Syracuse basketball should make cut when 4-star Elmarko Jackson trims

A lot of Syracuse basketball fans whom I interact with on social media and in chat rooms are really high on 2023 four-star guard Elmarko Jackson, who appears to be a priority target for the Orange coaching staff in this cycle.

The 6-foot-4 Jackson, who is ranked within the top-80 nationally by the majority of recruiting services, has played really well on the AAU circuit this spring, and new suitors are entering his recruitment.

He has said on more than one occasion in interviews that the ‘Cuse is recruiting him hard, and that he would like to take a visit to the Hill in the future.

Jackson is a rising senior at the Academy of the New Church in Bryn Athyn, Pa. In grassroots basketball, he suits up for WE R1 in the Under Armour Association (“UAA”) league.

Syracuse basketball offered a scholarship to four-star Elmarko Jackson in mid-April.

Listed as either a point guard, a shooting guard or a combo guard by recruiting Web sites, Jackson recently told 247Sports national analyst Dushawn London that he plans to trim his list of contenders “at the end of the summer and then commit late fall.”

I am not in Jackson’s inner circle, but I feel pretty good about the Orange’s chances to remain in the running after he cuts his list, particularly if the ‘Cuse lands an official visit from Jackson.

As we’ve recently noted, two relatively new offers that have arrived for Jackson are from fellow Atlantic Coast Conference team Notre Dame and Kansas State.

Additionally, Ohio State has been reaching out to Jackson, according to London’s story.

Other squads that have offered Jackson a scholarship include St. John’s, Penn State, Miami, Minnesota, Maryland, VCU, Bryant, La Salle, Ole Miss, Seton Hall and California.

To date, I haven’t seen any predictions from national analysts or other recruiting insiders as it pertains to Jackson’s future collegiate home on the 247Sports Web site, Rivals.com or the On3 Web site.

Of the primary recruiting services, ESPN has him ranked the highest on a national scale within the 2023 class, at No. 66 overall. Several recruiting Web sites deem Jackson as a top-15 guard across the country in this cycle.

"As far as what he’s focused on in his future college destination, Jackson said to London, “I’ll be looking for a good campus atmosphere, play style, player development, a nice living situation along with the academics.”"

In April, Jackson received a lot of praise from analysts and scouts for his performances during NCAA live periods on the AAU circuit. He also fared well at the recently held KYDA Invitational in Scranton, Pa., and the Mayhem in Maryland event in Baltimore.

It’s absolutely feasible that Syracuse basketball coaches will see the number of suitors vying for Jackson intensify as he continues to play well in grassroots basketball this spring and summer.