Syracuse basketball 2022 5-star target Jarace Walker lands UConn offer

Syracuse basketball faces stiff competition for 2022 five-star target Jarace Walker, and Connecticut just got in the fray.

Syracuse basketball will now have to battle former Big East Conference foe Connecticut among many other teams to secure 2022 five-star small forward Jarace Walker, a top-12 prospect in this cycle.

Jake Weingarten, the founder of Stockrisers.com, first disclosed UConn offering a scholarship to the 6-foot-6 Walker, who is a junior at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Orange commit Benny Williams, a 2021 small forward rated as five stars according to Rivals.com, is a senior at the IMG Academy.

In mid-June, Syracuse basketball pledged a scholarship to Walker, who holds close to 20 offers, per a review of the primary recruiting services.

Others to offer him include Auburn, Maryland, Michigan, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Howard, LSU, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech.

Walker’s bio on the 247Sports Web site lists Auburn, Maryland and Michigan as “warm” as it pertains to his recruitment, although it’s undeniable that he will obtain more high-major offers.

Additionally, Walker has interest from Georgetown, Kentucky, North Carolina, Villanova, Arizona and Louisville, according to his bios on the main recruiting Web sites as well as various media reports.

Syracuse basketball will go toe to toe with Connecticut and others to win the recruiting bout for 2022 five-star prospect Jarace Walker.

While the ‘Cuse and UConn are no longer in the Big East together, they continue to duel over top-flight players, which isn’t surprising, given where each campus is located.

Recently, 2021 four-star big man Samson Johnson committed to the Huskies. Syracuse basketball had previously offered Johnson a scholarship.

Andre Jackson, a 2020 four-star wing, for a long period of time was thought by recruiting analysts as a ‘Cuse lean, but he eventually chose UConn over Syracuse basketball, along with Iowa, Maryland and UCLA.

Akok Akok, a 2019 power forward rated as either four or five stars depending on the recruiting service, committed to Connecticut after putting the Orange in his final five.

Jalen Carey, a 2018 four-star guard, selected Syracuse basketball over the Huskies, although he has since transferred to Rhode Island. The point here is that the ‘Cuse and UConn remain recruiting rivals even as they suit up in different leagues.

Syracuse basketball and Connecticut have their work cut out for them in attempting to acquire Walker, an elite high-school prospect who is No. 6 nationally in the 2022 class per 247Sports, No. 9 from the 247Sports Composite, No. 9 via ESPN.com and No. 12 over at Rivals.com.

He is also a top-four small forward and top-four player in the state of Florida.