Syracuse Basketball: Blue-bloods enter mix for soaring 4-star center recruit

For a bit of time now, multiple national recruiting analysts and scouts have said that Syracuse basketball four-star target Ugonna Kingsley is primed to see his recruitment blow up.

These experts were right. The 7-foot center, one of the hottest prospects in the 2023 class, has witnessed a jump in his national ratings, while his list of suitors grows at an impressive clip.

Last month, Kingsley wrapped up a stellar junior season for the Putnam Science Academy in Putnam, Conn., which during the 2021-22 term went 38-0 and captured the 2022 National Prep Championship at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Conn.

Kingsley, whom analysts and scouts are praising for his defensive talents and his potential on the offensive end of the court, received a scholarship offer from the Orange coaching staff this past February.

Syracuse basketball 2023 four-star recruit Ugonna Kingsley is a star in the making.

Besides the ‘Cuse, Kingsley holds offers from teams such as LSU, Ohio State, Kansas State, Ole Miss, Georgia, Providence, Georgetown, Texas Tech, Washington State, Clemson, Seton Hall, California and Iowa, according to media reports and recruiting services.

A recent tweet from Pro Insight director of scouting Andrew Slater says that Kingsley is also garnering interest from the likes of Kentucky, Oregon, Baylor and Duke.

That’s pretty darn telling. Kentucky and Duke, year after year, crush things on the recruiting trail. Oregon is a recruiting heavyweight. Baylor won the 2021 NCAA title and has brought in strong recruiting classes of late.

Syracuse basketball coaches already face intense competition for Kingsley, given his current offer sheet. But if giants such as Kentucky, Duke and Baylor offer him, it will prove even more challenging for the Orange to win out here.

Look for Kingsley to break out even further at upcoming AAU events in the spring and summer months. That, in turn, should lead his national rankings in the 2023 class to climb higher.

Although he’s not nationally rated by all of the primary recruiting services, I would expect that to change sooner rather than later. Rivals.com does have him as four stars and No. 87 overall.

Additionally, On3 recently moved Kingsley from unranked in its 2023 ratings to four stars, No. 25 nationwide and No. 3 at center within this cycle.