Syracuse Basketball: 2022 3-star Jai Smith notes Dior Johnson friendship

Syracuse basketball is showing interest in local product Jai Smith, who now suits up for a prep school in North Carolina.

Syracuse basketball is potentially getting into the mix for 2022 three-star power forward Jai Smith, whose recruitment is expanding onto a national stage.

The 6-foot-9 Smith, who in the past played at Bishop Ludden Junior-Senior High School in Syracuse, transferred over the summer to the Bull City Prep Academy in Durham, N.C.

As a junior in high school, Smith still likely has a long way to go in his recruitment, but a bevy of high-major teams are involved, either by offering him a scholarship already or displaying interest.

According to a review of the main recruiting services, Smith has seen his offer list grow to nearly two-dozen, from high-quality squads such as Marquette, Arizona, Seton Hall, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Texas A&M, Alabama, Memphis, Xavier, Houston, Rutgers and Atlantic Coast Conference crews Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.

He also has interest from the Orange, Duke, Kansas, Louisville, Florida State, Texas Tech, Florida, N.C. State, Connecticut, Oregon, USC, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Miami and Clemson.

That’s according to an interview that Smith recently did with recruiting analyst Jake Weingarten, the founder of Stockrisers.com. Hopefully, Syracuse basketball will offer Smith soon.

"Weingarten described Smith by saying that he “fits the modern-day build that we see all around the game of basketball. Standing at 6-foot-9, he’s a long-athletic and dynamic forward that can run the floor extremely well. My favorite aspect of his game and probably Smith’s as well is his ability to defend and rebound the ball. He’s a hard-nosed prospect with tons of upside.”"

Syracuse basketball has an interest in 2022 three-star Jai Smith, a Syracuse native who plays in North Carolina.

Within the 2022 recruiting cycle, Smith is rated No. 150 overall by Rivals.com and No. 161 via the 247Sports Composite, which also arranges him as the No. 31 power forward and the No. 3 prospect in the state of New York.

"In his interview with Weingarten, Smith says of the ‘Cuse, “With Syracuse, I love Coach Boeheim and what they did with the players they’ve had in their program. In addition, they play a hard 2-3 zone and love tall athletic, and active players like me. My boy Dior [Johnson] is committed and that can play a big part also.”"

Johnson, a 2022 five-star point guard, committed to the Orange back in February and has said that he plans to bring other stellar high-school players with him to the Hill. Smith certainly fits that mold.

Additionally, Syracuse basketball has targeted a lot of wings in the 2022 recruiting cycle, both shooting guards and small forwards who would prove versatile in the ‘Cuse system. But Orange coaches haven’t pursued many power forwards in this class, so Smith is an ideal prospect to go after.