Syracuse Basketball: Five-star Kwame Evans Jr. is a Baltimore sensation

Syracuse basketball legend Carmelo Anthony hailed from Baltimore and led the Orange to its only national title during the 2002-03 season. Now there is buzz that 2023 five-star forward Kwame Evans Jr. could prove the best prospect from Baltimore dating back to Anthony, according to comments made by Rivals.com national analyst Russ Wood in an article.

Here’s what Wood had to say, in part, about Evans. “I love what I’ve seen of him on video, but I am really looking forward to seeing him in person. I keep hearing that he is the best prospect to come out of Baltimore since Carmelo Anthony. That is someone I have to see.”

The 6-foot-8 Evans, a small forward or power forward depending on the recruiting service rating him, is a sophomore at the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in Baltimore. Known as Poly, this is a big-time program on a national scale in high-school basketball.

To date, I haven’t seen any media reports or discussions by recruiting analysts that point to Syracuse basketball showing interest in Evans, but hopefully, the Orange will seriously consider making a scholarship offer to him.

While his recruiting process likely has a long way to go, Evans already has around 20 offers from a range of high-major squads, per a review of the main recruiting services.

Those offers include from Kansas, USC, Maryland, Auburn, Florida, Georgetown, Illinois, LSU, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, St. John’s, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

Syracuse basketball ought to take a close look at 2023 five-star Kwame Evans Jr.

Within the 2023 cycle, most of the primary recruiting services rank Evans in the top 10 nationally, and he’s universally a five-star prospect. Rivals.com just unveiled its first ratings for this class, and Evans is No. 2 overall.

ESPN has him at No. 10 across the country, No. 3 at power forward and No. 1 in the state of Maryland. Prep Hoops arranges Evans at No. 17 nationally.

The 247Sports Composite has him at No. 5 overall, No. 1 at small forward and No. 1 in Maryland. And 247Sports also puts Evans at No. 5 nationally, No. 1 in small forward and No. 1 in Maryland.

Syracuse basketball has offered another top-five player in the 2023 class, Elijah Fisher, who is a sophomore at the Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto, Ontario.

Fisher, a 6-foot-7 wing, like Evans could ultimately contend for the No. 1 overall spot in this cycle.