Syracuse Basketball: Priority big man jumps to 5 stars, top-10 nationwide

Chalk up more five-star status for Syracuse basketball 2024 recruiting target Yves Missi.

It’s a massive understatement to say that the 6-foot-11 center is one of the hottest prospects around the country not only in the rising-junior cycle, but nationwide across all classes in high-school hoops.

We recently detailed how, not too long ago, Missi soared from No. 39 overall via Rivals.com to No. 12 nationally, according to that recruiting service. Rivals.com has also installed Missi as five stars.

That rankings jump, though, was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Another primary recruiting service, On3, has followed suit with its new 2024 national ratings for Missi, and it is even more bullish on the talented big man.

Syracuse basketball recruit Yves Missi could make a run at No. 1 in his class.

When On3 recently refreshed its national rankings for the 2024 cycle, it placed Missi as five stars, No. 6 overall, No. 2 at center and No. 1 in Maryland.

A disruptive force on the defensive end, Missi is an excellent shot-blocker and rebounder. His offensive skill-set is underrated and improving.

He is a rising junior at the West Nottingham Academy in Colora, Md., and Missi competes in grassroots basketball for the Bronx, N.Y.-based PSA Cardinals in Nike’s EYBL league.

Offered a scholarship by the ‘Cuse last December, Missi’s full offer list includes Georgetown, Kansas, Baylor, UConn, Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana, Virginia Tech, Harvard, UCLA, St. John’s, Rutgers, DePaul, Norfolk State and USC Upstate.

With the contact period opening up in mid-June for college coaches to have the ability to directly communicate with 2024 players, Missi’s recruitment is undeniably going to keep on flourishing.

He’s proven one of the best performers this spring and summer on the AAU circuit, which has helped grow his offer sheet and buoyed his skyrocketing rise in the national ratings.

I’ve come across media reports that suggest Missi recently took unofficial visits to both Connecticut and St. John’s. We’ll certainly monitor whether he decides to travel to the Hill in the future for an official or unofficial visit.

While On3 and Rivals.com have situated Missi as five stars, the two industry-generated recruiting services, at least for now, have him as four stars.

When I wrote this piece, the 247Sports Composite rated Missi at No. 31 nationwide, No. 6 at center and No. 2 in Maryland.

The On3 Consensus, meanwhile, put Missi at No. 33 overall, No. 5 at center and No. 1 in Maryland.

Given how much my fellow Syracuse basketball fans often yearn for the Orange to land top-flight high-school centers, I remain hopeful that the ‘Cuse will emerge as a significant contender for Yves Missi.