Syracuse Basketball: New 2023 commit provides additional depth at center

William Patterson, a 2023 three-star big man from New York City, is likely a multi-year player who isn’t expected to earn a ton of minutes in his freshman campaign for Syracuse basketball, which will be during the 2023-24 season.

Patterson, an emerging 7-foot-2 power forward/center, verbally committed to the Orange a few days ago in a post on his Instagram page.

While Patterson must continue to work on his offensive skill set, recruiting analysts and scouts say, he is praised by experts for his shot-blocking prowess, his athleticism for a big man of his size, and his defensive instincts.

Could that lead to him getting a bit of run in 2023-24? We’ll have to wait and see about that. But depending on what the ‘Cuse roster looks like next season, Patterson should provide some critical depth at the power forward/center spot.

New 2023 three-star commit William Patterson provides Syracuse basketball with a promising big man.

Patterson was offered a scholarship by the Orange in late August of 2022, around the time of the team’s annual Elite Camp. He took an official visit to the Hill last weekend and was in attendance when Syracuse basketball lost to Duke by 22 points this past Saturday night at the JMA Wireless Dome.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Patterson is a senior at The Patrick School in Hillside, N.J. His offer sheet also included teams such as TCU, Oklahoma State and Rutgers.

On the ‘Cuse current roster, Syracuse basketball has three centers in senior Jesse Edwards, sophomore Mounir Hima and freshman Peter Carey.

One of the biggest questions for Orange fans in the upcoming off-season is whether Edwards will take advantage of a fifth year granted by the NCAA amid the Covid-19 pandemic (the same applies to senior guards Joe Girard III and Symir Torrence).

I honestly have no idea if Edwards will return. If he does come back, obviously he will be the starting center for the ‘Cuse in 2023-24.

Carey only appeared in a handful of games for the squad in 2022-23 before it was reported that he would miss the rest of the current term after undergoing a surgical procedure on his right knee. Head coach Jim Boeheim has said that Carey is expected to take a medical redshirt in 2022-23.

If Edwards elects to pursue a professional career after 2022-23, my assumption is that Hima will be the likeliest candidate to start at center in 2023-24, with Carey and Patterson as the primary reserves at this position.

I guess it’s possible that redshirt junior forward John Bol Ajak and freshman forward Maliq Brown could also suit up for spot minutes here and there at center, but I don’t think either is suited for extended time at center.

Should Edwards not return in 2023-24, might the Syracuse basketball coaching staff look for another center via the NCAA’s transfer portal? Again, that remains to be seen.

If Edwards leaves, and the Orange is content to have as its centers Hima, Carey and Patterson, there is some promise and a lot of raw talent among that trio, however, the center position would be an area of concern looking at the ‘Cuse roster for the 2023-24 stanza.