Syracuse Basketball: Multiple 5-star targets in mix for No. 1 overall ranking

A Syracuse basketball five-star target is currently the consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2023 cycle, however, there are a handful of other elite players in this class who also have Orange offers and could make a case for the top spot down the line, according to some recent comments from experts.

At this juncture, five-star point guard D.J. Wagner from New Jersey is rated No. 1 across the country in 2023, according to all of the primary recruiting services.

Wagner, a junior at Camden High School in Camden, N.J., received a ‘Cuse offer in August at the team’s annual Elite Camp. Kentucky and, more recently, Memphis are getting buzz for Wagner.

While many national analysts and recruiting insiders believe that Wagner absolutely deserves the No. 1 rating, I’ve also seen a few other 2023 prospects mentioned as serious contenders for this position. Some of them have ‘Cuse connections, which we’ll explore.

Numerous Syracuse basketball prospects are near the top of the 2023 rankings.

Perhaps the biggest competition for Wagner could come from five-star forward Kwame Evans Jr. out of Baltimore, who picked up an Orange offer only recently.

Evans, a junior at the powerhouse Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., is placed at No. 2 nationally according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

Five-star guard/wing Matas Buzelis, who was offered by Syracuse basketball nearly a year ago, has skyrocketed into the top-five overall, according to 247Sports. He is a junior at the juggernaut Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.

As we’ve documented of late, all of the blue-blood programs and many other big-time college teams have either offered Buzelis, or are showing interest in him.

One of the hottest 2023 players in recent months is five-star power forward G.G. Jackson, who recently vaulted into the top-10 across the country, per several recruiting services.

Jackson, a junior at Ridge View High School in Columbia, S.C., secured a ‘Cuse scholarship offer in August of 2020, and it was the first offer in his recruitment. His offer list is ridiculously long.

Last but not least, five-star small forward Justin Edwards recently tied for the largest rankings increase in the entire 2023 class, according to refreshed ratings from 247Sports.

Edwards, offered by Syracuse basketball this past summer, is a junior at the Imhotep Institute Charter High School in Philadelphia. He has jumped into the top-10 nationwide, and the word is that he hears from UConn and Kentucky a lot, among other teams.

Obviously, it would prove encouraging if the Orange could land at least one of these guys, but it won’t be easy. Regardless, I think it’s pretty cool that the ‘Cuse is targeting many top-notch prospects in the 2023 cycle.