Syracuse Basketball: Orange has interest in fast-rising 4-star, a top-5 PG

Tahaad Pettiford is a prospect to watch in the 2024 recruiting class as it relates to Syracuse basketball.

Last month, On3 senior national recruiting analyst Gerry Hamilton reported that the Orange was among the teams showing “real interest” in the 6-foot Pettiford, who is a four-star point guard in the rising-junior cycle as well as a consensus top-50 national prospect.

On June 15, the contact period opened up for 2024 high-school players, meaning that college coaches can now initiate direct communication with them.

As such, Pettiford, who has proven a stand-out at recent AAU competitions and other events, is poised to see his recruitment really take off. We’ll certainly monitor whether the ‘Cuse ends up offering this talented point guard from New Jersey.

Syracuse basketball has interest in Tahaad Pettiford and recently offered his prep-school teammate.

Pettiford attends Hudson Catholic Regional High School in Jersey City, N.J., and he runs in grassroots basketball with an excellent squad, the New York City-based New Heights Lightning in Nike’s EYBL league.

At the prestigious Pangos All-American Camp, which recently took place in Las Vegas, Pettiford earned high praise from national analysts and scouts for his performance. The same holds true of his play at the recent Philly Live showcase in Philadelphia during an NCAA live period.

According to media reports and recruiting services, Pettiford has received scholarship offers from teams including Auburn, UConn, LSU, Maryland, Ole Miss, Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. John’s, UCLA, Tennessee, Providence, Bryant and Norfolk State.

Since mid-June, others including Kentucky and Ohio State have reportedly reached out to Pettiford as well.

He has made unofficial visits to Seton Hall and UConn, and he told Hamilton that he plans to make trips to UCLA and Maryland over the summer.

On a national scale, Pettiford is ranked as high as No. 28 overall in the 2024 class, according to both On3 and Rivals.com.

I tend to rely most often on the two industry-generated rating services, the 247Sports Composite and the On3 Consensus.

When I penned this article, the 247Sports Composite had Pettiford at No. 42 nationally, No. 5 at point guard and No. 3 in New Jersey. Via the On3 Consensus, he is No. 37 across the country, No. 5 at his position and No. 3 in New Jersey.

Just a few days ago, as we detailed in a separate piece, Syracuse basketball coaches offered a scholarship to Pettiford’s high-school teammate, 2023 three-star combo guard Elijah Gertrude.

The 6-foot-3 Gertrude is a rising senior at Hudson Catholic, and he competes in AAU events for the Albany City Rocks in Nike’s EYBL league.