Syracuse Basketball: 5-star Benny Williams among stars at Iverson Classic

Syracuse basketball 2021 five-star commit Benny Williams is planning to arrive in Central New York in the near future, but first he will take on the best of the best in his class this coming weekend in a major All-American game.

On Saturday, May 8, Williams will participate in the 2021 Allen Iverson Roundball Classic, which will take place in Memphis, Tenn. His selection to this event speaks volumes about just how exquisite the 6-foot-8 forward is, and what he will bring to the Orange beginning in the upcoming season.

Williams, ranked as high as No. 15 nationally in his class by Rivals.com, is part of the Team Loyalty roster for the Iverson Classic, per a press release.

Also on this roster is former Syracuse basketball target Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, out of Scotland Campus in Scotland, Pa. The 6-foot-9 Huntley-Hatfield, a five-star power forward, recently selected Tennessee over a group of other finalists that included the ‘Cuse.

Huntley-Hatfield also has decided to reclassify up from the 2022 class to the 2021 cycle, enabling him to suit up in the Iverson Classic.

According to a recent tweet from Jonathan Givony, an NBA Draft analyst for ESPN, the NBA has given the green light for the Iverson Classic to be a “certified event, allowing NBA scouts to evaluate prospects in attendance.” It’s time for Williams to shine!

Syracuse basketball commit Benny Williams will play in an All-American game this weekend.

Williams, a senior at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., is rated as five stars by Rivals.com and several other recruiting services. When he hits the floor this Saturday, he will compete with, and versus, a bevy of five-star, top-50 prospects in the 2021 class.

In taking a look at the national rankings for this cycle produced by the 247Sports Composite, among those players participating in this event who are rated in the top-20 overall are Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, Peyton Watson, Hunter Sallis, JD Davison, Daimion Collins, AJ Griffin, Michael Foster, Kendall Brown and Trevor Keels.

These 2021 stars have committed to big-time college programs such as Duke, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Baylor and Alabama. I’m really excited to see Williams go up against the most challenging competition across the country in his class.