Syracuse Basketball: 4-star, 5-star recruits honored for strong EYBL play

The second of two NCAA live periods took place in several locations around the country a few days ago, and experts have bestowed some nice honors on various Syracuse basketball recruiting targets for their performances.

Analysts and scouts have published their recognitions on theseasonticket.com for high-school prospects who suited up in AAU games on the Nike EYBL circuit in the Indianapolis area last weekend.

Multiple players who have either scholarship offers or interest from the Orange, in both the 2023 and 2024 recruiting cycles, landed awards from The Circuit staff on theseasonticket.com.

Let’s review the Syracuse basketball targets who shined during the live period in Indy.

Up first is 2023 five-star forward Justin Edwards, out of the Philadelphia-based Team Final and the Imhotep Institute Charter High School in Philadelphia.

The ‘Cuse, which offered him last summer, reportedly watched the 6-foot-7 Edwards this past weekend, and he was named the defensive MVP of the EYBL competitions.

Per theseasonticket.com, Edwards averaged 18.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. He was also named to the All-EYBL second squad.

On the first team is 2023 five-star guard/wing Matas Buzelis, who plays for the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., and the Boston-based Expressions Elite Basketball.

Offered by Syracuse basketball in November of 2020, the 6-foot-10 Buzelis tallied averages of 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per affair, while connecting on 71.0 percent from the field.

Easily one of the top performers during both April live periods has proven 2023 five-star point guard D.J. Wagner, who was offered by the Orange last August and is the consensus No. 1 prospect in this cycle.

The 6-foot-3 Wagner, who stars for Camden High School in Camden, N.J., and the New Jersey Scholars Elite Basketball Club, got placed on the All-EYBL third group.

Last weekend, he collected averages of 18.0 points, 8.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per contest, while hitting on 47.7 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc.

Kayvaun Mulready, a 6-foot-4 guard in the 2024 class who has reportedly garnered interest from Syracuse basketball coaches, is with the Worcester Academy in Worcester, Mass., and the Albany City Rocks.

During his time in the Indianapolis region, he averaged 10.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per encounter, propelling him to the All-EYBL underclassman team.

The All-EYBL defensive unit features Edwards and 2023 five-star center Aaron Bradshaw, whom Orange coaches have watched more than once in recent months.

The 7-foot Bradshaw is teammates with Wagner at Camden High School and the New Jersey Scholars Elite Basketball Club. Bradshaw is also one of the premier centers in the 2023 class.

Last but certainly not least, The Circuit has doled out an honorable-mention nod to 2023 four-star shooting guard Reid Ducharme, who appears to be a priority target for the ‘Cuse in this class and was offered by Syracuse basketball last August.

The 6-foot-6 Ducharme, out of the Brewster Academy and the Boston Amateur Basketball Club, produced scoring of 13 points, 12 points, 21 points and 20 points during the live session in Indy this past weekend.