Syracuse Basketball: Benny Williams wants to build ‘best team possible’

Syracuse basketball has officially landed its first 2021 commitment in five-star Benny Williams – phew.

Benny Williams, ranked as high as No. 22 overall in the 2021 cycle per Rivals.com, has signed his national letter of intent to play for Syracuse basketball, and Orange fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief following Tuesday night’s Dior Johnson news.

The 6-foot-8 small forward, rated as five stars by Rivals.com and a consensus four-star prospect by other recruiting services, made it official with his NLI signing on Wednesday, according to a press release from the ‘Cuse athletics department.

Williams, a senior at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., is the sole commitment at this juncture for Syracuse basketball in its 2021 class.

It’s likely that this cycle for the Orange stays at one pledge, as the squad’s two other remaining targets, four-star power forward Arthur Kaluma and four-star center Micawber Etienne, both appear headed elsewhere, although nothing is official from either player at this point.

That Williams is officially a member of the ‘Cuse makes me feel encouraged, after 2022 five-star point guard Dior Johnson elected to de-commit from the Orange on Tuesday evening.

Syracuse basketball has landed its inaugural 2021 commit, five-star small forward Benny Williams.

When asked by Donna Ditota of Syracuse.com about Johnson, Williams said that he didn’t know about this development and was “shocked.”

“But it’s just a matter of moving forward and trying to get other recruits in and try to build the best team possible that we can,” Williams told Ditota. That’s a great mindset from Williams. Work with what you have, rather than focusing on what you don’t have.

Jake Weingarten, the founder of Stockrisers.com, noted Williams here, saying that his “upside is unbelievable and he’s such a valuable recruit for Jim Boeheim. … Williams said that they’ve compared him to Carmelo Anthony and Jerami Grant. Very big recruit for the Orange.”

"Williams conducted an interesting Q&A interview recently with Mike McAllister, the publisher of SyracuseOnSI. In their chat, Williams said in part, “I just feel like I’m the typical Syracuse big guard. When you look at all the players they’ve had, CJ Fair, Melo. I’m pretty sure if I keep working I can develop into one of those players. And I loved the atmosphere when I went to the game versus North Carolina. Everybody’s just cool there. All the coaches and the players. I just felt at home there.”"

Welcome to the Syracuse basketball family, Benny. We can’t wait to see you suit up on the Hill in about a year’s time.