Syracuse Basketball: New 4-star commit has ‘virtually textbook mechanics’

In the wake of 2024 four-star shooting guard Elijah Moore giving a verbal commitment to Syracuse basketball this past Saturday afternoon, a flood of observations has come in from national recruiting analysts and scouts about the stellar skill set of the 6-foot-4 Moore.

First and foremost, many experts agree that Moore is one of the best perimeter shooters across the country in the junior class. But his game goes way beyond just that of a lethal 3-point threat.

"Rivals.com national analyst Rob Cassidy said the new Orange commit is “evolving into something more intriguing than a (3-point) specialist. The 6-foot-4 Moore is equipped with long arms and has made a significant impact on the boards on big stages this year. He’s also a little more athletic than he sometimes gets credit for being. Moore is able to play above the rim and is an instinctual playmaker. His length and quickness give him the opportunity to become a solid and versatile defender down the road, even if he isn’t quite there yet.”"

Moore, a junior at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, N.Y., who runs on the AAU circuit with the Bronx, N.Y.-based Wiz Kids in the Adidas league, picked the Orange over Alabama, Arkansas, Miami and Oklahoma State. He is the first verbal pledge for the ‘Cuse in the 2024 cycle.

New Syracuse basketball four-star commit Elijah Moore is an elite shooter.

Moore, who has verbally agreed to a major NIL deal with businessman and top SU booster Adam Weitsman, is rated as a top-80 national prospect and a top-20 shooting guard within the 2024 cycle, per multiple recruiting services.

"Adam Finkelstein, a top scout in high-school and collegiate hoops who is the director of scouting for 247Sports, wrote in part about Moore in a recent story that he “has virtually textbook mechanics with a compact release and very good rotation. He’s a threat to get hot at virtually anytime and makes shots in bunches once that happens. He can also get his shot off with minimal separation from his defender and has a complimenting pull-up game when he’s run off the arc. … Physically, he has solid positional size, a naturally strong build, and plus athleticism in the open floor.”"

Moore took an unofficial visit to the Hill last August to compete in the Orange’s annual Elite Camp and then went on an official visit to the ‘Cuse this past October. On January 24, when Syracuse basketball lost by four points at home to North Carolina, Moore was a courtside guest of Weitsman’s.

The Orange coaching staff offered a scholarship to Moore in April of 2022 and, by all accounts, prioritized him in the junior cycle ever since. Moore is a tremendous initial get for Syracuse basketball in the team’s 2024 class.