For Syracuse basketball, 4-star big man appears a top target in junior class

Four-star big man Papa Kante said in a recent interview with a national recruiting analyst that Syracuse basketball is among the college teams that he hears from the most.

The Orange coaching staff offered a scholarship to the 6-foot-10 power forward/center this past August at the team’s annual Elite Camp.

Since then, I’ve read some comments from experts that might suggest the ‘Cuse coaching staff is making Kante a priority in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

I’m all for that, as Kante has an intriguing skill-set and a ton of potential to shine at the collegiate level. He also continues to see his national ratings rise, while more scholarship offers from big-name programs arrive.

Syracuse basketball is one of numerous suitors for four-star big man Papa Kante.

As we’ve noted in other recent columns on Kante, his offer list includes from Tennessee, Kansas, Providence, Georgetown, Miami, Pittsburgh, Georgia, Rutgers, TCU, UMass, East Carolina, Bryant and Siena.

In a recent interview with Rivals.com national analyst Jamie Shaw, Kante said, besides the Orange, some of the other squads he’s hearing from the most are Michigan State, Tennessee, Rutgers, Providence and UConn.

Kante is a junior at the South Kent School in South Kent, Conn. Over the summer, he played well on the AAU circuit with the Boston-based Expressions Elite Basketball, which has helped to fuel the heating up of his recruitment on a national scale.

A three-star or a four-star prospect in the 2023 class depending on the recruiting service, Kante was ranked No. 98 nationally, No. 11 at center and No. 3 in Connecticut at the time of this writing by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

He certainly has the capability to put up some massive numbers. In one recent game, for example, Kante collected 21 points, a ridiculous 21 rebounds and six blocks as the South Kent School defeated the Springfield Commonwealth Academy from Springfield, Mass., by a final count of 76-65.

According to some analysts, Kante possesses a nice touch and good hands for a player of his size and length. He rebounds well, and Kante continues to work on his jump shot, while building out his frame and increasing his athleticism.

There is a lot to admire about Kante’s all-around game. It seems that Syracuse basketball could emerge as a significant contender for him, and we’ll of course keep on monitoring Kante’s recruiting process.