Syracuse Basketball: Orange is still primed for a big-time 2022 class

Syracuse basketball remains in pursuit of multiple top-flight targets in the 2022 cycle.

When 2022 five-star point guard Dior Johnson said last month that he would reopen his recruitment, a lot of mixed emotions came out from Syracuse basketball fans, and rightfully so.

Johnson, who verbally committed to the squad this past February, could have proven the highest-rated recruit for the Orange dating back to ‘Cuse legend Carmelo Anthony in the 2002-03 campaign, when the team won its first and only national title.

Johnson also said on numerous occasions that he planned to bring other elite recruits with him to the Hill, so I and many other Orange fans got excited about the possibilities that existed for the ‘Cuse in the 2022 class.

Even without Johnson on board, and the Orange still searching for its first commitment in this cycle, I’m optimistic that Syracuse basketball will land a 2022 class that entails a few high-school players and is ranked in the top-15 to top-20 nationally.

First and foremost, with Johnson having recently de-committed, this gives the ‘Cuse coaching staff plenty of time to refocus their priorities on other guys in this class, and that’s important.

Johnson could absolutely end up heading straight from high school to the pro ranks, and it’s better that Orange coaches move on now, rather than get sprung with this late in the game for their 2022 cycle.

Plus, I’ve read interviews with several ‘Cuse targets who have noted that Johnson’s de-commitment opens up more space for others in the Orange’s 2022 class, which is an interesting development to monitor.

Here’s why Syracuse basketball can still generate an excellent 2022 class.

The Orange recently offered five-star power forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield out of Scotland Campus in Scotland, Pa. He reportedly has the ‘Cuse in his top six, and I’ve read numerous articles of late that suggest Syracuse basketball is in a strong position with Huntley-Hatfield.

I think that the Orange has a really good shot at picking up a commitment from a four-star wing in either Ty Rodgers with Grand Blanc Community High School in Grand Blanc, Mich., Kamari Lands, out of Prolific Prep in Napa Valley, Calif., or Justin Taylor from St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, Va.

Some recruiting analysts have said since Johnson de-committed that this could improve the chances that Syracuse basketball secures either four-star point guard J.J. Starling at the La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., or three-star point guard Quadir Copeland with Life Center Academy in Burlington, N.J.

I get the sense that the ‘Cuse faces an uphill climb with guys such as five-star power forward Jarace Walker from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and five-star combo guard Zion Cruz, from The Patrick School in Hillside, N.J.

At center, I could foresee Syracuse basketball winning the recruiting sweepstakes for four-star Donovan Clingan, who attends Bristol Central High School in Bristol, Conn., or three-star Riley Mulvey out of St. Thomas More School in Oakdale, Conn.

That leads us to four-star guard Chance Westry from the Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Calif. Westry has spoken positively about his relationship with Orange coaches, and if the ‘Cuse could get him, that would prove huge.

When all is said and done, should the Syracuse basketball 2022 class potentially entail Huntley-Hatfield, one of the wings, points guards and centers previously noted, and Westry – look out. Johnson’s de-commitment would amount to a distant memory for ‘Cuse fanatics, myself included.