Syracuse Basketball: Big East squad in fray for Chance Westry, Zion Cruz

Syracuse basketball 2022 prospects Chance Westry and Zion Cruz each have a new Big East Conference suitor, and it’s the same team.

According to separate tweets, Big East member Creighton has offered a scholarship to Westry and Cruz. Cruz’s offer came via Verbal Commits, while Stockrisers.com founder Jake Weingarten reported on the offer for Westry.

The Bluejays are a solid group, having been to multiple NCAA Tournaments in recent years and often finishing in the top portion of the Big East regular-season standings. Whether Creighton will emerge as a formidable contender for either of these elite 2022 guards remains to be seen.

The 6-foot-5 Cruz, a five-star combo guard, is ranked a top-20 overall player in this cycle by numerous recruiting services. He is a junior at The Patrick School in Hillside, N.J.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-5 Westry, a four-star combo guard, is a junior at the Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Calif. Some recruiting analysts say Westry could reach five-star status when all is said and done. Presently, he is a consensus top-55 prospect in the 2022 class.

Competition has grown for Syracuse basketball targets Chance Westry and Zion Cruz.

Cruz received a scholarship offer from the ‘Cuse back in August of 2019, and his list of high-major offers is approaching about two-dozen.

Among his other offers are from the likes of Baylor, Illinois, Ohio State, Oregon, Iowa, Alabama, UCLA, Connecticut, Louisville, Maryland, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Indiana.

In a recent interview with Rob Cassidy, a basketball recruiting director for Rivals.com, Cruz said that he wants to visit Auburn, Georgia and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Florida State.

Cruz also told Cassidy, “I’m talking to everybody and keeping my options open right now.”

Orange coaches offered Westry in July of 2019. His other offers include from Michigan, Virginia, Louisville, Memphis, Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Miami, Florida, Maryland, Southern California, LSU, Auburn, Arkansas, Providence, St. John’s, VCU, Georgia and Temple.

Recruiting guru Weingarten recently said that fellow Big East teams Marquette and Connecticut are also showing interest in Westry.

The NCAA recently announced that all Division I sports may return to their regular recruiting initiatives beginning on June 1, and I’m hoping that Westry and Cruz will take official visits to the Hill.

As the AAU circuit heats up over the summer and these two studs enter their senior stanzas of high school, I would expect many more exquisite offers to arrive for both Westry and Cruz.