Syracuse Basketball: New ranking for five-star Zion Cruz is shockingly low

Zion Cruz, an elite combo guard in the 2022 cycle who holds a Syracuse basketball offer, is deemed a five-star, top-20 prospect according to numerous recruiting services.

At least one recruiting Web site, though, doesn’t appear to be as bullish on the 6-foot-5 Cruz. ESPN has updated its national ratings of the top-100 prospects in the 2022 class, and its ranking for Cruz is far below other recruiting services.

ESPN rates Cruz as four stars and No. 56 nationally. Don’t get me wrong, being a top-60 player across the country is pretty darn good, if you ask me.

However, when Rivals.com updated its 2022 rankings not too long ago, Cruz checked in as five stars, No. 19 overall and the No. 5 shooting guard.

I imagine that 247Sports will refresh its 2022 ratings soon, but as of September 1, it had Cruz as No. 15 nationwide and No. 3 at shooting guard.

Finally, the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, which fluctuates all the time, says that Cruz is No. 16 overall and No. 3 at shooting guard.

Let’s see where Cruz is situated after 247Sports updates its 2022 rankings. But for me, where ESPN has him, as compared to other primary recruiting services, is a bit surprising.

Five-star Zion Cruz, who has a Syracuse basketball offer, is a stellar 2022 prospect.

Cruz received an offer from the Orange more than two years ago, although other teams have gotten more buzz for him for quite some time.

He was reportedly going to announce his collegiate destination on August 19, but those plans were delayed. Cruz, who has visited Auburn and Oregon, has more than 20 scholarship offers.

Besides rumored leader Auburn, Oregon and Syracuse basketball, Cruz’s other offers include from squads such as North Carolina, Arizona State, Florida State, Baylor, Illinois, Ohio State, Iowa, Alabama, UCLA, Connecticut, Louisville, Maryland, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Indiana.

Cruz is heading into his senior season at The Patrick School in Hillside, N.J., and he runs on the AAU circuit with the Bronx, N.Y.-based PSA Cardinals.

The ‘Cuse isn’t going to win out in the recruiting battle for Cruz. Auburn boasts predictions from national analysts for him, although he did recently delay his commitment announcement.

Either way, whichever team picks up Cruz will get a top-20 player, regardless of ESPN’s new national ranking for him.