Syracuse Basketball: Big man with Orange offer makes college decision

Three-star big man Okku Federiko, a 2024 prospect who received a scholarship offer from Syracuse basketball in late January, has verbally committed to Southeastern Conference member South Carolina, according to social media posts, recruiting services and reports.

On January 30, the 6-foot-9 forward from Finland said that he had picked up an offer from the Orange coaching staff.

Per recruiting Web sites, besides South Carolina and the ‘Cuse, he also held offers from Duquesne and Pittsburgh, where his brother, Federiko Federiko, is a sophomore center for the Panthers.

The On3 recruiting service rates Okku Federiko as three stars, the No. 137 overall prospect and the No. 28 power forward in the 2024 class.

Syracuse basketball is pursuing other big men in the junior cycle.

Federiko attends the Omnia Basketball Academy in Espoo, Finland. An article on si.com from earlier this year stated that he had competed in the Finnish 19U league, where he averaged 19.3 points and 11 rebounds per contest.

Naturally, I’m wishing Federiko nothing but success in the SEC as he plays for the Gamecocks down the line.

As far as the Orange’s 2024 recruiting efforts, the ‘Cuse is putting on a full-court press for four-star power forward Donnie Freeman from Washington, D.C.

Lately, Syracuse basketball coaches have met with the 6-foot-9 Freeman in our nation’s capital. He took an official visit to the Hill not too long ago. And during an NCAA live period last month on the AAU circuit, Orange coaches watched Freeman in person.

Most recruiting services rank him as a top-40 national prospect, a top-five power forward and the No. 1 player in D.C. within the 2024 class. Several predictions have arrived on recruiting Web sites in the direction of the ‘Cuse for Freeman.

He is a standout for the Washington-based Team Takeover in Nike’s EYBL league as well as St. John’s College High School in D.C.

Last week, Syracuse basketball coaches offered scholarships to two of Freeman’s Team Takeover colleagues, 2024 four-star center Patrick Ngongba II and 2024 four-star wing Caleb Williams.

The 6-foot-10 Ngongba, who has said he would like to visit the Orange, goes to St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va. The 6-foot-7 Williams suits up for the Sidwell Friends School in our nation’s capital.