Syracuse Basketball: If Benny Williams plays two years, watch out for SU

Syracuse basketball 2021 five-star commit Benny Williams is on the Hill for summer work-outs, and the Orange fan base is so pumped to watch him suit up for the ‘Cuse this coming season.

Williams, a 6-foot-8 forward out of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., is one of the highest-rated recruits for the Orange in recent program history.

As we’ve detailed in recent columns, the Bowie, Md., native is a top-20 prospect within the 2021 cycle, according to Rivals.com, and he’s universally deemed a top-40 player overall by all of the primary recruiting services.

Of course, Williams has yet to play one minute of college basketball, but the excitement over his arrival in Central New York is logical and understandable.

Syracuse basketball commit Benny Williams is primed for a special Orange career.

It’s way too early to know whether Williams will stay on the Hill for just one season and then move on to the professional ranks. A lot of ‘Cuse fans on social media and in chat rooms believe that he’s a one-and-done player. Okay, that’s cool.

For me, I could see it going either way with Williams. If he’s electric as a freshman and gets all kinds of positive NBA Draft buzz, then departing after his freshman campaign would prove realistic.

However, there’s a big difference between starring in prep school and doing the same thing in the rugged Atlantic Coast Conference. To that end, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Williams is a member of the Orange for at least two campaigns.

If that scenario transpires, watch out for the ‘Cuse in 2022-23. Yes, Syracuse basketball will have likely seen junior shooting guard Buddy Boeheim and others say good-bye, but Williams teaming up with the Orange 2022 class would be tantalizing.

So far in this cycle, Syracuse basketball has received verbal commitments from four-star wings Justin Taylor and Kamari Lands. Taylor recently committed, while Lands gave his verbal pledge back in April.

Taylor and Williams are good friends, and they’ve suited up together in the past on the AAU circuit in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Which current ‘Cuse players will be on the roster in 2022-23 is pure speculation at this juncture, because of the NCAA’s new transfer policy and the free-agency explosion in college basketball.

But the potential of Williams, Taylor, Lands and whoever else Syracuse basketball secures for its 2022 cycle could make for an extremely dangerous Orange squad.