Where Syracuse basketball targets, their teams reside in national rankings

A handful of Syracuse basketball targets suit up for nationally rated squads.

The current prep-school basketball season is kicking into high gear as best that it can amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, and several Syracuse basketball prospects are competing for highly rated teams nationwide.

The latest top 25 from MaxPreps features the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., at No. 2 overall. Jarace Walker, a 2022 five-star forward whom the Orange offered last summer, suits up for the IMG Academy, a squad that some analysts believe is a significant contender to win this season’s high-school national title.

Checking in at No. 6 is the legendary DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md. Jacoi Hutchinson, a 2023 four-star shooting guard, has reportedly received interest from the ‘Cuse coaching staff, although Hutchinson has yet to receive an offer from the Orange.

The Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah, is No. 9. Roddy Gayle Jr., who had Syracuse basketball in his top six before selecting Ohio State, plays for the Wasatch Academy. The 2022 four-star shooting guard previously attended Lewiston-Porter High School in Youngstown, N.Y.

The La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., is placed at No. 20. J.J. Starling, a 2022 four-star point guard, plays for the La Lumiere School after transferring there from Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, N.Y. Syracuse basketball offered Starling a scholarship back in the summer of 2019.

Prolific Prep in Napa Valley, Calif., is No. 25. A key player on that team is 2022 four-star wing Kamari Lands, who is having a stellar stanza to date for Prolific Prep. Some media reports have indicated that Lands may be getting prioritized by the ‘Cuse.

Over at theseasonticket.com, a new top 25 has the IMG Academy at No. 2, the Wasatch Academy at No. 6, Prolific Prep at No. 10, DeMatha Catholic High School at No. 16 and the La Lumiere School at No. 18.

The Orange has reportedly shown interest in 2024 power forward Derik Queen, who is a freshman at the Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, which is No. 9 in the latest rankings from theseasonticket.com.

And The Patrick School in Hillside, N.J., is No. 22. A star on that team is 2022 guard Zion Cruz, who is rated four or five stars depending on the recruiting service and holds an offer from Syracuse basketball.