Syracuse Basketball: Here’s why big-man commitment is big time for SU

After taking an official visit to the Hill this past weekend, the buzz on social media and in chat rooms was that we might see a commitment in the near future from 2022 high-priority target Peter Carey to Syracuse basketball.

And that’s exactly what has transpired. On Tuesday, the 7-foot big man took to social media to say that he has verbally committed to the Orange, which brings the team’s 2022 class to three members.

In late June, Syracuse basketball landed a commitment from four-star wing Justin Taylor. His good friend and teammate at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., four-star point guard Quadir Copeland, followed suit in August.

Now the ‘Cuse has added Carey, an extremely talented and under-rated prospect in the 2022 cycle who can play both power forward and center.

Syracuse basketball has its big man for the squad’s 2022 recruiting class.

With Carey in tow, the Orange has a point guard, a shooting guard and a versatile big man in this cycle, with ‘Cuse coaches continuing to pursue a four-star wing in Chris Bunch, as well as a four-star combo guard in Central New York native J.J. Starling.

In recent months, a trio of 2022 four-star big men who Syracuse basketball was recruiting opted for other destinations. One went the professional route, while the other two committed to Duke and Connecticut.

So getting Carey is critical to further solidifying the Orange’s 2022 class by acquiring a big man whose versatility would seem to be a strong fit for the ‘Cuse system, particularly the 2-3 zone defense.

Carey is a senior at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Mount Hermon, Mass., and he runs on the AAU circuit with the West Hempstead, N.Y.-based New York Lightning Select.

Although not ranked by some of the primary recruiting services, Carey boasts a terrific skill-set that he continues to refine.

Prior to giving a verbal pledge to the Orange, he held other offers from teams such as Rutgers, St. Bonaventure, Iona, UMass, Bryant, Brown and Albany.

If we look ahead to the season after the upcoming one, as far as Syracuse basketball centers go, Bourama Sidibe will have used up his eligibility.

And, assuming they all stay following the 2021-22 campaign, Jesse Edwards will a senior, Frank Anselem will be a junior and John Bol Ajak will be a redshirt junior.

Of course, the ‘Cuse could always hit the transfer portal after the upcoming term concludes, but for my money, having Carey committed for the 2022-23 stanza is really critical for the Orange’s roster.