Syracuse Basketball: 4-star, 5-star prospects competing at elite NBA camp

Multiple Syracuse basketball top-flight targets recently were selected to participate in a prestigious event put on by the National Basketball Players Association (“NBPA”).

The NBPA has been holding its top-100 high-school basketball camp in recent days at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla., according to an announcement from the NBPA, which is the union for current players in the NBA.

According to the NBPA, 60 of the best players from around the country in several recruiting cycles were invited to attend. Last year’s in-person camp, by the way, unfortunately had to get canceled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The camp is hosting NCAA scouting personnel, and it is also open to NBA scouts who want to observe players at the camp. Per the NBPA press release, the top-100 camp since its inception in 1994 has assisted more than 400 players in successfully transitioning into the NBA.

Let’s take a look at Syracuse basketball prospects invited to this camp.

Among those competing at the NBA top-100 camp are 2023 five-star power forward G.G. Jackson, 2023 four-star point guard Aden Holloway, 2022 five-star power forward Jarace Walker, 2024 five-star power forward Derik Queen and 2022 four-star center Donovan Clingan.

The 6-foot-8 Jackson, a hot prospect in his cycle, is a sophomore at Ridge View High School in Columbia, S.C. The Orange was the first college team to offer him, back in August of 2020.

According to recruiting services, the ‘Cuse offered the 6-foot-1 Holloway in the summer of 2019, and it was also his first scholarship offer. The sophomore is transferring from the Covenant Day School in Matthews, N.C., to the La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind.

The 6-foot-8 Walker, a junior at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., received a Syracuse basketball offer more than a year ago, although he seems to be focusing on several other squads at this juncture.

Queen, who hails from Baltimore, is the No. 1 overall prospect in his class, according to ESPN’s national rankings. The Orange has reportedly shown interest in the 6-foot-8 Queen.

Syracuse basketball coaches were the first to offer the 7-foot-1 Clingan, with that offer coming about two years ago. A junior at Bristol Central High School in Bristol, Conn., he had the Orange in his top eight before recently giving a verbal commitment to Connecticut.