Syracuse basketball in a ‘good position’ with 2022 cycle, Jim Boeheim says

A slice of Syracuse basketball fans has lamented for a while now about the state of the Orange’s recruiting efforts in recent campaigns.

Some of that frustration is valid, although I still believe that the ‘Cuse is trending in a positive direction as it pertains to the team’s recruiting initiatives.

Syracuse basketball has a 2021 five-star commit in forward Benny Williams, and the Orange is pursuing a bevy of highly rated prospects for its 2022 and 2023 classes.

Sure, many ‘Cuse fans groaned when 2022 five-star point guard Dior Johnson re-opened his recruiting process last November, but that development hasn’t prevented Syracuse basketball coaches from potentially lining up a stellar 2022 cycle even without Johnson’s services.

Head coach Jim Boeheim discussed his squad’s recruiting during his weekly radio show on TK99, which occurs on Thursday evenings with Orange play-by-play broadcaster Matt Park.

"According to a report by Mike McAllister, the publisher of SyracuseOnSI, Boeheim said on his weekly radio show, “We’re in a good position in terms of recruiting. Kids have a lot of interest in us next year. We’re at 22 class not 21. We have a really good player in 21 and I think there will be some movement this spring and summer in recruiting. The 22 class is good. (We’re in a) good position. I think the perception is higher than it is in some of the chat rooms at Syracuse, but that’s alright.”"

Syracuse basketball boss Jim Boeheim talks recruiting in 2022.

As we’ve detailed on numerous occasions of late, the ‘Cuse is pursuing a range of top-flight talents in the 2022 cycle. Recruiting analysts say that the Orange has an excellent shot at landing five-star power forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield out of Scotland Campus in Scotland, Pa.

On the wing, a pair of four-star prospects are in the mix, and those players are Ty Rodgers with Grand Blanc Community High School in Grand Blanc, Mich., and Justin Taylor from the St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, Va.

At point guard, there are four-star J.J. Starling at the La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., as well as three-star Quadir Copeland with Life Center Academy in Burlington, N.J. Both are wonderful prospects at this position.

The center spot in the 2022 class for Syracuse basketball seems to focus on four-star Donovan Clingan, who attends Bristol Central High School in Bristol, Conn., and three-star Riley Mulvey out of St. Thomas More School in Oakdale, Conn.

In addition to Huntley-Hatfield, the ‘Cuse recently pledged a scholarship offer to another power forward in this cycle, four-star Maliq Brown with the Blue Ridge School in St. George, Va.

Finally, a wild card to me is four-star guard Chance Westry from the Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Calif. A lot of Syracuse basketball fans believe that the interest level between the team and Westry may have decreased, although I’ve also seen some articles of late from journalists and recruiting analysts that suggest the Orange could still be in contention for him.

There are a bunch of other 2022 high-school players who have received offers from the ‘Cuse, although at this juncture the prospects already mentioned may prove the most realistic options for Syracuse basketball in this class. Only time will tell, of course.

Naturally, a lot of these targets will head elsewhere, but if the Orange can pick up a couple of these guys, then the Syracuse basketball 2022 cycle will be strong. Just as Boeheim has expressed, and for which Orange fans are hoping.