Syracuse basketball big-man recruit on way to Brewster had big junior term

In his recently concluded junior season, Syracuse basketball recruiting target Joseph Estrella went full beast mode in helping to lead his high-school team in Maine to its first state title in three decades.

As we detailed a few days ago, the 2023 big man is taking his talents to the powerhouse Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., for the 2022-23 campaign, Estrella recently revealed via Twitter.

The underrated 6-foot-10 power forward/center, who landed a scholarship offer from the Orange this past August at the team’s annual Elite Camp, recently put the finishing touches on a tremendous junior stanza for South Portland High School in South Portland, Maine.

According to media reports, the Red Riots compiled a 21-1 overall record in the 2021-22 season. Earlier this month, South Portland High School beat Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in South Paris, Maine, by 14 points to claim the Class AA state championship in Maine, which represented the squad’s first state crown since 1992.

Syracuse basketball 2023 recruit Joseph Estrella was stellar in his junior year.

Steve Craig, a staff writer for the Portland Press Herald, provided some interesting details about Estrella in an article that we came across.

The 2021-22 term was Estrella’s first full season of varsity competition, and he tallied 20.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game in the regular campaign for South Portland High School.

Per Craig’s story, Estrella was named the 2021-22 Player of the Year by the Southwestern Maine Activities Association (“SMAA”) for his junior-stanza performance. Those are some dominating numbers, by the way.

In the Class AA state title contest, Estrella recorded an impressive 19 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks, according to Craig. From what I’ve read about Estrella since the ‘Cuse began pursuing him, he’s an excellent offensive player who can also be an imposing force on the defensive end of the floor.

Besides Syracuse basketball, Estrella holds offers from college groups including Xavier, Boston College, Iowa, Providence, Tennessee, Harvard, Maine, Penn State and Marquette.

Estrella, according to the New England Recruiting Report, is the No. 1 prospect in the state of Maine and the No. 10 player in New England within the 2023 cycle. He suits up for the Middlesex Magic on the AAU circuit.

By transferring to the Brewster Academy, which is a prep-school juggernaut, Estrella will undoubtedly see his national exposure increase, and I imagine that will lead to more offers for him from high-major programs.

"In Craig’s piece, Brewster Academy head coach Jason Smith said in part about Estrella, “He’s extremely versatile, with a strong work ethic and a passion to get better every day and I think that’s what makes him so special.”"