Syracuse Basketball: Expert says 4-star PG poised for big jump into top 60

Not too long ago, Syracuse basketball 2025 recruit Nigel James from New York state entered the top 100, according to recruiting service 247Sports.

The 6-foot James, a fast-rising player in the junior cycle, took an official visit to the Hill in mid-September. The four-star point guard went on an unofficial visit to the ‘Cuse in late August for the team’s annual Elite Camp, around which time he received a scholarship offer from the Orange coaching staff.

James has said of late that Syracuse basketball is one of the college squads recruiting him the hardest these days, and I’ve been told that he has a high interest in the ‘Cuse. That being said, James has a lot of impressive suitors, he continues to add offers, and his recruiting process could have a way to go.

Besides his visits to Central New York, earlier this month, top scout Andrew Slater said on X that the Syracuse basketball coaching staff was present during an open gym at his high school to watch James.

In recent days, an expert who extensively covers high-school hoops and recruiting across the Empire State said that he believes James is primed to shoot up the 2025 national rankings at some point, and I agree with this expert, the fantastic Brian Reichert.

Syracuse basketball appears to be prioritizing 2025 four-star point guard Nigel James.

James is spending his junior year in the upcoming 2023-24 campaign at 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”).

In Long Island Lutheran’s 2023-24 backcourt, he will be joined by several other highly rated prospects, including 2025 four-star shooting guard Kiyan Anthony, who was offered by the Orange last November and was scheduled to officially visit the SU campus this past weekend.

During the last AAU season, James had a breakout spring and summer as he suited up for the 16U team of the Boston-based Expressions Elite in Nike’s EYBL league.

His full offer sheet includes schools such as Creighton, 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.

UConn, the defending national champion, is reportedly showing interest in James, who has also taken recent official visits to Rutgers and Providence, with plans to officially visit Marquette on October 27, college basketball insider Adam Zagoria has said on X.

When I wrote this article, 247Sports rated James as four stars, No. 99 nationally, No. 16 at point guard and No. 4 in New York within the 2025 cycle. Over at the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, he was four stars, No. 116 nationwide, No. 18 at point guard and No. 5 in New York.

Rivals.com had James as three stars and not in its 2025 national rankings. ESPN placed him as four stars and a top-25 point guard, but not in its national ratings for this class.

Both the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking and On3 rated James as three stars. His 2025 national ranking, per the On3 Industry Ranking, was No. 125, while On3 had James at No. 143 overall.

Reichert is one of the top writers out there following high-school basketball and recruiting in the state of New York, and he does so for NYCHoops.net on the Rivals.com network.

"In a recent article, Reichert wrote: “James is a Rivals.com 3-star prospect, but we are comfortable with him as a top 60 player in 2025. We expect a big jump for him once he gets on the big stage and is cooking in the NIBC. He’s stronger, phenomenal at creating offense, more consistent from three and should fit in with the Crusaders immediately. … Keep buying stock in this exciting floor general.”"

Well said, Brian. Well said.