Syracuse Basketball: Melo 4-star son, priority 4-star target fall to top teams

Syracuse basketball recruiting targets are playing for top-25 teams as the 2022-23 season recently got underway, although their high-school squads lost to other highly ranked groups in recent encounters.

According to media reports, Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, N.Y., defeated Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, N.Y., by a final count of 66-60 in a juicy battle of Empire State teams.

At the Hoophall International in London, England, St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., crushed Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village, N.Y., by a score of 56-31, per an article from Jordan Divens, the national basketball editor of MaxPreps.

According to MaxPreps, St. Paul VI is ranked No. 3, Archbishop Stepinac is No. 16, Christ the King is No. 18, and Cardinal Hayes is No. 25.

Syracuse basketball recruits are competing in top-flight games in the early season.

Per reports, Cardinal Hayes was led by 2024 five-star guard Ian Jackson, who had 22 points, and 2024 four-star shooting guard Elijah Moore, who tallied 16 points.

Both the 6-foot-6 Jackson and the 6-foot-4 Moore received scholarship offers from the Orange this past April. Moore has taken an official visit and an unofficial visit to the Hill in recent months.

I don’t think that Syracuse basketball is a significant contender for Jackson these days, but by all accounts, Moore is a high-priority recruiting target for the ‘Cuse in the junior class.

Moore’s offer sheet includes Illinois, Arkansas, Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Alabama, California, 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.

One of the standouts for Christ the King is 2025 four-star shooting guard Kiyan Anthony, who is a sophomore at the famed program.

The 6-foot-3 Anthony, who is the son of Orange legend and long-time NBA star Carmelo Anthony, was offered by the ‘Cuse not too long ago.

I haven’t been able to find individual statistics for Kiyan Anthony in his team’s setback to St. Paul VI. A top-65 player in the 2025 cycle, Anthony has other offers from Memphis, Bryant, George Mason and Manhattan.

One of the stars for St. Paul VI is 2024 four-star small forward Darren Harris. The 6-foot-6 Harris, who is committed to Duke, did receive interest from Syracuse basketball, per reports over the summer.