Syracuse basketball commit, 5-star targets’ teams high up in top-20 poll

MaxPreps has unveiled its latest top-20 rankings of the premier academy and independent programs around the country (not including traditional high schools), and teams with a Syracuse basketball commit and other recruiting targets made the cut.

Jordan Divens, the national basketball editor for MaxPreps, has the Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah., at No. 11. One of the stand-outs for the Wasatch Academy is Chris Bunch, a 2022 four-star wing who has signed his national letter of intent to play for the Orange.

The 6-foot-7 Bunch, a consensus top-100 prospect nationally who is rated in the top-60 overall by 247Sports, picked the ‘Cuse in October over other finalists Washington and Rutgers. He previously suited up for De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif.

Some other squads to note here include the No. 1 AZ Compass Prep School in Chandler, Ariz., the No. 2 Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., the No. 3 IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., the No. 6 Hillcrest Prep in Gilbert, Ariz., the No. 7 La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., and No. 12 Prolific Prep in Napa Valley, Calif.

Syracuse basketball recruiting prospects play for highly ranked groups.

The Montverde Academy line-up is headlined by 2023 five-star forward Kwame Evans Jr. and 2024 five-star power forward Derik Queen, both of whom hail from Baltimore and received Orange offers in October.

Former Syracuse basketball long-time target Chance Westry, a 2022 four-star guard committed to Auburn, suits up for the AZ Compass Prep School.

Orange 2022 four-star commits Justin Taylor, a shooting guard, and Quadir Copeland, a point guard, are on the IMG Academy’s post-grad team.

Former ‘Cuse 2022 commit Kamari Lands, a four-star wing, is on the Hillcrest Prep roster.

Central New York native J.J. Starling, a 2022 four-star guard who had the Orange among his five finalists before selecting Notre Dame, competes for the La Lumiere School.

Prolific Prep has a loaded roster that includes Dior Johnson, a 2022 five-star point guard who was initially committed to Syracuse basketball.

Johnson reopened his recruitment about a year ago and a few months back pledged to Oregon.