruits with him to Syracuse. I am confident that Johnson will live up to this pledge.
For instance, a high-priority target for the Orange in the 2022 class is Zion Cruz, who conveniently will compete alongside Johnson at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., beginning this fall.
Cruz is a five-star shooting guard and top-20 player, according to 247Sports. By all accounts, the ‘Cuse boasts an excellent opportunity to land Cruz.
Five-star small forward Jarace Walker, a top-10 prospect out of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., seems like more of a long shot for Syracuse, but you never know. Walker could deem it enticing to ball with Johnson, who is the nation’s No. 1 or No. 2 point guard in the 2022 recruiting cycle.
Some analysts have felt for a long time now that the Orange is one of the favorites for four-star shooting guard Chance Westry, a top-25 guy per 247Sports who is transferring to the Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Calif. That squad also features NBA superstar LeBron James’ son, 2023 four-star point guard Bronny James.
Syracuse basketball has the potential to attain the top-ranked 2022 recruiting class.
For the ‘Cuse to make a run at the top-rated 2022 class, it must pick up Cruz, Walker or Westry, without question. Then, Syracuse needs to acquire a couple more four-star, top-100 players, and therein lies the possible rub.
It’s unclear at this moment just how many open scholarships the Orange will have for its 2022 class. After already factoring Johnson into the line-up, the ‘Cuse should own a minimum of two additional slots, and hopefully one or two beyond that depending on roster shake-ups.
If Syracuse has four or five members in its 2022 class, the Orange must have multiple five-star prospects and a whole host of guys who are in the top 50 to acquire any realistic chance of being No. 1 in this recruiting cycle.
Besides those already noted, the ‘Cuse has offered talented players such as top-25 Kamari Lands, a four-star small forward; top-40 Chris Bunch, a four-star small forward; top-45 Roddy Gayle Jr., a four-star shooting guard; top-45 Ty Rodgers, a four-star small forward; top-50 Donovan Clingan, a four-star center; and top-60 J.J. Starling, a four-star shooting guard.
Obviously, the bevy of these targets will opt for a program other than Syracuse. Yet should the Orange bring in several highly rated prospects to join Johnson, then the ‘Cuse 2022 class will prove one of the best in team history and legitimately vie for No. 1 in the country.