Syracuse basketball has a long track record of recruiting top-flight prospects out of the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore markets. I’m personally good with this, since I grew up near Baltimore and have lived my entire adult life in our nation’s capital.
The list of Orange players and targets from these two regions is too long to name, but guys like Carmelo Anthony and C.J. Fair certainly come to mind.
Forward Woody Newton, by way of Mt. Zion Prep in Lanham, Md., played on the Hill for his freshman term before electing to transfer to Oklahoma State.
Additionally, 2021 five-star commit Benny Williams played at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, Md., prior to transferring to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for his senior campaign.
Williams and his friend, ‘Cuse 2022 high-priority target Justin Taylor, have suited up on the AAU circuit for D.C.-based Team Takeover. And a recent tweet that I came across suggests that Orange coaches may have offered a scholarship to an emerging high-school prospect who also competes for the Team Takeover organization.
Syracuse basketball remains aggressive recruiting in Washington and Baltimore.
According to a tweet from 365 Recruits, 2024 wing Donnie Freeman has offers from Syracuse basketball and Georgetown, along with interest from teams such as Louisville, Maryland, Villanova, Seton Hall, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
‘24 Donnie Freeman has interest from Louisville, Wake Forest, Maryland, Virgina Tech, Villanova, Seton Hall & East Carolina.
— 365 Recruits (@365_Recruits) May 9, 2021
The 6’9 Wing already been offered by Syracuse & Georgetown.
A HM prospect that will have plenty of options.@DonavanFreeman1.
The 6-foot-9 Freeman is listed as a freshman small forward on the Verbal Commits Web site. His hometown is in Waldorf, Md., and he attends St. John’s College High School in the District of Columbia.
Recruiting services don’t currently detail national rankings for the 2024 cycle, although I imagine when they do, Freeman will check in as a top-100 player, if not higher. He should receive a boatload of other high-major offers, too.
According to Jake Weingarten, the founder of Stockrisers.com, Freeman recently made an unofficial visit to Virginia Tech, and he also has a trip planned to Maryland on June 21.
From what I can tell, this reported offer to Freeman is the first made by the Orange coaching staff in the 2024 class, although the team is certainly taking a look at other prospects in this cycle.
As we’ve detailed of late, the ‘Cuse has reportedly shown interest in forward Derik Queen out of the Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, as well as center Gabe Grant with the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Md.