Syracuse Orange news: 4-star big man’s team is in top 20 nationally, more

As we noted in another recent column, Syracuse Orange basketball coaches have gotten back into the mix for 2024 four-star power forward Donnie Freeman from Washington, D.C.

The 6-foot-9 Freeman, offered a scholarship by the ‘Cuse back in August of 2021 during the time of the team’s annual Elite Camp, is a standout for St. John’s College High School in our nation’s capital.

The St. John’s Cadets, by the way, are having a stellar 2022-23 season to date. You can check out the squad’s latest results and overall record via the MaxPreps Web site. In recent days, I counted at least three sets of national rankings where St. John’s resided in the top 25.

MaxPreps had the Cadets at No. 15 overall. The HS Circuit, meanwhile, put St. John’s at No. 19 across the country. Finally, ESPN placed the Cadets at No. 23 nationwide.

St. John’s, I should note, did suffer a close loss to highly ranked St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., a few days ago, although Freeman played well.

So far in 2022-23, St. John’s has racked up numerous high-quality victories, including triumphs over two perennial powerhouses in high-school hoops. Those opponents were DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md., and the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Freeman, who suits up for the Washington-based Team Takeover in Nike’s EYBL league, disclosed a top five of Rutgers, Maryland, Iowa, LSU and Texas last November.

However, he has also said his recruitment remains open. To that end, SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister published a story a few days ago noting that Syracuse Orange basketball coaches are aggressively recruiting Freeman, and he may look to take an official visit to the Hill next month.

Other Syracuse Orange news

Alumnus provides financial support for Dome enhancements
According to SU Athletics, Syracuse University alumnus James D. Kuhn and his wife, Marjorie, have “provided a substantial new commitment” to help support the university’s $1.5 billion fund-raising campaign as well as phase II of SU’s multi-year effort to upgrade the JMA Wireless Dome experience for Orange fans.

Per the media statement on cuse.com, this gift from James and Marjorie Kuhn “creates a new premium field/courtside space within the JMA Dome and provides an upgraded fan experience for premium seat holders for all five Syracuse Athletics programs that compete in the facility.”

James Kuhn earned a bachelor’s degree in finance in 1970 and an MBA in 1972, both from SU. He was a three-time letter winner on the Syracuse Orange fencing team. Additionally, he has served on the university’s board of trustees since 2007.

From all of us in ‘Cuse Nation, we send out a heartfelt thank you to James and Marjorie for their beautiful gift to Syracuse University!

NCAA/recruiting news

McDonald’s All-American game rosters
It has been well-documented that Syracuse Orange basketball coaches have offered more than 20 players in the senior class, and the ‘Cuse is still searching for its first commitment in the 2023 cycle.

Just in the past couple of days, the rosters for this year’s McDonald’s All-American game were unveiled. The 2023 version of this annual event will take place on March 28 at the Toyota Center in Houston, per an article from On3 national analyst Joe Tipton.

Twenty-four of the best high-school prospects in the senior class have been invited to play in this season’s McDonald’s All-American game. More than a half-dozen of those players selected either held a scholarship offer or interest from the Syracuse basketball coaching staff. Sigh.

They include:
5-star center Aaron Bradshaw (Kentucky)
5-star guard/wing Matas Buzelis (NBA’s G-League Ignite)
5-star small forward Justin Edwards (Kentucky)
5-star power forward Kwame Evans (Oregon)
4-star point guard Aden Holloway (Auburn)
4-star point guard Elmarko Jackson (Kansas)
5-star combo guard D.J. Wagner (Kentucky)