Syracuse Basketball: Benny Williams bullish on 4-star Justin Taylor to SU

We’ve detailed the nice relationship that Syracuse basketball 2021 five-star commit Benny Williams and 2022 four-star target Justin Taylor have formed, and it seems that Williams would like to see Taylor also become a member of the Orange family.

Rob Cassidy, a national analyst for Rivals.com, wrote a recent article where he was covering the IMG Academy Beach Blast. Williams is a senior for the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

After Williams’ game at this event, a contest in which he collected a team-high 24 points as the IMG Academy emerged victorious, he caught up with Cassidy.

The Rivals.com national analyst writes that “Williams said he is [in] the ear of class of 2022 forward Justin Taylor, who he’d like to join him in upstate New York.”

Per Cassidy’s story, Williams said about Taylor, “I’ve known him for a while now. I’m getting there with him. I’m gonna get him.” All I can say to that is, yes, please!

Syracuse basketball commit Benny Williams is talking to Justin Taylor about the Orange.

"Here’s what Cassidy wrote about Williams’ outing at the IMG Academy Beach Blast. “The performance included two 3-pointers and an emphatic dunk that drew a questionable technical foul for hanging on the rim. And while it was one of the day’s most exciting performances, it was also well-rounded, which has long been Williams’ trademark adjective. The Syracuse-bound star has long been a gifted shooter, but he seems to become more efficient by the week and always seems to make the right pass.”"

Williams, a 6-foot-8 forward, is shining during his senior stanza at the IMG Academy, and ‘Cuse fans can’t wait to see him don an Orange uniform.

But Williams’ desire to have Taylor, a 6-foot-6 wing, ultimately commit to Syracuse basketball is equally as exciting. A junior at the St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, Va., Taylor is ranked No. 60 overall in the 2022 class by 247Sports.

Taylor has spoken positively about the ‘Cuse coaching staff on more than one occasion, and I believe that Syracuse basketball is in a good position with him. However, competition for the talented 2022 prospect is intense, with recent scholarship offers to Taylor including from North Carolina, Providence and Virginia.

We’ll just have to see how Taylor’s recruitment progresses, and hopefully, the Orange will remain in the mix for him. At the very least, it’s encouraging to hear that Taylor and Williams are communicating. They’re both exquisite on and off the court.