Syracuse Basketball: 4-star commit, 5-star targets way up in team rankings

Prep schools and public high schools across the country are commencing their 2021-22 seasons, or will soon if they haven’t already, and numerous Syracuse basketball recruits and their teammates will be vying for the top spot nationwide.

Recruiting analyst and scout Samad Hines recently published a set of top-25 rankings on theseasonticket.com, and we’re taking a look at the teams in this poll that have connections to the Orange one way or another.

Residing at No. 1 is the AZ Compass Prep School in Chandler, Ariz. A relatively new addition to this squad’s roster is long-time ‘Cuse target Chance Westry.

The 6-foot-5 Westry, who received a Syracuse basketball scholarship offer more than two years ago and had the Orange among his top-10 finalists, recently committed to Auburn. Westry is a 2022 four-star guard and a consensus top-40 player in his class.

Let’s see where other Syracuse basketball recruits’ teams are situated in a national poll.

The No. 2 group is the powerhouse Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla. This elite team has a line-up that features two recent ‘Cuse targets in 2023 five-star forward Kwame Evans Jr. and 2024 five-star power forward Derik Queen.

The Orange coaching staff offered both Evans and Queen in October, according to media reports. Evans is the No. 2 overall prospect in his cycle, while Queen is a consensus top-five player in his class. They’re each from Baltimore.

Checking in at No. 6 is the La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind. A star for this team is Central New York native and 2022 four-star combo guard J.J. Starling.

Starling, a long-time Syracuse basketball recruiting target, had the ‘Cuse in his top five before recently announcing that he would attend Notre Dame.

Orange 2022 four-star commit Chris Bunch plays for the Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah, which is No. 9. Bunch, a stellar wing who is in the top-60 nationally according to 247Sports, picked the ‘Cuse not too long ago over other finalists Rutgers and Washington.

The No. 12 team is Camden High School in Camden, N.J. Leading the way for this squad is 2023 five-star point guard D.J. Wagner, who is the No. 1 overall player in this cycle.

Wagner, on the MaxPreps pre-season All-America first team, received an offer from Syracuse basketball at the Orange’s annual Elite Camp this past August. Some analysts view Kentucky and possibly Memphis as potential favorites for Wagner.