Syracuse Basketball: Five-star Benny Williams jolts inside top 20 nationally

Syracuse basketball 2021 commit Benny Williams keeps on seeing his rankings soar.

Mark my words, by the time that Syracuse basketball 2021 commit Benny Williams is ready to arrive on the Hill, he will be in the top 10 across the country according to the bevy of recruiting services as it pertains to national ratings within his cycle.

Rivals.com has released its updated top-150 player rankings for the 2021 class, and the 6-foot-8 Williams made the largest jump of all the guys in the cycle who are now rated in the top 30 by this recruiting service.

Williams, who verbally committed to the Orange last June and then signed his national letter of intent this past November, is placed at No. 15 overall by Rivals.com, up seven spots from his previous designation at No. 22.

He is also listed as the No. 5 small forward within the 2021 class, per the latest ratings from Rivals.com. Williams is a five-star prospect as well from Rivals.com.

A senior at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., who previously attended the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, Md., Williams is having a strong season to date for the IMG Academy, which boasts one of the top prep-school programs around the country.

For example, he recently shined at an event put on by the IMG Academy last month, according to Rob Cassidy, an analyst and reporter for Rivals.com.

Syracuse basketball 2021 commit Benny Williams has moved up in other national ratings as well.

Besides the high praise from Rivals.com, Williams is now No. 26 nationally in his class according to the 247Sports Composite. ESPN.com puts him at No. 27 overall in this cycle, while the 247Sports recruiting service itself arranges Williams at No. 35.

Finally, Prep Hoops has him at No. 35 nationwide in the 2021 class. Although Rivals.com rates Williams as five stars, the other recruiting Web sites presently have him as four stars, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Williams gets a boost to five stars beyond just at Rivals.com.

The main recruiting services list him as either a small forward or a power forward, and Williams is within the top-10 nationally at either position, as well as a top-10 prospect in the state of Florida.

Orange fans are jazzed about Williams’ potential, and we all can’t wait to see him suit up in a ‘Cuse uniform later this year.