With Melo’s son, other 4-stars, Syracuse basketball jumps into 2025 cycle

Syracuse basketball, so far, is throwing up a dud in the 2023 cycle, while the Orange has some nice developments in the works for the 2024 class.

If we move to the 2025 cycle, prospects in this class are just sophomores in high school, so their recruiting processes could have a long way to go.

That being said, Syracuse basketball coaches already are getting into the mix for a handful of four-star players in the 2025 class. That’s an encouraging sign, as recruiting high-school prospects early on shows loyalty, which can pay off in the end.

Of course, whether head coach Jim Boeheim, or someone else inside or outside of the Orange family, will be the one coaching any future 2025 commits remains to be seen.

Syracuse basketball has offered or shown interest in numerous 2025 four-star players.

Understandably, a lot of the attention in the 2025 cycle, at least among Orange fans, will center on the son of ‘Cuse legend Carmelo Anthony.

Not too long ago, Syracuse basketball offered a scholarship to four-star prospect Kiyan Anthony, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard out of Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village, N.Y.

Anthony, a top-65 prospect in his class, is high on the Orange, but he’s also going to keep his options open, according to media reports. That’s a smart move.

His offer sheet, at this point, also includes Memphis, Bryant, George Mason and Manhattan. Illinois, Penn State, St. John’s, Morgan State and others are reportedly displaying interest in Anthony.

This past July, the ‘Cuse made its first 2025 offer, to four-star guard Jerry Easter II. The 6-foot-4 Easter, who was an All-American in his freshman season, attends the Emmanuel Christian School in Toledo, Ohio.

Easter spoke highly of the Orange in a recent interview, however, his offer list is also mighty impressive. Easter’s other suitors also include Louisville, Memphis, Michigan State, Ohio State, Mississippi State, Mike Hopkins-led Washington, UCLA, Cincinnati, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Arizona State, Missouri, New Mexico State, Bowling Green, Morgan State, Northern Illinois, Oakland, Toledo and Cleveland State.

In late August, Syracuse basketball offered two highly rated 2025 players at the team’s annual Elite Camp. They are four-star wing Efeosa Oliogu from Canada and four-star guard Darius Adams from New Jersey.

The 6-foot-6 Oliogu, who recently vaulted into the top 10 in 2025 per On3, goes to the United Scholastic Academy in Toronto. The 6-foot-3 Adams, who is in the top 25 in this class according to 247Sports, suits up for Manasquan High School in Manasquan, N.J.

Oliogu’s early offers include Alabama, Mississippi State, Seton Hall, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech, Rutgers, Stonehill College, Long Island, North Carolina A&T, Providence, Washington State, Oregon, TCU, DePaul and Siena.

Among the other college squads that have offered Adams are Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Fordham.

Per the 247Sports Web site, the Orange has shown interest in 2025 four-star point guard Tyler Jackson, a 6-foot-1 prospect with the Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore.

Another 2025 player to monitor is fast-rising big man Ben Winker. The 6-foot-10 power forward/center, a sophomore at the Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, participated in the Syracuse basketball Elite Camp last August.

College coaches will be able to start making direct contact with 2025 high-school prospects beginning in mid-June of 2023. The ‘Cuse could absolutely offer more guys in this class before then, but we’ll certainly keep a watchful eye on the Orange’s 2025 recruiting efforts once that contact period opens up as well.