I write a lot of Syracuse basketball recruiting stories, and I get a lot of the same reactions when I write them, particularly if it’s about a top-flight player whom the Orange has newly offered.
A large contingent of fans will say that the ‘Cuse has no shot at winning such a recruiting battle. Chalk it up to negativity, pessimism, or both.
And I do recognize that, in recent years, there has been a dip in Syracuse basketball recruiting results. At the same time, I believe that the Orange has a lot of positive momentum within its 2022, 2023 and 2024 classes.
The ‘Cuse already has two four-star verbal commitments in 2022. The team’s coaching staff recently made its first offer in 2024. Smack in between those two cycles is 2023, and this class could prove epic.
As I always like to say, you have to offer a prospect to have a chance at landing that prospect. So while some of my fellow Syracuse basketball fanatics often chime in that the Orange has little to no realistic shot of winning these high-level recruiting bouts, I want to give credit where credit is due.
Whether it wins big or loses out in heart-breaking fashion, at least the ‘Cuse coaching staff is giving itself an opportunity, even if a small one, by offering scholarships to these stellar high-school players.
You can’t win the game unless you play the game.
Let’s review some of the 2023 players whom Syracuse basketball has offered.
So if we’re examining the Orange’s 2023 targets, the team has doled out more than a dozen offers. I’m using the recently updated national rankings from Rivals.com here to show what the ‘Cuse is up to in this cycle.
Five of these prospects are in the top 15. Seven are in the top 40. Eight are in the top 65. Ten are in the top 100. And 12 are in the top 125. That’s really, really good, if you ask me.
Five-star point guard D.J. Wagner, who was recently offered, is No. 1 overall. Another relatively new prospect, five-star small forward Justin Edwards, is No. 8.
Five-star power forward G.G. Jackson, who landed a ‘Cuse offer more than a year ago, is No. 10. Elijah Fisher, a five-star Canadian wing, is No. 14. Recently offered Simeon Wilcher, a five-star combo guard, is No. 15.
Four-star guard Matas Buzelis and four-star wing Gavin Griffiths are No. 27 and No. 35, respectively. Four-star guard Blue Cain is No. 62 and four-star point guard Aden Holloway is No. 78.
Rounding out the top-100 prospects is four-star guard Reid Ducharme, who checks in at No. 98.
Two other recent offers by Syracuse basketball went to three-star shooting guard Spencer Mahoney, who is No. 122, and three-star big man Papa Kante, who is No. 123.
It goes without saying that the vast majority of these players will elect to head somewhere besides the Hill. But if the Orange can get a few of them, the team’s 2023 class is going to prove exquisite.