Around the time that 2022 four-star wing Justin Taylor committed to Syracuse basketball at the end of June, he said in an interview that he was helping to recruit 2022 four-star point guard Quadir Copeland to join him in this class.
About a week ago, Copeland gave a verbal commitment to the Orange, choosing the ‘Cuse over other finalists Maryland, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Miami, Penn State, DePaul and La Salle.
While Copeland and Taylor should form a special duo on the Hill, they’ll actually get to suit up together prior to coming on board in Central New York.
As we’ve documented multiple times in the past, the 6-foot-6 Copeland is transferring to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for his senior year.
On Sunday night, the 6-foot-6 Taylor said on social media that he, too, is headed to the IMG Academy for his senior campaign of high school.
Excited to announce that i will be doing my final year of high school at IMG Academy !💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/GaBOOc89qf
— justin taylor (@jctbball12) August 15, 2021
Syracuse basketball fans will have a lot of interest in the IMG Academy this coming season.
Copeland is moving to the IMG Academy from the Life Center Academy in Burlington, N.J. Taylor, meanwhile, previously competed for the St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, Va.
Both will greatly benefit from playing for the IMG Academy, which annually is often one of the premier prep-school squads around the country.
A few months ago, we penned a column on various prep-school teams, including the IMG Academy, banding together to form the powerhouse National Interscholastic Basketball Conference.
Now, one important thing to note here is that the IMG Academy has several basketball groups, including a national team and a post-graduate squad. I’m not entirely sure at this juncture for which of these units Copeland and Taylor will suit up.
Either way, both of them will be immersed in the top-notch facilities, coaches and staff members of the IMG Academy for one season before going to the Orange, and that should prove a bonus for Syracuse basketball.
Benny Williams, a 2021 five-star commit and freshman forward for the ‘Cuse, spent his senior year at the IMG Academy. Williams, a Bowie, Md., native, is friends with Taylor and was on the IMG Academy’s post-grad team.
From a recruiting standpoint, one has to feel excited about what’s going on of late for the Orange. Williams is a top-25 player, as is 2022 commit Kamari Lands, a four-star wing.
Taylor is ranked in the top-60 nationwide by some recruiting services. Copeland is a top-100 prospect, per Rivals.com, who is climbing up the 2022 charts.