Syracuse basketball has gotten in the mix for 2023 small forward Matas Buzelis.
In recent years, Syracuse basketball has pursued numerous prospects who reside at the powerhouse Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., and the latest guy is 2023 small forward Matas Buzelis.
Buzelis, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, disclosed on his Twitter page that the Orange has offered him a scholarship. It seems that his recruiting process is just getting started, which makes sense, considering he’s in the 10th grade.
Per a review of various recruiting Web sites, besides the ‘Cuse Buzelis currently holds offers from Illinois, fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Wake Forest and Western Illinois. He also holds interest from Wisconsin.
While now a member of the Brewster Academy, Buzelis previously suited up for Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale, Ill., which is a suburb of Chicago.
The present Syracuse basketball roster features two Brewster Academy alums in junior shooting guard Buddy Boeheim and freshman combo guard Kadary Richmond. Other former Orange players to go to the Brewster Academy include C.J. Fair, Chris McCullough and Taurean Thompson.
Additionally, 2021 four-star center Micawber Etienne and 2022 four-star small forward Yann Farrell attend the Brewster Academy. Etienne had landed an offer from the ‘Cuse but on Monday revealed UCLA as his collegiate destination. Farrell also owns an Orange offer and, from what I can tell, remains a target for Syracuse basketball in the 2022 class.
Let’s dive into what 2023 small forward Matas Buzelis would bring to Syracuse basketball.
From a few articles that I’ve read about Buzelis, he appears to be a talented play-maker and versatile scorer on the wing who would fit nicely into the ‘Cuse 2-3 zone.
"Collin Allen, in a piece for FanSided Web site Writing Illini, wrote in part about the new Syracuse basketball target, “The 2023 small forward has consistency with his three-point jumper, making him a reliable scorer. Additionally, he can create an opening to score in the paint with some flashy moves to the basket, whether that’s with a cross-over move, a spin move, or a behind-the-back dribble.”"
Allen adds, “To go along with possessing the ability to score from every level of the court and his nasty handles, Buzelis is also great at dishing out dimes and has shown he is an unselfish player.”
I’m not seeing Buzelis nationally ranked in this cycle by the primary recruiting services for now, but I’m sure that will change in the future.
At this juncture, Orange coaches have doled out several scholarship offers to high-school players in the 2023 class, although the ‘Cuse doesn’t have any commitments to date.