Syracuse basketball has interest in Canadian guard who stuffs stat sheet

Syracuse basketball coaches are showing interest in a talented guard from Canada who put up some massive games during a recent live period on the AAU circuit, according to national analysts.

I’ve come across at least two tweets of late from experts that speak to the Orange displaying interest in 2024 guard Keenan Emmanuel, who was fabulous in the most recent live period while suiting up for UPLAY Canada in Nike’s EYBL league.

According to his bio on the New England Recruiting Report Web site, the 6-foot-2 Emmanuel is out of the Woodstock Academy in Woodstock, Conn.

Since he’s only recently completed his sophomore year of prep school, Emmanuel’s recruitment is likely in its early stages, but already he’s attracted attention from some big-time college programs.

Syracuse basketball is among several high-majors taking a look at guard Keenan Emmanuel.

Both Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Travis Graf and MADE Hoops national scouting analyst Max Feldman said in recent tweets that the ‘Cuse is showing early interest in Emmanuel.

Per Graf, other teams with interest in him include Oregon, Connecticut, UCLA, California and DePaul. Based on what I’ve read about him, that list is going to grow for Emmanuel, and rather quickly, I might add.

Playing for UPLAY Canada on the Nike EYBL circuit during a live period in front of college coaches, analysts, scouts and others in the Indianapolis area, Emmanuel absolutely stuffed the stat sheet, according to box scores that I found online.

Here are his outputs in four games:
•17 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists
•19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists
•20 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists
•16 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists

Graf, Feldman and others say that Emmanuel is athletic, quick and able to change pace with ease. He has an explosive first step and handles the ball with precision, which causes players defending him to often be off-balance.

Emmanuel has a scorer’s mentality, from what I can tell. He attacks the lane with assertiveness and finishes strongly around the rim. He can make shots both in the mid-range and from beyond the arc, while creating scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Garrett Tucker, director of scouting for Marquee Hoops, wrote in a recent piece that Emmanuel’s ability to connect on tough, highly contested shots is a differentiator for this 2024 player.

I’m really intrigued by Keenan Emmanuel. I hope that Syracuse basketball coaches continue to show interest in him, and we’ll of course track his recruitment moving forward.