Syracuse Basketball: Rising 4-star PG to join Kiyan Anthony at prep power

Fast-rising Nigel James, a 2025 four-star point guard who hails from New York state and has said he would like to hear from Syracuse basketball, is heading home to suit up for one of the country’s top high-school programs.

The 6-foot James, who had a breakout spring and summer on the AAU circuit, recently said via Twitter that he will transfer from the Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass., to the powerhouse Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y., where he will become part of an absolutely loaded backcourt.

The Crusaders, which competed in this spring’s annual GEICO Nationals and are expected to be a preseason top-five nationally ranked squad in the 2023-24 campaign, are a member of the loaded 10-team National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (“NIBC”).

Also on Long Island Lutheran’s 2023-24 roster are Orange priority recruit Kiyan Anthony, a 2025 four-star shooting guard, 2025 four-star wing Jacob Ross, who has reportedly received interest from the ‘Cuse, and 2024 five-star shooting guard/small forward V.J. Edgecombe, who this week skyrocketed up to No. 3 across the country in his class, per On3.

Four-star PG Nigel James, who has an interest in Syracuse basketball, is headed to the country’s top high-school league.

On June 15, college coaches could start initiating direct communication with 2025 prospects. James, who has earned a lot of high praise lately from analysts and scouts for his performances in grassroots basketball, has seen his list of scholarship offers balloon.

According to recruiting services, James’ offer sheet includes schools such as Seton Hall, George Mason, Iowa, Marquette, UMass, Minnesota, Providence, Rutgers, St. John’s, Southern California, Wake Forest, Xavier, Manhattan, Saint Joseph’s and UAB, among others.

In late April, during an interview with scouting service Pro Insight, James noted some college teams that he’d like to hear from, including Syracuse basketball, Villanova and 2023 national champion UConn.

James, who was born in New York City and grew up in the town of Huntington on Long Island, played really well this spring and summer for the 16U group of the Boston-based Expressions Elite in Nike’s EYBL league.

During the EYBL’s regular season that ran in April and May, James averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, while hitting on 44.7 percent from the field and 80.0 percent from the free-throw line.

Last month, when Nike held its annual Peach Jam tournament in North Augusta, S.C., James had two games of 20-plus points. At Peach Jam, he averaged 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest.

In mid-July, MADE Hoops updated its 2025 national rankings, and James boasted a big leap, climbing 19 spots to No. 75 overall in the rising-junior class.

At this juncture, Syracuse basketball coaches have offered scholarships to approximately 12 players in the 2025 cycle, including several points guards, such as five-star Tyler Jackson, five-star Jerry Easter II and four-star DeMarco Johnson.