Syracuse Orange news: 5-star may join Elliot Cadeau, bracketology, more

This week, 2024 five-star guard Ian Jackson from New York City, who was offered a scholarship by Syracuse Orange basketball last April, is taking an official visit to Arkansas, according to media reports.

That trip is the fifth and final junior-year official visit for the 6-foot-5 Jackson, who is a standout at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, N.Y. In grassroots basketball, he suits up for the Bronx, N.Y.-based Wiz Kids in the Adidas league.

Jackson, who per reports is said to be considering a possible reclassification into the 2023 cycle, is one of the highest-rated prospects in the 2024 class. A few days ago, he took an official visit to North Carolina, and his other junior-season trips were to Kentucky, Oregon and LSU.

I’ve come across several reports of late that suggest Jackson may make a commitment announcement in the near future. Kentucky is getting a lot of analyst buzz these days in his recruitment, but I wouldn’t count out the other teams that he’s visited, especially the Tar Heels.

At the end of December, UNC secured a verbal commitment from 2024 five-star point guard Elliot Cadeau, who had a top six that included the Orange before he picked the Tar Heels.

The 6-foot-1 Cadeau, out of the Link Academy in Branson, Mo., was offered a three-year, seven-figure name, image and likeness deal by businessman and top SU booster Adam Weitsman.

Weitsman also had previously reached out to Jackson and his camp to discuss his lucrative NIL opportunities.

Earlier this week, Jackson told high-school hoops analyst Alex Karamanos that he has a strong relationship with Cadeau, and that the two five-star players talk all the time. “If me and him play together, which there is a chance, that would be great,” Jackson said of Cadeau.

Other Syracuse Orange news

Another Orange guy transfers to Power 5
Former Syracuse football defensive lineman Steve Linton said on Twitter that he is transferring to Big 12 conference member Texas Tech. Per cuse.com, in his four seasons with the Orange, Linton played in 29 games, registering 45 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.

The 6-foot-5, 219-pound Linton, who hails from Dublin, Ga., is one of numerous Syracuse football players to enter the NCAA’s transfer portal in recent weeks. Just in the past few days, cornerback Duce Chestnut committed to LSU and defensive back Ja’Had Carter pledged to Ohio State.

Syracuse Orange basketball isn’t close to the bubble
As the Orange was set to host Virginia Tech on Wednesday night, the ‘Cuse needs to start racking up high-quality victories if it hopes to enter the conversation for the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

Let’s not forget that head coach Jim Boeheim proclaimed that the 2022-23 Orange would get an invite to this spring’s Big Dance.

Earlier this week, prior to the ‘Cuse and the Hokies doing battle, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi released his latest mock field of 68 for the 2023 March Madness. He included six Atlantic Coast Conference groups.

Making the cut were No. 4 seed Virginia, No. 5 seed Miami, No. 5 seed Duke, No. 6 seed North Carolina, No. 9 seed N.C. State and No. 10 seed Clemson. Virginia Tech was in Lunardi’s first four out category.

NCAA/recruiting news

Super early top-25 rankings include three ACC teams
Georgia, earlier this week, won its second College Football Playoff national championship in a row, as the Bulldogs absolutely destroyed TCU in the title game, 65-7. Naturally, with the 2022 season in the books, national media outlets are already turning their attention toward the 2023 campaign.

Syracuse Orange football, after falling by eight points to Minnesota in the Pinstripe Bowl to finish 2022 at 7-6 overall, isn’t included in ridiculously early top-25 rankings from ESPN and CBS Sports. That’s no surprise at all.

Both ESPN and CBS Sports place three Atlantic Coast Conference squads in their way-too-early ratings for 2023. ESPN has Florida State really high up, at No. 4, followed by Clemson at No. 15 and North Carolina at No. 21.

CBS Sports, meanwhile, puts Clemson at No. 9, Florida State at No. 14 and UNC at No. 20.