Syracuse Basketball: 4-star, 5-star targets boast big EYBL performances

The Nike EYBL league is in the midst of its latest round of games in Kansas City, Mo., during an NCAA live period, and we’re checking in on various Syracuse basketball four-star and five-star recruiting targets.

Later this month, the EYBL league will hold its annual Peach Jam tournament in North Augusta, S.C., which means that AAU squads on the Nike circuit are trying to win as many contests as possible in Kansas City to play their way into the prestigious field.

We’ll provide details below regarding the performances of 2023 and 2024 prospects who are in Kansas City and either hold a scholarship offer from the Orange or have garnered some level of interest from the ‘Cuse coaching staff.

Statistics in this column come via theseasonticket.com or the EYBL Web site itself.

Let’s see how various Syracuse basketball targets are faring in Nike competition during a live period.

Reid Ducharme
The 6-foot-6 Ducharme is a 2023 priority recruiting target for Syracuse basketball. The four-star shooting guard, who officially visited the Hill in June and was offered by the Orange last August, is a rising senior at the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., and plays for the Boston Amateur Basketball Club.

Game 1: 17 points, 4 assists and 2 steals
Game 2: 15 points, 2 rebounds and 3 steals
Game 3: 31 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals

"On3 national analyst Joe Tipton, in a recent piece, wrote that “Ducharme has a smooth shooting stroke with good positional size. He has the ability to knock down the catch and shoot three or create his own shot off the dribble.”"

Elijah Gertrude
The three-star combo guard in the 2023 cycle received a Syracuse basketball offer just a week or so ago. He is a rising senior at Hudson Catholic Regional High School in Jersey City, N.J., and suits up for the Albany City Rocks. A top analyst recently said that the 6-foot-3 Gertrude could be positioning himself for a rankings bump to four stars.

Game 1: 13 points, 2 blocks and 3 steals
Game 2: 12 points and 3 rebounds
Game 3: 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals

Kayvaun Mulready
The ‘Cuse has reportedly displayed interest in the 2024 guard, who runs with the Albany City Rocks and is a rising junior at the Worcester Academy in Worcester, Mass. I’ve said more than once that I’d love to see Syracuse basketball offer a scholarship to the versatile 6-foot-4 Mulready. Check out this stat line:

Game 1: 26 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists
Game 2: 6 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals

Elliot Cadeau
The Orange offered the 6-foot-1 Cadeau last November. He is a five-star prospect in the 2024 class and rated the No. 1 point guard in this cycle by multiple recruiting Web sites.

He is a member of the New York City-based New Heights Lightning, and word recently came out that he will move to the Link Academy in Branson, Mo., for the upcoming 2022-23 season. A term ago, he played for Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, N.J.

Game 1: 7 points, 7 assists, 1 rebound and 1 steal
Game 2: 7 points, 3 assists, 1 block and 2 steals
Game 3: 10 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists

Donnie Freeman
The 2024 five-star big man landed a ‘Cuse offer this past August. He is a rising junior at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., and plays for the Team Takeover out of D.C.

The 6-foot-9 power forward has said more than once that he plans to officially visit the Orange in the future.

Game 1: 8 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists
Game 2: 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block
Game 3: 6 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal

Tahaad Pettiford
Per a report last month from On3 senior national recruiting analyst Gerry Hamilton, Syracuse basketball has interest in the 6-foot Pettiford, a four-star point guard in the 2024 class.

Pettiford is a rising junior at Hudson Catholic Regional High School in Jersey City, N.J., and he competes for the New York City-based New Heights Lightning.

Game 1: 17 points and 2 assists
Game 2: 21 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists
Game 3: 14 points, 2 rebounds and 7 assists

"Brandon Jenkins, a 247Sports national analyst, said in a recent story, “Tahaad Pettiford is as exciting of a player to watch in the high school game. Staying on his P’s and Q’s when it comes to thinking the game is where his upside resides but the electric Brandon Jennings level of excitement and shown swagger is all-natural, alive, and well within his game.”"