Syracuse basketball to elevate pursuit of surging 4-star big, visit may come

As we’ve noted numerous times of late, Syracuse basketball coaches have offered or shown interest in a range of top-flight prospects in the 2024 class.

One of those elite high-school sophomores is fast-rising Yves Missi, a 6-foot-11 center who earned a lot of praise from national analysts and scouts for his performances in the April live periods on the AAU circuit.

Missi, of late, has emerged as a four-star prospect in the 2024 cycle whom some recruiting services have vaulted into the top 40 of their national rankings for this class.

He’s also viewed by various recruiting Web sites as a top-10 center in his cycle.

Syracuse basketball offered four-star big man Yves Missi last December.

In recent weeks, amid the NCAA live periods, Missi has scored scholarship offers from strong college basketball programs like the 2022 national champion Kansas, UConn, Michigan and Indiana.

Besides the Orange, other earlier offers for Missi have arrived from college squads such as UCLA, St. John’s, Rutgers, DePaul, Norfolk State and USC Upstate.

This ‘Cuse recruiting target is a sophomore at the West Nottingham Academy in Colora, Md. In AAU competitions, Missi plays for the Bronx, N.Y.-based PSA Cardinals in Nike’s EYBL league.

Analysts, scouts and even Missi’s own coaches rave about his length and defensive prowess. He’s an excellent rim protector who blocks and alters shots without fouling his opponents, experts say.

Additionally, I’ve come across some comments of late from national analysts that speak to Missi continuing to further refine his offensive skill-set, and that includes some solid moves in the paint.

Without question, Missi’s list of offers is going to expand, and rather quickly, I would imagine. Come mid-June, college coaches will be able to start making direct contact with Missi and other 2024 prospects.

Shortly thereafter, I would expect more and more offers to get made to Missi from blue-blood teams and other recruiting giants in college basketball. I also think that he’s a significant contender to attain five stars and a top-25 overall ranking in his class.

Munch Williams, the executive director of the PSA Cardinals, said in a recent interview with SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister that after June 15 arrives, he expects Orange coaches to ramp up their one-on-one communication with Missi.

"A visit to the Hill by Missi might also potentially happen at some point, Williams said to McAllister, adding, “They want to get him on campus, it’s just a matter of timing and what works with both parties’ schedules. They’re staying in the mix.”"

We’ll certainly keep tabs on Missi’s recruiting process moving forward, including whether he ultimately elects to make a trip to Central New York for a visit.