Syracuse Basketball: Analysts dish on transfer center Hunter Dickinson

Hunter Dickinson, a former Syracuse basketball recruiting target from a few years back, recently entered the NCAA’s transfer portal following his junior season at Big Ten Conference member Michigan.

The elite 7-foot-1 center, who was an All-American as a freshman, is currently rated the No. 1 transfer out there this off-season, per multiple recruiting services. Understandably, Dickinson already has a bunch of impressive suitors, and that list of those college squads interested in him certainly could grow.

As I noted in another recent column, recruiting experts at 247Sports have mentioned Syracuse basketball of late when discussing possible destinations for Hunter Dickinson, given AAU ties that align between him and the Orange coaching staff.

To date, I haven’t been able to independently confirm whether the ‘Cuse has actually reached out to Dickinson, and/or whether he has interest in Syracuse basketball. Whether it’s the Orange or any other program being discussed as a potential contender for him, the competition for him is going to prove immensely steep.

And in the last few days, numerous national recruiting analysts and scouts have discussed the recruitment of Hunter Dickinson, who did hold a ‘Cuse offer while in high school.

Syracuse basketball is likely a long shot for top-flight center Hunter Dickinson.

In a recent piece from 247Sports national basketball director Eric Bossi, he does note regarding Dickinson that “Syracuse has ties to his summer program.” New Orange assistant coach Brenden Straughn was the associate head coach of the Washington, D.C.-based Team Takeover in Nike’s EYBL league when Dickinson and his teammates won the Peach Jam crown in 2018.

New ‘Cuse head coach Adrian Autry was also a coach for Team Takeover a while back when it was known as Triple Threat.

Hunter Dickinson, who is from Alexandria, Va., was a four-star, top-50 national prospect and a top-10 center in the 2020 cycle while starring for DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md. He received a scholarship offer from Syracuse basketball in August of 2018.

Dickinson, who besides being a second-team All-American as a freshman was selected to the All-Big Ten first squad twice, tallied averages of 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.8 blocks per game as a junior in 2022-23 for the Wolverines.

Some other college squads that Bossi mentioned in his story were local groups Maryland and Georgetown. The Terrapins are likely a significant contender, given that Maryland just hired Mike Jones as an assistant coach, and he was Dickinson’s head coach at DeMatha Catholic.

Bossi writes that Hunter Dickinson has done a Zoom with Arkansas and was expected to also conduct one with Kentucky, while other potential suitors include Villanova and Kansas.

On Friday, Rivals.com analysts discussed which college team is the best fit for Dickinson. Syracuse basketball wasn’t mentioned, but others that were included Maryland, Kentucky and Duke.

In another interesting piece on Friday, 247Sports national analysts and writers discussed various programs and possible good fits for Hunter Dickinson. Again, the Orange wasn’t mentioned here, but Kansas, Michigan, Villanova, Maryland, Kentucky, Duke and Georgetown were.