Syracuse Basketball: 2022 class could rank among best of past 15 years

Syracuse basketball coaches, players, recruits and fans alike have spoken to the possibility that the Orange could end up with a top-flight 2022 class.

Already, the ‘Cuse has picked up a verbal commitment in this cycle from elite wing Kamari Lands, a top-25 player, and Syracuse basketball coaches are pursuing a range of other stellar 2022 prospects.

Of course, in the recruiting world, nothing is ever a guarantee until a high-school player makes his collegiate destination known. Even then, things can fall apart, so the real benchmark is when a prospect sets foot on campus to start competing.

A contingent of Orange fans has lamented about the state of recruiting for the team in recent seasons, and I agree with some of this frustration.

But, in playing the role of an optimist, I believe that the 2022 class for Syracuse basketball could prove a game-changer. Lands, a four-star prospect out of Prolific Prep in Napa Valley, Calif., got things going.

Syracuse basketball in 2022 may be in store for an exquisite cycle.

As we’ve discussed, maybe the ‘Cuse could end up with four-star J.J. Starling or three-star Quadir Copeland at point guard in this cycle. Four-star combo guard Chance Westry seems like more of a long shot, but you never know.

At shooting guard, I have a solid feeling about four-star Justin Taylor. Lands provides a tremendous small forward, and he also can suit up at shooting guard and point guard, from what I gather.

Syracuse basketball is also in the mix for four-star power forward Kyle Filipowski and four-star center Donovan Clingan, who has the Orange in his top eight.

Although super unrealistic, if somehow, someway, the ‘Cuse secured one of those point guards, Taylor, Lands, Filipowski and Clingan, you’re talking about one of the premier 2022 classes in the country, as well as one of the best that Syracuse basketball has obtained over the last 15 years.

Rankings-wise, Starling is in the top 60. Copeland is under-rated and will continue to climb. Westry could end up as five stars. Taylor is in the top 100. As I noted earlier, Lands is in the top 25. Filipowski is in the low 30s, per ESPN. And Clingan is in the top 60. I think you get my drift here.

Looking on the 247Sports Web site, over the past 15 years, the Orange has managed four top-10 classes on a national scale. Again, per 247Sports, the ‘Cuse was No. 8 in 2015, No. 8 in 2013, No. 4 in 2010, and No. 2 in 2007.

In 2015, Syracuse basketball had Malachi Richardson, Tyler Lydon and Frank Howard. In 2013, it was Tyler Ennis, B.J. Johnson, Tyler Roberson, Ron Patterson and Chinonso Obokoh.

The 2010 class featured the late Fab Melo, Dion Waiters, C.J. Fair and Baye Moussa Keita. Finally, the loaded six-member 2007 cycle was comprised of Donte Greene, Jonny Flynn, Scoop Jardine, Rick Jackson, Sean Williams and Kristof Ongenaet.

If the Orange notches, say, three or four outstanding prospects in 2022, I can’t see this class eclipsing the 2007 one (five commits in 2022 may be a different story, however). The 2022 cycle, though, could surpass 2013 and 2015 in national rankings, and it could also make a run at 2010.

To reiterate, a lot of things have to fall nicely into place for this dream scenario to occur in 2022. But if it did, we’re probably talking about a top-five to top-10 overall class for Syracuse basketball in the 2022 cycle, along with perhaps the squad’s second- or third-best recruiting class dating back to 2007.