Syracuse Basketball: 4-star ‘sniper wing’ moves to a national powerhouse

Four-star wing Spencer Mahoney, a 2023 prospect who received a scholarship offer from Syracuse basketball more than a year ago, recently said on social media that he will spend his senior year at one of the country’s best programs.

Last month, the 6-foot-8 shooting guard/forward from New York City said he would transfer from Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., to the St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, N.J.

A season ago, during the 2021-22 campaign, St. Benedict’s Prep went an impressive 25-1 overall, according to ESPN. What’s more, in the final top-25 national rankings from ESPN, the Gray Bees checked in at No. 15 across the country.

That ESPN ranking put St. Benedict’s Prep ahead of some really big-time squads in high-school hoops, including California-based groups Prolific Prep, Centennial and Sierra Canyon, as well as Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, the Combine Academy in North Carolina, Hillcrest Prep in Arizona and Cardinal Hayes in the Bronx, N.Y., among others.

Syracuse basketball offered four-star wing Spencer Mahoney in mid-August of 2021.

In his senior season for the Gray Bees, Mahoney will compete against top-flight competition. On the AAU circuit, he runs with the Bronx, N.Y.-based PSA Cardinals in Nike’s EYBL league.

In July, when the EYBL held its annual Peach Jam tournament in North Augusta, S.C., national recruiting analysts and scouts praised Mahoney for his performances. Earlier in the summer, he was also invited to attend the prestigious 20th-annual Pangos All-American Camp in Las Vegas.

According to recruiting services and his Twitter page, besides the ‘Cuse, Mahoney’s offer sheet includes St. John’s, Texas A&M, DePaul, Harvard, Siena and Robert Morris.

Within the 2023 cycle, Mahoney is rated as four stars and the No. 2 prospect in New York, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

He is also a top-150 national player in this class, according to the 247Sports Composite, the industry-generated On3 Consensus and Rivals.com.

"In early June, the Twitter account called Basketball Recruitment said that Mahoney “is a sniper wing with a ton of athleticism. Mahoney doesn’t fail to get his shot in with the step back. He’s capable of getting in the paint and showing what exactly he’s capable of.”"

Experts laud Mahoney for his versatility, particularly on defense, as he’s able to efficiently defend point guards, shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards.

Mahoney himself can suit up at shooting guard, small forward and power forward. At 6-foot-8, I’d certainly love to see him play at the top of the Syracuse basketball zone or on the wing.

It says on Mahoney’s Twitter page that he has taken unofficial visits to Harvard, DePaul and Northwestern.

Candidly, I do not know whether there remains mutual interest among Mahoney and the ‘Cuse coaching staff these days. The Orange has yet to secure a commitment from a 2023 prospect.

Mahoney’s new school, St. Benedict’s Prep, was also attended by big man Mounir Hima. The 6-foot-11, 240-pound center transferred to the ‘Cuse from Duquesne this past off-season.