Here’s how Syracuse basketball contends for No. 1 national class in 2022

Syracuse basketball is on a recruiting roll with its 2022 class, and that momentum absolutely looks like it will continue onward.

As we all know by now, 2022 four-star wing Justin Taylor recently gave a verbal commitment to the Orange, and he joins fellow four-star wing Kamari Lands in that ‘Cuse class.

But I believe that the Orange is far from done in this cycle. Syracuse basketball coaches remain focused on a handful of additional top-flight targets in the 2022 class.

We’ll have to see how everything shakes out. For my money, though, I think that the Orange is in line to secure one of the country’s top 2022 cycles. In fact, I’ve been opining that for a while.

Let’s examine where Syracuse basketball turns after two recent 2022 commitments.

First and foremost, Lands is on the cusp of five-star status, and he is a top-25 player in the 2022 class. Taylor is a top-60 prospect, according to most recruiting services, and he could make his way into the top 30 to top 40, in my opinion.

At point guard in this cycle, I feel like the ‘Cuse has an excellent shot at picking up one of its targets at the position, and those prospects are four-stars Quadir Copeland, J.J. Starling or Chance Westry.

Copeland seems to be the most realistic option, and he’s making moves in the national recruiting rankings. I feel that he’s a top-50 prospect in the 2022 class.

Syracuse basketball, with Taylor and Lands, has a shooting guard and a small forward in this cycle. But the ‘Cuse isn’t necessarily done on the wing.

Four-star Chris Bunch, a talented and under-rated wing, recently took his official visit to the Orange. He’s a top-100 prospect, although national analysts have said he will rise in the 2022 player ratings. I think the ‘Cuse has a terrific chance to get Bunch.

As far as big men go, the two main targets have been four-star power forward Kyle Filipowski and four-star center Donovan Clingan. There is massive competition for both of them.

It’s probably a tad unrealistic to think that the Orange would land each of them – in fact, Clingan has committed to Connecticut. In any event, if Syracuse basketball picks up Filipowski, that’s huge.

Filipowski is a top-40 prospect, according to most recruiting services. Heading into his senior season, I could foresee Filipowski landing a fifth star and pushing the top-15 nationally.

To contend for the No. 1 overall recruiting class, you need quality and quantity. If the ‘Cuse has Copeland, Taylor, Lands, Bunch and Filipowski, that’s five top-100 guys.

In all honesty, I’m confident all of them would be in the top 75, and possibly even the top 50. That certainly would enable Syracuse basketball to seriously contend for the No. 1 national spot in the 2022 cycle.