New Syracuse basketball 4-star big-man target is an ‘elite rim protector’

Syracuse basketball has broadened its reach among the pool of talented big men in the 2023 cycle by offering a scholarship to promising four-star center Ugonna Kingsley, according to media reports.

Per reports from college basketball insider Adam Zagoria and others, Orange coaches recently offered the 7-foot Kingsley. An article from the fabulous 247Sports national analyst Dushawn London says that Kingsley is in the midst of playing his first high-school season in the United States.

According to the Verbal Commits Web site, Kingsley hails from Nigeria. He is a junior at the Putnam Science Academy in Putnam, Conn. By the way, just as an FYI, ‘Cuse coaches have offered scholarships to other prospects who attended this prep school.

In one recent contest, in which the Putnam Science Academy defeated the South Kent School in South Kent, Conn., by a final count of 83-64, Kingsley tallied 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, per a tweet from his team.

Syracuse basketball is now in the recruiting fray for big man Ugonna Kingsley.

I get the sense that Kingsley’s recruitment is just starting to take off. According to Verbal Commits, his other offers include from Ole Miss, Georgia, Providence, Georgetown, Texas Tech, Washington State, Clemson and Seton Hall. Kingsley’s bio on Rivals.com also details offers from California and Iowa.

Zagoria recently said in a tweet that UConn is planning to visit with Kingsley in the near future. Since he’s only been playing high-school basketball in the United States for a few months, Kingsley isn’t nationally ranked by all of the primary recruiting services, at least as far as I can tell.

However, when Rivals.com updated its national ratings for the 2023 class not too long ago, Kingsley vaulted into the top-100 overall, checking in at No. 87. He’s also a four-star prospect, according to Rivals.com.

"In London’s recent piece, he talked to Putnam Science Academy assistant coach Dana Valentine about Kingsley’s game. Valentine said in part about the new Syracuse basketball recruiting target, “Colleges always talk about his rim protection. He can protect the rim at the next level. His touch is great, he’s a quick learner, and they can see him picking up the speed of the game very quickly. He’s an elite rim protector so that’s something that coaches think translates immediately.”"