Syracuse Basketball: Big East foes heavy in pursuit of 4-star priority targets

Syracuse basketball may no longer reside in the Big East Conference, following the team’s move to the Atlantic Coast Conference starting in the 2013-14 campaign. However, the Orange coaching staff is facing strong competition from Big East schools on the recruiting trail.

Just in recent days, a handful of news came out regarding Big East squads as it pertains to several ‘Cuse four-star recruiting targets.

On top of that, as I detailed not too long ago, two-time national champion and former Syracuse basketball assistant Rick Pitino is the new head coach at St. John’s. Pitino, who won titles at Kentucky in 1996 (defeating the Orange in the NCAA Tournament final game) and at Louisville in 2013, will be a formidable recruiting opponent for new ‘Cuse head coach Adrian Autry and his staff.

Plus, earlier this month, former long-time Big East rival Connecticut won the 2023 March Madness. Without question, UConn head coach Dan Hurley will likely go toe to toe with Syracuse basketball for top-flight prospects throughout the Northeast.

Syracuse basketball four-star targets are getting pursued by Big East groups.

Recently, Orange 2025 recruit Kiyan Anthony earned a scholarship offer from Big East member Providence, whose new head coach is former George Mason boss Kim English.

The 6-foot-5 Anthony, a four-star shooting guard, is out of Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y., and the Baltimore-based Team Melo in Nike’s EYBL league. The top-60 sophomore, offered by Syracuse basketball last November, also holds scholarship offers from Memphis, Bryant, George Mason and Manhattan.

Per a tweet from top scout Andrew Slater of Cerebro Sports, 2024 four-star center Thomas Sorber was scheduled to take a visit to Georgetown earlier this week. The 6-foot-9 Sorber is out of Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia and the Philadelphia-based Team Final in Nike’s EYBL league.

Last month, Syracuse basketball coaches watched Sorber in person as he competed in a post-season game for Archbishop Ryan. He is a top-70 national prospect and a top-10 center, according to some recruiting services.

The ‘Cuse offered Sorber in August of 2022, around the time that he played in the team’s annual Elite Camp. A recent media report said that Sorber wants to visit Syracuse basketball.

His offer sheet also includes Villanova, Xavier, Miami, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Georgetown, Providence, Mississippi State, Richmond, La Salle, Saint Joseph’s, Bryant, George Mason, Drexel and Albany.

Speaking of the Hoyas, new head coach Ed Cooley, who left the same role at Providence to take over the Georgetown program, is faring quite well on the recruiting trail lately.

Cooley and his assistants recently offered a scholarship to 2024 four-star guard Jalil Bethea, who is a priority recruit for the Orange in the junior cycle. The 6-foot-4 point guard/shooting guard noted new offers from Georgetown and Virginia Tech not too long ago via his Twitter page.

Bethea is a star for Archbishop Wood Catholic High School in Warminster, Pa., and he plays with Sorber on Team Final. Bethea’s offer list includes Miami, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Temple, UCLA, Villanova, VCU, Mississippi State and West Virginia, among others.

In March, ‘Cuse coaches watched Bethea twice during Archbishop Wood’s post-season games. He picked up a Syracuse basketball scholarship offer in September of 2022 and took an official visit to the Hill the following month.

One of the hottest prospects across the country in his class, Bethea has moved into the top-40 overall, per several recruiting Web sites. He’s also a top-15 shooting guard. MADE Hoops recently placed Bethea at No. 18 nationwide in the 2024 cycle.