Numerous Syracuse basketball four-star and five-star targets across multiple recruiting cycles will suit up in two premier high-school events during the holidays later this year, according to separate announcements.
Hoopfest Basketball revealed via a press release the teams slated to participate in its 13th annual Thanksgiving Hoopfest, which will take place on November 26 and November 27 at the Sandra Meadows Arena in Duncanville, Texas.
Among the teams expected to compete in this event are Hillcrest Prep in Gilbert, Ariz., the Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Calif., and the Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla.
The loaded Hillcrest Prep roster includes 2022 four-star guard Chance Westry, who has the Orange in his top 10, as well as former ‘Cuse 2022 commit Kamari Lands, a four-star wing.
Duke Brennan, a 2022 three-star center who had interest from the Orange at one point, is also on the Hillcrest Prep team. Brennan has verbally committed to Arizona State. Westry, by the way, previously played at the Sierra Canyon School.
The Montverde Academy line-up includes 2024 five-star power forward Derik Queen, who moved to that powerhouse prep school from the Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore.
Queen, a top-five overall prospect in his class, is seeing his recruitment pick up with new big-time offers. He has interest from the ‘Cuse.
Syracuse basketball prospects are playing in another holiday showcase.
Hillcrest Prep and others with ‘Cuse connections will battle in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Classic at River Bluff High School in Lexington, S.C. This event will take place from December 27 to December 30, per a media statement.
Queen’s former squad, the Saint Frances Academy, is in the Chick-fil-A Classic field. So are Ridge View High School in Columbia, S.C., and Prolific Prep in Napa Valley, Calif.
Stellar power forward G.G. Jackson, an Orange 2023 five-star target, attends Ridge View High School. Back in August of 2020, Syracuse basketball was the first college team to offer Jackson, who recently moved into the top-10 overall in his cycle.
Prolific Prep is annually one of the best prep-school squads around the country. Former ‘Cuse 2022 commit Dior Johnson, a five-star point guard now committed to Oregon, is out of Prolific Prep.
Lands previously attended Prolific Prep before transferring to Hillcrest Prep for his senior stanza.
The schedules for the Chick-fil-A Classic and the Thanksgiving Hoopfest will get released at a later date, organizers of each tournament said.