Syracuse Basketball: Prediction and blue-blood offer for five-star Zion Cruz

Five-star guard Zion Cruz, who landed a scholarship offer from Syracuse basketball about two years ago, is seeing his recruitment heat up.

According to media reports, the 6-foot-5 Cruz could make a decision on his collegiate destination by the end of this summer. The Orange doesn’t appear to be heavily in the mix for the top-20 player, although you never know for sure in the rapidly changing recruiting world.

Cruz, a junior at The Patrick School in Hillside, N.J., has visited Southeastern Conference member Auburn as well as Oregon out of the Pac-12 Conference, according to reports and recruiting services.

It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Cruz ends up taking an official visit to North Carolina as well. The Tar Heels, a blue-blood squad and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference participant, recently offered a scholarship to Cruz, per the Verbal Commits Web site.

Another recent offer that arrived for him is from Arizona State, which suits up in the Pac-12 Conference, according to the 247Sports Web site.

Five-star Zion Cruz, who holds a Syracuse basketball offer, is being courted by several big-time groups.

In a recent article by auburn.rivals.com senior editor Jeffrey Lee, Cruz said that Auburn was at the top of his list, although his recruiting process could certainly change, especially with UNC in the mix.

Late last month, Lee logged a prediction for Cruz to Auburn. That’s the only projection from a national analyst or recruiting insider that I’ve seen to date.

Cruz, who runs on the AAU circuit with the Bronx, N.Y.-based PSA Cardinals, has received a bunch of high-major offers, from teams like Florida State, Baylor, Illinois, Ohio State, Iowa, Alabama, UCLA, Connecticut, Louisville, Maryland, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Indiana.

The majority of recruiting services rank Cruz as five stars and top-20 overall in his class. He is four stars and No. 31 via ESPN. Rivals.com has him as five stars and No. 19. Cruz is five stars and No. 20 from the 247Sports Composite, as well as five stars and No. 18 by 247Sports.

Additionally, he is a consensus top-five shooting guard within the 2022 cycle.

The recent offer from North Carolina to Cruz is absolutely one to watch. Speaking of blue-blood squads, Kentucky is also showing interest in Cruz.