Syracuse basketball 4-star west-coast recruit, in new rankings, into top 20

Recently, several of the main recruiting services have published their initial national rankings for the 2026 class, and Syracuse basketball four-star target Maximo Adams has emerged as one of the highest-rated prospects around the country.

The 6-foot-6 small forward, a standout player on the west coast who received a scholarship offer from the Orange coaching staff this past February, has jumped into the top 25 according to multiple recruiting Web sites.

On3, when it unveiled its first 2026 national ratings, placed Adams inside the top 20 and just outside of the top 15.

Adams is a sophomore at Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, Calif. He recently transferred there after having a solid freshman season at Narbonne High School in the Harbor City area of Los Angeles.

Syracuse basketball 2026 target Maximo Adams is a top-25 national prospect.

Adams likely has a long way to go in his recruiting process, as college coaches can’t begin initiating direct communication with 2026 prospects until June 15 of next year.

In any event, he already has amassed nearly 20 scholarship offers from a range of high-major programs. Per his X page, one of his more recent offers is from Southern California.

Besides USC and the Orange, Adams’ full offer sheet includes schools such as West Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, BYU, Kansas State, St. John’s, Texas, Xavier, Oregon, TCU and Mississippi State, among others.

In early July, at the Nike EYBL league’s annual Peach Jam tournament in North Augusta, S.C., Adams was a top scorer as he shined for the 15U squad of the Los Angeles-based Team Why Not.

At Peach Jam, he averaged 17.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest, while hitting on an impressive 57.8 percent from the field. Numerous national analysts and scouts praised Adams for his play at Peach Jam.

When I wrote this article, On3 had him at No. 16 nationally, No. 7 at small forward and No. 5 in California within the 2026 cycle. The industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking, meanwhile, places Adams at No. 25 overall, No. 10 at small forward and No. 7 in California.

Rivals.com ranks him at No. 21 nationwide. ESPN puts Adams at No. 24 overall, No. 9 at small forward and No. 5 in California.

I assume when 247Sports publishes its first set of 2026 national rankings, this recruiting service will also have Adams in a high spot. Not too long ago, Rivals.com national analyst Rob Cassidy said that Adams “has all the tools to make a bid for five-star status if his perimeter game develops.”

To date, I’m counting at least six 2026 players who have landed scholarship offers from Syracuse basketball. Beyond Adams, these sophomores are wing Prince-Alexander Moody of Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md., five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr. of St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., point guard Neiko Mundey of the Shabach Christian Academy in Landover, Md., point guard Anthony Brown, also of St. Paul VI, and four-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. of the Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.