Syracuse basketball 2023 high-priority recruiting target Elmarko Jackson and his AAU teammates suited up in an event over the weekend in Maryland, and multiple experts praised the four-star guard’s performance.
The Baltimore-based Team Thrill hosted Mayhem in Maryland at The Park School of Baltimore. Numerous top-flight AAU squads from the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., markets, as well as throughout the mid-Atlantic region, participated in this inaugural event.
According to Prep Hoops recruiting analyst/scout Colby Giacubeno, the 6-foot-4 Jackson tallied 18 points as his grassroots team, WE R1, battled Team Durant.
Despite coming up short, the most complete performance of the event will go to ‘23 G Elmarko Jackson. 18PTS vs Team Durant while facilitating, playmaking and taking immense pride in his individual defense. Shot creator, explosive finisher, etc. The real deal. pic.twitter.com/aaGcVcyZAX
— Colby Giacubeno (@ColbyGHoops) May 7, 2022
Giacubeno, in a tweet, described Jackson as “the real deal,” noting that he creates his own shots well, finishes explosively, and facilities with precision for others.
Syracuse basketball offered four-star Elmarko Jackson in mid-April.
Ever since Orange coaches offered a scholarship to Jackson last month, he’s said in a couple of interviews that the ‘Cuse is prioritizing him in the 2023 class. Jackson has also said more than once that he’d like to take an official visit to the Hill in the near future.
A junior standout for the Academy of the New Church in Bryn Athyn, Pa., during the 2021-22 campaign, Jackson recently told SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister that the Orange is one of his dream schools.
For his play at the Mayhem in Maryland event, 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein had some interesting, and positive, things to say about this ‘Cuse 2023 priority recruit.
Jackson, rated as a top-20 point guard/shooting guard in his class by several recruiting services, is “a physically imposing, big, power guard. He gets downhill incredibly well as opposing defenders can literally bounce off him at times. … Maybe most importantly, he’s a two-way player who sets the tone on the defensive end of the floor as well,” Finkelstein wrote.
Most recruiting Web sites place Jackson within the top-80 nationwide in the 2023 cycle.
ESPN is presently the most bullish on him, ranking Jackson as No. 66 across the country and No. 14 at shooting guard in this class.
Besides Syracuse basketball, his other offers include from Notre Dame, St. John’s, Penn State, Miami, Minnesota, Maryland, VCU, Bryant, La Salle, Ole Miss, Seton Hall and California.
Jackson has said that he has high interest in the ‘Cuse, although there are certainly other college squads firmly in the mix for him as well.
I’m anxious for him to get an official visit lined up to the Orange. I’m not a recruiting analyst, nor am I in Jackson’s inner circle, but my own personal opinion is that Syracuse basketball has a really good shot at landing this talented 2023 guard.