Syracuse basketball recently picked up a massive verbal commitment from 2022 four-star wing Justin Taylor, whom the Orange had pursued for quite some time.
The 6-foot-6 Taylor, a junior at the St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, Va., is a top-60 prospect nationally within his class, according to most recruiting services. He picked Syracuse basketball over other finalists North Carolina, Indiana, Virginia Tech and Virginia.
Several national analysts have noted that Taylor is expected to climb in the national ratings for this cycle in the future as he shines for his high school and on the AAU circuit with the Washington, D.C.-based Team Takeover.
So what is the ‘Cuse getting in Taylor? A whole lot of talent, promise and potential, according to analysts and recruiting insiders who have recently made comments on the new Orange commit.
Let’s delve into the skill-set of Syracuse basketball commit Justin Taylor.
As I’ve mentioned on numerous occasions, Taylor is highly regarded in the 2022 class for being a prolific shooter from the perimeter. However, he possesses versatility in his scoring abilities, as Taylor also has success in the mid-range and when driving to the hoop.
Taylor is often compared to ‘Cuse junior shooting guard Buddy Boeheim. No disrespect to Boeheim, but Taylor appears to have even greater athleticism and defensive instincts.
Paul Biancardi, the national recruiting director for ESPN, wrote in part on Twitter that Taylor is “much more than a shooter. Passer, rebounder and IQ to space the floor.”
Big guard Justin Taylor commits to Syracuse. Much more than a shooter. Passer, rebounder and IQ to space the floor. Cuse now has Taylor and Kamari Lands. Expect to see him in our new player rankings next week. @Cuse_MBB @jctbball12 @TTOBasketball https://t.co/WCMT0aSzui
— Paul Biancardi (@PaulBiancardi) June 27, 2021
In an earlier tweet, Biancardi added that Taylor “catches the ball ready to shoot with terrific shot preparation & shot mechanics. Works to get open & does not hesitate when open. Feeds the post & finds the open man. Size. Shooter. IQ. Plays hard.”
Biancardi and other experts say that Taylor’s strength, height and length will serve him well in the Syracuse basketball offensive system as well as in the 2-3 zone defense.
"Said 247Sports national analyst Travis Branham in a recent article, “Taylor is a sizey, skilled and smart wing who can really make shots from beyond the stripe. … He has a strong frame, is a capable slasher – especially as he attacks hard closeouts given his threat to make shots – and connects from three with range and can get hot in a hurry.”"
The comparisons to Boeheim are logical. I also think that Taylor’s overall game can be compared in one way or another to former Orange stars Elijah Hughes and Malachi Richardson.
That’s pretty select company for Taylor, and Syracuse basketball fans are delighted to see him don a ‘Cuse uniform down the road.