Syracuse basketball 4-star big man target makes big move in new rankings

New Syracuse basketball 2025 four-star recruit Matthew Gilhool jumped into the top 70 around the country in recently updated national rankings from 247Sports.

The 6-foot-11 power forward/center from the Philadelphia area, a highly skilled and versatile big man, received a scholarship offer from the Orange late last month around the time that he took an unofficial visit to the Hill to compete in the team’s annual Elite Camp.

Gilhool is one of at least six prospects across the 2025 and 2026 classes who played in the camp and then landed ‘Cuse scholarship offers.

The fast-rising Gilhool, per 247Sports, currently checks in at No. 69 overall, No. 15 at power forward and No. 3 in Pennsylvania within the junior recruiting cycle.

Syracuse basketball faces growing competition for 2025 four-star big man Matthew Gilhool.

Gilhool attends the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia. He transferred there from Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y., after also previously suiting up at the Westtown School in West Chester, Pa.

Media reports in mid-July stated that Gilhool would reclassify from the 2024 to the 2025 cycle. He had a breakout AAU season this spring and summer while playing for the Philadelphia-based Philly Pride in the Under Armour Association league.

Besides the Orange, his offer sheet includes college squads such as Maryland, Bryant, Miami, Mississippi State, Penn State, Rutgers, Temple, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Fairfield, Iona, St. John’s, West Virginia, Marshall and Pittsburgh.

Earlier this month, the fall recruiting period got underway, and ‘Cuse coaches have been in attendance to watch various targets during open gyms at their high schools. To that end, per social media posts from scouts and others, Syracuse basketball associate head coach Gerry McNamara did recently head to William Penn to check out Gilhool.

According to recruiting experts, coaches from Alabama, Penn State, Temple, Seton Hall, Penn, Harvard, Lafayette, Florida Gulf Coast and Saint Joseph’s have also recently been in attendance at open gyms for Gilhool and other William Penn players.

Per a post on X from ELITE High School Scouting, Gilhool was among the week-one standouts at high-school open gyms.

Besides his No. 69 national ranking from 247Sports, Gilhool is rated the No. 19 center in the 2025 cycle, according to Rivals.com. The On3 recruiting service places him at No. 53 overall, No. 8 at power forward and No. 4 in Pennsylvania.

I’ll continue to track Matthew’s recruitment moving forward. He’s an intriguing prospect. I hope that as he starts to map out campus trips, Syracuse basketball ultimately gets a visit from Gilhool.