Syracuse Basketball: Priority 4-star, 5-star targets are top impact transfers

Multiple Syracuse basketball recruiting targets in the 2023 and 2024 classes are among the top transfers headed to new schools for the upcoming high-school season, according to a media report.

Jordan Divens, the national basketball editor for MaxPreps, recently put out an interesting piece where he detailed some of the best high-school prospects who have transferred to different teams for the 2022-23 season.

A good amount of the transfers in Divens’ article are moving to top-flight prep schools as well as independent basketball academies that don’t necessarily compete for state-affiliated titles during high-school terms.

Let’s review Syracuse basketball recruits that will have new homes in 2022-23.

Joseph Estrella
We’ll start with two Orange targets in the 2023 class. High-priority recruit Joseph Estrella, a 2023 four-star big man, will suit up in his senior year for the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.

Previously, the 6-foot-11 power forward/center was a stand-out for South Portland High School in South Portland, Maine, and he runs with the New England-based Middlesex Magic in the Under Armour Association league.

Estrella, who has vaulted into the top 20 in the rising-senior class per On3, was slated to take an official visit to the Hill beginning on August 4.

With Duke no longer in the picture, I think that Syracuse basketball has a good chance to land this talented big man. The Orange was the first squad to offer Estrella a scholarship, back in August of 2021.

Elmarko Jackson
Another top target for the ‘Cuse in 2023 is four-star point guard Elmarko Jackson, who has seen his offer sheet explode lately.

The Orange coaching staff offered the 6-foot-4 Jackson in April. Based on some recent reports, Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim has watched Jackson a lot during live periods this spring and summer.

As a senior, Jackson will compete for the South Kent School in South Kent, Conn., after shining as a junior for the Academy of the New Church in Bryn Athyn, Pa.

Jackson has earned a flood of high praise from national analysts and scouts in recent months for his play on the AAU circuit with the Delaware-based WE R1 in the Under Armour Association league.

He has said that he plans to trim his list of contenders in the near future, and I remain cautiously confident that Syracuse basketball will make the cut.

Elliot Cadeau
Turning to the 2024 class, and a seemingly top target for the Orange in this cycle is five-star point guard Elliot Cadeau, who is ranked No. 1 nationally at his position, according to multiple recruiting services.

The 6-foot-1 Cadeau, offered by the ‘Cuse last November, has decided to transfer from Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, N.J., to the juggernaut Link Academy in Branson, Mo., for 2022-23.

Over the past couple of months, Cadeau has said in interviews that Syracuse basketball is among the teams recruiting him the hardest, although he is getting a lot of blue-blood interest these days.

In grassroots basketball, Cadeau has suited up for the New York City-based New Heights Lightning in Nike’s EYBL league, a squad that was among the very best nationwide this spring and summer.

Vyctorius Miller
We noted in columns earlier this year that Orange coaches were showing interest in 2024 five-star wing Vyctorius Miller, who is a serious contender for the No. 1 national ranking in this cycle.

The 6-foot-5 Miller is transferring from Crean Lutheran High School to the giant AZ Compass Prep School in Chandler, Ariz. This team participated in the prestigious 2022 GEICO Nationals this past spring, and AZ Compass Prep has become a member of the loaded National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (“NIBC”).

According to the On3 Web site, Syracuse basketball has offered a scholarship to Miller, although it’s unclear to me when the Orange might have done so.

Lately, Miller had put forth some strong performances in AAU for the Los Angeles-based West Coast Elite in the Under Armour Association league.

Curtis Givens III
I’m the first to admit that I’m not sure whether Syracuse basketball presently has interest in 2024 four-star point guard Curtis Givens III, or whether the 6-foot-3 Givens has interest in the ‘Cuse.

Several recruiting Web sites have listed the Orange as having interest in Givens, who is a top-60 player in this cycle per several recruiting Web sites and ranked as high as No. 20 nationally by On3.

Givens has transferred from the Memphis University School in Memphis, Tenn., to the powerhouse Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla. The Montverde Academy, also a NIBC member, won the 2022 GEICO Nationals.

In grassroots basketball, Givens has been playing for an excellent program, the Overland Park, Kan.-based MoKan Elite in Nike’s EYBL league.