Syracuse Basketball: Blue blood enters fray for 5-star target Jarace Walker

Syracuse basketball now has to contend with North Carolina to land 2022 five-star target Jarace Walker.

Syracuse basketball 2021 five-star commit Benny Williams wants to help recruit his IMG Academy teammate, 2022 five-star target Jarace Walker, to the Orange, and that’s great.

However, the 6-foot-6 Walker, a junior small forward at the prep-school powerhouse in Bradenton, Fla., has a ton of high-major offers. Former Big East Conference rival Connecticut recently pledged a scholarship offer to Walker, and now he has an offer from a blue-blood heavyweight, fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member North Carolina.

Oh, boy. News of Walker’s offer from UNC came via a tweet by 247Sports national analyst Travis Branham. Walker has not gotten any predictions by recruiting experts as far as his collegiate destination is concerned, however, his bio on the 247Sports Web site lists Auburn, Maryland and Michigan as “warm.”

That, of course, could absolutely change with the Tar Heels now in the mix. Walker, by the way, competes on the AAU circuit with the Baltimore-based Team Thrill.

Syracuse basketball high-priority target Jarace Walker, a 2022 five-star small forward, has a new offer from North Carolina.

It’s not much of a surprise that UNC has doled out a scholarship offer to Walker. A 247Sports article from last month noted that Walker had spoken with Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams, a winner of NCAA titles in 2005, 2009 and 2017.

"“He said that he’s been watching me for a while and likes the way I play,” Walker said of Williams to 247Sports national analyst Dushawn London. “[He said he’s] looking forward to recruiting me in the future.”"

On possibly suiting for North Carolina, Walker added in the 247Sports piece, “It would definitely be exciting to play for a school like UNC, especially since they always play against the top competition and always have a target on their back.”

That the Tar Heels have gotten involved is not a terrific sign for the Orange’s chances to prevail in the recruiting bout over Walker. At the same time, Walker’s recruiting process likely has a long way to go, and hopefully IMG Academy teammate Williams will get in his ear about playing on the Hill.