Syracuse basketball among teams recruiting elite NYC shooting guard hard

In the coming days, lethal shooting guard Elijah Moore from New York City is expected to take an unofficial visit to Syracuse basketball to compete in the Orange’s annual Elite Camp, according to media reports.

The ‘Cuse coaching staff offered a scholarship to the 6-foot-4 Moore in April, and the underrated 2024 prospect is starting to see his recruitment pick up steam after Moore was stellar this spring and summer on the AAU circuit.

As we noted not too long ago, Moore did enter the 2024 national rankings via Rivals.com, as that recruiting service rated him as three stars and just outside the top 100.

However, to me, Moore should be four stars and reside within the top 50 of the rising-junior class. National analysts and scouts dished out high praise to Moore for his long-range shooting and all-around game while suiting up in recent months for the Bronx, N.Y.-based Wiz Kids in the Adidas league.

Syracuse basketball is reportedly pursuing shooting guard Elijah Moore hard.

Given his excellent performances in grassroots basketball, and the ability of college coaches to start initiating direct communication with 2024 players this past June 15, Moore is seeing his list of offers and interest expand.

According to recruiting services and other resources, beyond the ‘Cuse, Moore’s offer sheet includes Seton Hall, Xavier, Connecticut, St. John’s, VCU, Mississippi State, Bryant, Temple, Saint Peter’s, Columbia, Fordham, Saint Joseph’s and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Per reports, college squads showing interest in Moore include 2022 national champion Kansas, UCLA, Oregon, Notre Dame, Maryland, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Penn State and California, among others.

In a recent interview with high-school hoops writer Zach Smart, Moore said some of the teams recruiting him the hardest are Syracuse basketball, UConn and Mississippi State.

Moore is heading into his junior campaign at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, N.Y. During the 2021-22 stanza, he helped lead Cardinal Hayes to the New York state Catholic High School Athletic Association (“CHSAA”) Class AA title.

As we eye the upcoming 2022-23 term, I’ve seen some experts prognosticate that Cardinal Hayes should be a pre-season top-25 team in the national rankings, and I imagine that Moore will be one of the key players on the Cardinals roster.

Even with his top-flight AAU circuit this spring and summer, more offers and interest, and a national rankings debut, Moore said to Smart, “I still feel as if I’m underrated.”

I totally agree with Moore. But something tells me that this young man’s recruitment and 2024 national ratings won’t be flying under the radar for much longer.