Syracuse Basketball: Fast-rising 4-star, a top-5 center, digs the ‘Cuse zone

Syracuse basketball coaches are expected to ramp up their recruitment of 2024 four-star center Yves Missi as the contact period opens up on June 15 for college coaches to have the ability to reach out directly to players in this class.

The 6-foot-11 Missi, a rising junior at the West Nottingham Academy in Colora, Md., has proven one of the top all-around performers this spring on the AAU circuit and in other prestigious events, such as the recently held Pangos All-American Camp in Las Vegas.

I’ve come across at least one media report of late that suggested Orange coaches may look to get Missi on the Hill for a visit in the future.

And while the ‘Cuse got involved with him relatively early on, offering Missi a scholarship last December, he already boasts a bunch of other big-time suitors.

What’s more, as that June 15 deadline for the contact period to open up in the 2024 class comes and goes, I have no doubt that Missi will see his offer list greatly expand.

Four-star big man Yves Missi seems to be intrigued by the Syracuse basketball zone.

Early in his recruiting process, Missi has other offers from teams such as Kansas, Baylor, UConn, Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana, UCLA, St. John’s, Rutgers, DePaul, Norfolk State and USC Upstate.

He is already rated a top-40 national prospect and a top-10 center within the 2024 cycle by several recruiting services. Personally, I think Missi is well on his way to five-star status in his class.

National recruiting analysts and scouts rave about Missi’s defensive prowess, including his rim protection as a terrific shot-blocker, as well as his strong rebounding capabilities.

Additionally, he’s a good ball-handler and shooter, particularly for a player of his length and size. What’s more, I’ve read multiple articles that speak to Missi having high character and being a tremendous teammate.

Missi, who in grassroots basketball runs with the Bronx, N.Y.-based PSA Cardinals in Nike’s EYBL league, noted that the Orange’s zone defense is one that he “enjoys,” per a story written by national analyst Jacob Polacheck on zagsblog.com.

“The best defense I compare with is the zone defense, playing around the middle,” Missi told Polacheck.

While that’s encouraging for the ‘Cuse in his recruitment, Missi does have a lot of collegiate heavyweights vying for him. In a recent piece by On3 senior national recruiting analyst Gerry Hamilton, Missi said that four schools he likes are Ohio State, Michigan, Kansas and Indiana.