Matthew Gilhool, a 2025 four-star big man who recently made a big jump in the national rankings per 247Sports, will take his first official visit this weekend, and it’s to Syracuse basketball, according to social media posts.
THE MILLER REPORT was among the first to post on X that the 6-foot-11 power forward/center from the Philadelphia area would head to the Hill for an official visit beginning on September 29.
By the way, Syracuse football (4-0) will host fellow Atlantic Coast Conference squad Clemson (2-2) on Saturday, Sept. 30, beginning at noon.
2025 Philly Pride/William Penn Charter (PA) F/C Matt Gilhool will take his first official visit to Syracuse on 9/29/23, per his coach. #TheOrange pic.twitter.com/T7e5qb2a2w
— THE MILLER REPORT ™️ (@Miller_Report) September 25, 2023
The fast-rising Gilhool, a highly skilled and versatile big man in the junior class, picked up a scholarship offer from the Orange toward the end of August, around the time when he made an unofficial visit to Central New York to compete in the team’s annual Elite Camp.
Naturally, it’s encouraging news that this talented young man is making his first official visit to Syracuse basketball, although Gilhool’s recruitment likely has a long way to go, and he’s got a long, growing list of suitors.
Syracuse basketball will host 2025 four-star target Matthew Gilhool on an official visit.
Gilhool attends the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia. Reports in mid-July stated that he would reclassify from the 2024 to the 2025 cycle.
He had a breakout spring and summer on the AAU circuit, earning high marks from recruiting analysts and scouts while suiting up for the Philadelphia-based Philly Pride in the Under Armour Association league.
Beyond the ‘Cuse, Gilhool’s offer sheet includes college teams such as Maryland, Bryant, Miami, Mississippi State, Penn State, Rutgers, Temple, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Fairfield, Iona, St. John’s, West Virginia, Marshall and Pittsburgh.
It appears that Syracuse basketball coaches are beginning to make Gilhool a priority target in the 2025 class. In addition to his unofficial visit late last month and his upcoming official visit to Central New York, last week, Orange associate head coach Gerry McNamara was in attendance for Gilhool during a William Penn open gym amid the fall recruiting period that began earlier this month, according to social media posts.
Stopped by Penn Charter for boys and girls open gyms. Two Columbia coaches here for the girls; Temple head coach Adam Fisher and Syracuse assistant Gerry McNamara here for the boys.
— Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) September 20, 2023
When 247Sports recently updated its 2025 national ratings, Gilhool vaulted into the top 70 nationally, checking in at No. 69 overall, No. 15 at power forward and No. 3 in Pennsylvania.
Additionally, at the time of this writing, On3 had Gilhool at No. 53 nationwide, No. 8 at power forward and No. 4 in Pennsylvania.
To date in the 2025 class, I’m aware of at least 16 prospects who have landed offers from the ‘Cuse coaching staff, although many of those offers have gone out to point guards, shooting guards, combo guards and small forwards out on the wing. Gilhool is one of the few 2025 true big men who have received an Orange offer.
As I noted in a separate column on Sunday, Syracuse basketball coaches have proven quite active in recent weeks since the fall recruiting period got underway. Besides hitting a variety of open gyms to see various targets, the Orange in mid-September welcomed 2025 four-star point guard Nigel James on an official visit as well as 2025 four-star forward Sadiq White on an unofficial visit.