Syracuse Basketball: New 4-star commit is one of top shooters nationwide

On Saturday afternoon, Syracuse basketball landed its first commitment in the junior class, as a long-time recruiting target from New York City has pledged to the Orange in the 2024 cycle.

Elijah Moore, an extremely athletic, fast-rising shooting guard who is rated as four stars and in the top-80 nationally by the bevy of recruiting services, picked the ‘Cuse over other finalists Alabama, Arkansas, Miami and Oklahoma State.

He had officially visited both Syracuse basketball in October of last year and Oklahoma State, and Moore also took an unofficial visit to the Hill last August to participate in the Orange’s annual Elite Camp.

Syracuse basketball coaches offered a scholarship to Moore in April of 2022 and as far as I can tell, the ‘Cuse coaching staff made him a priority target in this cycle ever since.

National recruiting analysts and scouts note that the 6-foot-4 Moore is quick, has solid court vision, rebounds well at the guard spot and is a good defender. However, where Moore perhaps shines the most is on the perimeter.

Syracuse basketball has secured a commitment from four-star Elijah Moore, a lethal 3-point shooter.

Experts say that Moore has the ability to score points in droves, and he’s one of the best pure shooters throughout the country in the 2024 class. That certainly has me and many other Orange hoops fanatics excited to see Moore don a ‘Cuse uniform down the line.

https://twitter.com/HSCircuit/status/1618029954436071424?cxt=HHwWgIDU4ffqsvQsAAAA

Moore is a standout junior at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, N.Y., and he suits up on the AAU circuit for the Bronx, N.Y.-based Wiz Kids in the Adidas league.

Not too long ago, Cardinal Hayes fought tough but fell 62-59 to an excellent squad, the Imhotep Institute Charter High School from Philadelphia, at the 2023 Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

This entertaining encounter was nationally televised on ESPN2. During the broadcast, Paul Biancardi, the national recruiting director for ESPN, said that Moore possesses a “sweet and deadly three-point shot.”

Biancardi is one of the best analysts in the business, so his comments about this new Orange commit are highly encouraging. What’s more, I’ve read tons of high praise about Moore from other recruiting analysts and scouts since I began tracking Moore’s recruitment last spring.

He’s certainly put forth games both for Cardinal Hayes and the Wiz Kids where Moore caught absolute fire from beyond the arc.

Moore acquired roughly 20 offers from a variety of high-major programs throughout his recruiting process. Besides his five finalists, Moore’s offer sheet included Illinois, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, 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.

Not only do several recruiting Web sites rate him in the top 80 of the 2024 class, but he’s also deemed by some recruiting services as a top-20 shooting guard nationwide in the junior cycle.

It’s true that Syracuse basketball coaches continue to pursue a handful of four-star and five-star prospects in the 2024 class. Hopefully, more commitments are on the horizon. Regardless of what happens in the future, though, landing Elijah Moore is a tremendous first pledge for the ‘Cuse in the junior cycle.