Syracuse Basketball: Despite Duke buzz, SU recruiting 4-star big man hard

Syracuse basketball 2023 priority recruiting target Joseph Estrella is off to a hot start during the first of two NCAA live periods in July on the AAU circuit, after he was a stand-out performer last week at the prestigious NBPA Top 100 camp in Orlando, Fla.

In grassroots basketball, the soaring 4-star big man suits up for the New England-based Middlesex Magic in the Under Armour Association league. Keep an eye on the Middlesex Magic this month, as that AAU squad has a legit chance to bring home an Under Armour Association championship.

On Wednesday, an NCAA live period commenced, and the latest Under Armour Association stop is in Cartersville, Ga. Right off the bat, the 6-foot-11 Estrella earned high praise from various national analysts for his play.

Already a top-25 national prospect according to one recruiting service, Estrella’s performances at present and in recent months certainly suggest he could make a serious run at five-star status in the rising-senior class.

Blue-bloods are heavy these days for Syracuse basketball recruit Joseph Estrella.

A talented power forward/center who will compete for the powerhouse Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., during his senior year, Estrella has an offer sheet that totals more than two-dozen.

Those teams that have offered him include the ‘Cuse, Duke, Kansas, Creighton, Connecticut, Iona, Miami, UMass, Illinois, Missouri, Xavier, California, Maryland, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Iowa, Providence, Tennessee, Harvard, Maine, Penn State and Marquette.

As we noted in a recent column, the Blue Devils are receiving some buzz in Estrella’s recruitment on the 247Sports Web site, although coaches from many, many college groups have watched him play amid live periods lately, including the Syracuse basketball coaching staff.

Estrella has already officially visited Marquette and Tennessee. He’s traveling to Iowa and Duke for official visits in the near future, and he’s also got an unofficial to UConn.

He has unofficially visited the Hill, when he played in the Orange’s annual Elite Camp last August, at which time the ‘Cuse extended Estrella an offer.

Aiming for a commitment announcement before his senior season at the Brewster Academy gets underway, Estrella is afforded five official visits as part of his senior year, once August 1 rolls around.

I’ve said on numerous occasions that Syracuse basketball coaches landing an official visit from him is huge if the Orange hopes to prevail in Estrella’s recruitment.

Currently, he is hearing from Duke and Kansas the most, per a story from Bryce Kelly of SyracuseOnSI. Beyond the Blue Devils and the Jayhawks, Estrella is hearing the most from the Orange, Tennessee, Marquette, UConn and Iowa.

Kelly writes that Estrella hears from the ‘Cuse coaching staff regularly and is “considering taking a visit” to Central New York prior to making a commitment decision.

I’m not a recruiting analyst, but it does appear that Duke could potentially be the favorite to pick up Estrella, which isn’t surprising given how well the Blue Devils have been faring on the recruiting trail with their 2022 and 2023 cycles.