Syracuse basketball target Micawber Etienne ‘will find a way into the NBA’

Micawber Etienne, a big-time 2021 target for Syracuse basketball, is garnering high praise from a well-known 247Sports analyst.

At this juncture, given the current roster make-up, Syracuse basketball could end up with a relatively small 2021 class, and perhaps its top target these days in that recruiting cycle is four-star center Micawber Etienne.

The 6-foot-10 Etienne, a senior at the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., holds a slew of impressive offers and boasts a recruitment that is tough to read.

Still, Orange coaches got in early with Etienne, and the ‘Cuse probably has a decent shot at remaining a contender as the talented big man sees his recruiting process eventually wind down.

In the newly published rankings from 247Sports on high-school players in the 2021 class, Etienne climbed 12 spots to No. 41 nationally across the country in this recruiting cycle.

Recruiting experts at 247Sports recently published an interesting piece about 2021 prospects who are outside of the top 25 that they “really went to bat for,” and Etienne is featured in the article.

Jerry Meyer, a well-respected 247Sports analyst, likens Etienne to NBA player Joakim Noah, and that’s some select company. Noah claimed two national championships at Florida and received NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2014, when he also got named to the All-NBA first team.

Syracuse basketball high-priority target Micawber Etienne, a 2021 four-star center, is getting pro buzz from one national analyst.

"Meyer writes that “Etienne runs and moves like Noah, is quick off the floor from two feet and Etienne still has a raw but developing offensive game. At 6-foot-10, Etienne plays with energy and awareness. He comes up with the basketball in a crowd, finishes in traffic and generally plays a determined style of basketball. I also like his improvement curve and believe that his energy and length will find a way into the NBA.”"

Should Etienne choose the Orange – and that’s a huge “if” for now – he would join four-star small forward Benny Williams in the Syracuse basketball 2021 class. The 6-foot-8 Williams, a senior at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., gained three placements in the new 247Sports ratings, to No. 36 overall.

Rivals.com analysts have said in recent stories that Williams could emerge as a five-star prospect in this recruiting cycle and possibly push for top-10 status in the 2021 class.