Syracuse basketball coaches have constructed a talented and versatile 2022 class that could help position the team for deep March Madness runs down the road.
I know, I know. I’m getting way ahead of myself. But hear me out. In recent years, college squads that have captured national titles have primarily been composed of veteran rosters, rather than a lot of five-star, one-and-done players.
Unless their rankings significantly change, the five members of the Orange 2022 cycle will not be five-star prospects prior to their careers on the Hill.
But … these ‘Cuse commits have a lot of potential and promise. They’re diverse in their skill-sets. There is some positional overlap, but not a ton.
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Most importantly, we’re likely to see all five 2022 commits suit up in Central New York for multiple years, unless they elect to transfer. That last factoid is pivotal.
Let’s dissect the Syracuse basketball 2022 recruiting class.
In its 2022 cycle, the Orange has a four-star point guard, a four-star shooting guard, a four-star wing/small forward, a three-star power forward and a three-star power forward/center.
If my math is correct, this means that the ‘Cuse possesses a 2022 commit at all five positions. That’s pretty, pretty good, if you ask me.
What’s more, several of these high-school prospects already know one another quite well. Three-star power forward Maliq Brown and four-star shooting guard Justin Taylor, both of whom hail from Virginia, are quite close and have played together on the AAU circuit in the past.
Plus, Taylor and four-star point guard Quadir Copeland are good friends who are spending their senior years of high school competing for the same team, the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Additionally, Taylor is close with Syracuse basketball freshman forward Benny Williams, who also went to the IMG Academy. A five-star prospect in the 2021 class, Williams even helped recruit Taylor to the Orange.
Add in three-star big man Peter Carey from Massachusetts and four-star small forward Chris Bunch, who suits up for a prep-school juggernaut in Utah, and you’ve got a really exciting 2022 class on the Hill.
Some of these guys having existing friendships and basketball relationships will only enhance their chemistry together once they ultimately don ‘Cuse uniforms.
And that makes for an enticing proposition as the Orange looks to do big things with its 2022 cycle and beyond.