Syracuse Basketball: 4-star target seeks coach who wants 6-foot-10 guard
By Neil Adler
Syracuse basketball 2023 four-star prospect Matas Buzelis is a fast-riser across the country in his class, and his recruitment continues to gain steam.
Buzelis is a really intriguing high-school player. He said in a recent interview that he is now 6-foot-10, and I’ve read media reports about him that suggest he can suit up at point guard, shooting guard and forward.
In recent years, the Orange has done well in recruiting athletic, big and long guards, as well as players on the wing, and Buzelis certainly seems to fit that mold.
Can you imagine a 6-foot-10 guard like Buzelis at the top of the ‘Cuse 2-3 zone? That sounds like a wonderful idea to me and the rest of Orange Nation.
National recruiting analysts rave about the skill-set that Buzelis possesses. He obviously has stellar height and length, and Buzelis boasts versatility, an unselfish nature, strong court vision, solid ball-handling skills and a nice jump-shot, among other things.
Syracuse basketball four-star target Matas Buzelis has numerous high-major offers.
It’s no wonder that a diverse range of college teams are pursuing Buzelis, who is a consensus top-50 player in his class. Some recruiting services rate him in the top-25 overall within the 2023 cycle, and Buzelis could attain five-star status in the future.
The Orange coaching staff got in relatively early on with him, offering Buzelis a scholarship last November. Recently, blue-blood team and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member North Carolina offered Buzelis, per a tweet from college basketball insider Adam Zagoria.
According to recruiting services and media reports, other recent offers have arrived for him from groups such as Purdue, Oklahoma, Arizona, UCLA, Maryland, Connecticut and DePaul.
Another blue-blood squad, Kansas, is in the mix. So, too, are Illinois, Florida, Providence, Wake Forest, Nebraska and Western Illinois.
Others showing interest in Buzelis, per media reports and comments from recruiting insiders, include Duke, Michigan, Kentucky and Gonzaga.
Buzelis is heading into his junior campaign, and he attends the powerhouse Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., which has sent numerous guys to the Hill in recent terms.
A native of the Chicago area, Buzelis suits up on the AAU circuit for the Chicago-based Mac Irvin Fire. Analysts commend Buzelis for his strong performances in recent months at various AAU competitions.
In a recent Q&A with Pro Insight, Buzelis was asked what he’s looking for in his future collegiate destination. His answer is great. Here’s what he had to say:
"“For me it’s not going to be about the program, it’s going to come down to that one person – the Head Coach – and his style of play. Someone who is looking for a 6’10” guard, who can develop me the best and just who can play the best team basketball. That’s like the main thing for me.”"