Syracuse Basketball: 4-star Nigel James, priority recruit, vastly underrated

Nigel James from New York state is a fast-rising 2025 prospect who took an official visit to Syracuse basketball in mid-September, and I believe this talented young man has plenty of room to continue moving up the national rankings in this class.

The 6-foot James is a four-star point guard in the junior cycle who entered the top 100 overall when 247Sports updated its 2025 national rankings not too long ago, which I noted in a separate article on James.

More recently, another excellent recruiting service, On3, refreshed its top 150 for the 2025 class, and James arrived at No. 142 nationwide, No. 20 at point guard and No. 4 in New York.

While I like seeing that James is in the top 100 to the top 150 nationally, per various recruiting Web sites, I adamantly contend he will push for the top 50 overall when all is said and done.

Syracuse basketball recently hosted 2025 4-star PG Nigel James on an official visit.

James, who was born in New York City and grew up in the town of Huntington on Long Island, landed a scholarship offer from the ‘Cuse coaching staff in late August, around the time that he took an unofficial visit to Central New York to compete in the Orange’s annual Elite Camp.

His offer sheet also includes college squads such as Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, 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.

As far as official visit destinations, besides Syracuse basketball, those suitors include Providence, Rutgers and Wake Forest, along with likely both Marquette and Oklahoma State.

James caught the attention of many national analysts and scouts for his play on the AAU circuit this spring and summer for the 16U team of the Boston-based Expressions Elite in Nike’s EYBL league.

As a sophomore, James suited up at the Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass. However, for his junior year in the 2023-24 campaign, he will compete for the powerhouse Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y., which is a member of the loaded 10-team National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (“NIBC”).

At Long Island Lutheran, James is expected to be on national broadcasts on numerous occasions, and in this team’s loaded backcourt he will play alongside 2025 four-star shooting guard Kiyan Anthony from New York City.

Anthony, offered by Syracuse basketball last November, will take an official visit to the Hill later this month.