Syracuse Basketball: Could Orange make a run at 5-star guard Zion Cruz?

Five-star combo guard Zion Cruz, one of the best players in the 2022 recruiting cycle, received a scholarship offer from Syracuse basketball more than two years ago, but the Orange hasn’t seemed to have had any buzz for him in a long time, if ever.

I like to preface by saying that I’m not a recruiting analyst, nor am I in the inner circle of the 6-foot-5 Cruz. However, based on many articles and comments that I’ve read about him from national analysts and recruiting insiders for a while now, I don’t believe that the ‘Cuse has really been in the running for Cruz.

He was set to announce his college choice this past Sunday afternoon with his three finalists being Atlantic Coast Conference member North Carolina, Southeastern Conference team Auburn and Big East Conference participant Creighton.

But Cruz delayed that planned announcement, according to an Instagram post, and he cited an unfortunate circumstance involving a family member. Cruz had said that he would disclose another commitment date in the upcoming weeks.

Now, though, his plans have changed again, in a recruiting process that has become a bit of a roller-coaster.

Five-star Zion Cruz holds a Syracuse basketball offer and is open to all options.

Cruz, deemed by numerous recruiting services as a top-20 overall prospect in the 2022 class, took to Instagram again, saying in a separate post that he is reopening his recruitment back up.

"He wrote on social media, “Choosing where to attend college is one of the most important decisions that I’ll make in my life, and I want to make sure that I give it careful consideration. I am beyond thankful to all of the programs that have expressed interest in me and I take seriously my continued search for the program that is the best fit for my future goals.”"

Cruz is preparing for 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. He boasts more than 20 scholarship offers from a variety of high-major programs.

In addition to the Orange, rumored leader Auburn, North Carolina and Creighton, Cruz’s other offers include from Oregon, Arizona State, Florida State, Baylor, Illinois, Ohio State, Iowa, Alabama, UCLA, Connecticut, Louisville, Maryland, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Indiana.

So my question here is, would Syracuse basketball coaches make a run at Cruz? My sense is that probably not, although you never fully know with this recruiting stuff.

For one, Cruz is a combo guard who can suit up at both guard positions. The ‘Cuse has 2022 verbal commits from four-star point guard Quadir Copeland and four-star wing Justin Taylor, whom Syracuse basketball has recruited as a shooting guard.

Additionally, Orange coaches continue to pursue 2022 four-star combo guard J.J. Starling, a Central New York native who was planning to take a second official visit to the Hill from September 10-12 and has the ‘Cuse in his top five.

I think that Syracuse basketball is a long shot with long-time 2022 prospect Chance Westry, but this four-star combo guard does have the Orange in his top 10.

Plus, it seems like the ‘Cuse remains in the running for 2022 four-star wing Chris Bunch, who is more of a shooting guard/small forward hybrid, although I have seen articles on him that suggest he can also suit up at point guard.

Let’s assume the Orange misses on Westry. Hypothetically speaking, let’s say that Syracuse basketball loses out on Starling and Bunch, too.

Might that lead ‘Cuse coaches to reach out to Cruz and gauge his interest in the Orange program? I guess that anything is possible. It doesn’t seem likely, though.

I don’t know whether Cruz previously didn’t have much interest in Syracuse basketball even after receiving an offer, the team decided to go in different directions with its 2022 priorities, or something else occurred.

Cruz is a stellar prospect in this cycle, there’s no denying that. His recruiting process has also been a bit all over the place. I’ve always been high on him. We’ll keep tabs on his recruitment moving forward.