It has proven a busy off-season for some Syracuse basketball four-star and five-star recruiting targets who have transferred for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign to new high-school programs.
Just like in college basketball, high-school hoops is seeing a lot of movement among top-flight prospects who have moved on to new teams, and a handful of these players either hold a scholarship offer from the Orange, are or receiving some level of interest from the ‘Cuse coaching staff.
Tony McNiff, a scouting analyst with MADE Hoops, recently published a comprehensive article in which he tracked where many of the top high-school prospects have decided to transfer to ahead of 2023-24.
I’m going to take a look here at transfers with Orange recruiting connections across the 2024, 2025 and 2026 cycles.
Syracuse basketball four-star and five-star targets have new high-school homes.
2024 Class
Donnie Freeman, No. 21 nationally per MADE Hoops
The four-star power forward, who verbally committed to the ‘Cuse in May, recently said he would transfer for his senior year from St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The 6-foot-9 Freeman, at IMG, will compete in the country’s top high-school league, the 10-member National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (“NIBC”).
Jalik Dunkley-Distant, No. 108
The four-star guard/wing, offered by the Orange last fall, has moved from Orangeville Prep in Mono, Ontario, to the Dream City Christian School in Glendale, Ariz. Candidly, I’m not sure how much the Syracuse basketball coaching staff is recruiting the 6-foot-7 Dunkley-Distant these days.
2025 Class
Darryn Peterson, No. 3
Peterson, a five-star shooting guard who has risen to No. 2 nationally per some recruiting services, has transferred from the Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, to Huntington Expression Prep in Huntington, W.Va. The 6-foot-5 Peterson was offered by the ‘Cuse in late April.
Efeosa Oliogu, No. 9
Oliogu, a four-star wing offered by Syracuse basketball roughly a year ago, has signed on with the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite. Earlier this summer, the 6-foot-6 Oliogu headed to the DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Fla., from the United Scholastic Academy in Toronto, but now he’s with Overtime Elite.
Darius Adams, No. 13
The five-star combo guard will spend his junior year at the La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind., a NIBC member, after suiting up for Manasquan High School in Manasquan, N.J. The 6-foot-3 Adams picked up a ‘Cuse offer in August of 2022.
Tyler Jackson, No. 21
In recent days, the five-star point guard said he would commit to Overtime Elite following a sophomore season at the Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore. The 6-foot-3 Jackson secured a Syracuse basketball offer in late April, and experts tell me he may end up officially visiting the Orange at some point.
Nikola Bundalo, No. 40
The fast-rising, four-star power forward, who has vaulted into the top 25 nationally, is spending his junior term at the Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, after competing for Green High School in Uniontown, Ohio. Syracuse basketball offered the 6-foot-9 Bundalo in May.
Kiyan Anthony, No. 62
The four-star shooting guard, offered by the ‘Cuse last November, is suiting up in 2023-24 for NIBC member Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y., after previously playing for Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village, N.Y. The 6-foot-5 Anthony has said he will officially visit the Orange.
Jerry Easter II, No. 69
The five-star point guard has joined Adams in the backcourt at La Lumiere. The 6-foot-4 Easter, offered by Syracuse basketball last July, was formerly a standout for the Emmanuel Christian School in Toledo, Ohio.
Nigel James, No. 86
The 6-foot James, a four-star point guard, has joined Anthony in the stacked guard rotation at Long Island Lutheran, after transferring there from the Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass. James was expected to take an unofficial visit to Central New York this past weekend to participate in the Orange’s annual Elite Camp (he received an offer last Saturday, per top scout Andrew Slater).
2026 Class
Adam Oumiddoch, No. 20
The five-star shooting guard/small forward is also signed on with Overtime Elite after playing his freshman season at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Va. In a recent interview, the 6-foot-6 Oumiddoch said that Syracuse basketball is on his radar.
Maximo Adams, No. 48
The four-star small forward, a top-25 national prospect in his class, has transferred from Narbonne High School in the Los Angeles area to Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, Calif. The ‘Cuse offered the 6-foot-6 Adams in February of this year.