Syracuse Basketball: Benny Williams projected starter, impact ACC newbie

Syracuse basketball freshman forward Benny Williams will soon embark on his first season in Central New York, and to say that Orange fans are excited about this is a massive understatement.

The 6-foot-8 Williams comes to the Hill as one of the highest-rated recruits for the ‘Cuse program in recent years. He is a unanimous four-star prospect in the 2021 cycle, as well as a consensus top-40 overall player across the country.

One recruiting service, Rivals.com, places Williams as five stars and in the top-25 nationally within his class. Of course, all these national rankings and accolades are no longer super relevant, as what matters now is how Williams performs for the Orange.

As the upcoming campaign inches closer for Syracuse basketball, I’m really fascinated to see if Williams will crack the starting rotation for head coach Jim Boeheim.

Boeheim often goes with veterans in the starting line-up, although for me, it’s really which guys are on the court at the end of games that are most important, and most telling.

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, who I think is one of the most knowledgeable journalists in collegiate hoops, recently published his off-season report on the Atlantic Coast Conference. There are some interesting nuggets to digest in it.

Syracuse basketball forward Benny Williams should shine in his freshman term.

Rothstein gives his projected starting-five for the ‘Cuse ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, and he has the forwards as Williams and senior Cole Swider, with graduate student Jimmy Boeheim coming off of the bench.

Let me just say that I have no idea what Jim Boeheim is thinking as far as his starting rotation is concerned, and there are multiple months before the season begins.

Furthermore, I think Williams is going to be a star. That being said, I’m not convinced that he is going to receive a starting nod over a senior and a grad student, even if Swider and Jimmy Boeheim are both in their first stanzas with the Orange.

I do believe that all three of these Syracuse basketball forwards will earn ample minutes in 2021-22, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Williams is in the running for ACC freshman-based awards.

To that end, Rothstein in his piece also listed 10 impact freshmen within the conference, and Williams made the cut, along with the usual elite recruits from the likes of Duke, North Carolina and Florida State, among others.

As I opined in a recent column, I’m hopeful that Williams will stay on for a second year at the ‘Cuse and band together with the team’s stellar-looking 2022 class. But first I’ll enjoy Williams’ freshman stint.