Syracuse Basketball: After 4-star pledge, analyzing other top 2024 recruits

Syracuse basketball has landed its first commitment in the 2024 recruiting cycle, and the Orange continues to pursue numerous other four-star and five-star players in this class.

This past Saturday, 2024 four-star shooting guard Elijah Moore gave a verbal commitment to the ‘Cuse. The 6-foot-4 Moore, a lethal shooter who attends Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, N.Y., picked Syracuse basketball over other finalists Alabama, Arkansas, Miami and Oklahoma State.

Based on media reports, recruiting services and social media commentary, I’m counting around 15 prospects in the 2024 class who have received a scholarship offer from the Orange coaching staff. Several of these players have committed elsewhere, and there are some whom I don’t think are seriously considering the ‘Cuse at this juncture for their future collegiate destinations.

But a handful of these 2024 prospects should be monitored closely, as Syracuse basketball could have a shot at landing them down the line. Naturally, the recruiting processes of high-level players ebb and flow, and things can change rapidly.

Let’s break down Syracuse basketball and those 2024 prospects whom the Orange has offered.

Verbally Committed
•Elijah Moore (Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, N.Y.)

Orange Could Be In The Hunt
•Jalik Dunkley-Distant (Orangeville Prep in Mono, Ontario)
The ‘Cuse offered this four-star, 6-foot-7 point guard last October and recently watched him play at a showcase event in New York City.

•Boogie Fland (Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, N.Y)
On January 10 of this year, Syracuse basketball offered the five-star point guard. As we recently reported, businessman and top SU booster Adam Weitsman has been discussing a combined multi-year, seven-figure NIL deal with the 6-foot-3 Fland and his family.

•Jalil Bethea (Archbishop Wood Catholic High School in Warminster, Pa.)
The ‘Cuse offered the four-star point guard/shooting guard in late September and he took an official visit to the Hill about a month later. The 6-foot-4 Bethea recently made a huge jump in updated national rankings from On3 and has been offered a major NIL deal from Weitsman.

•Damarius Owens (Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio)
The four-star wing, a Rochester, N.Y., native, was offered by the Orange in April of 2022. He went on an official visit to Syracuse basketball this past October. The 6-foot-7 Owens also suits up on the AAU circuit for the Albany City Rocks in Nike’s EYBL league.

•Thomas Sorber (Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia)
The four-star power forward/center took an unofficial visit to Central New York last August when he competed in the Orange’s annual Elite Camp, and the 6-foot-9 Sorber was offered by the ‘Cuse around that time. He has soared lately in 2024 national rankings.

•Marcus Adams Jr. (Narbonne High School in Los Angeles)
Syracuse basketball coaches only recently offered the four-star small forward, and the 6-foot-8 Adams is seeing both his recruitment and his national rankings blow up. Adams was scheduled to officially visit the Orange from January 28 to January 30. He has received a big NIL offer from Weitsman, although this offer is for the 2023 class.

•Donnie Freeman (St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C.)
In late November, the four-star, 6-foot-9 power forward released a top five that didn’t include Syracuse basketball. However, the ‘Cuse coaching staff is reportedly back in the mix for Freeman, who was offered by the Orange in August of 2021.

Not Likely Happening For ‘Cuse
•Tyler Betsey (St. Thomas More School in Oakdale, Conn.)
The four-star wing picked up a ‘Cuse offer last July, and initially, there were reports out there that he may have wanted to visit the Orange campus. At this juncture, the 6-foot-8 Betsey has a ton of high-major offers, and I frankly haven’t seen Syracuse basketball mentioned in stories written about him by recruiting analysts in a long time.

•Vyctorius Miller (AZ Compass Prep School in Chandler, Ariz.)
Several recruiting services say that the five-star wing has been offered by the Orange, but it’s unclear to me when that offer may have gotten doled out. In any event, based on recent interviews, the 6-foot-5 Miller appears focused on other schools in his recruiting process.

•Derik Queen (Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla.)
The five-star big man from Baltimore acquired an offer from the ‘Cuse in October of 2021. According to some recent reports, Queen, a 6-foot-9 power forward, is being prioritized these days by suitors such as Maryland, Indiana and Auburn.

Syracuse Basketball Eliminated From Contention
•Robert Wright III (Neumann-Goretti High School in Philadelphia)
The four-star, 6-foot-1 point guard, offered by the Orange last March, has verbally committed to Baylor.

•Yves Missi (Prolific Prep in Napa Valley, Calif.)
Offered by Syracuse basketball in December of 2021, the five-star, 6-foot-11 center also recently gave a verbal commitment to Baylor.

•Elliot Cadeau (Link Academy in Branson, Mo.)
The five-star point guard was offered by Syracuse basketball in November of 2021. In late December of 2022, the 6-foot-1 Cadeau verbally committed to North Carolina after having the Orange in his top six.

•Ian Jackson (Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, N.Y.)
The five-star guard, offered by the Orange in April of 2022, is teammates with Moore. The 6-foot-5 Jackson recently gave a verbal commitment to the Tar Heels, where he will join Cadeau.