Let’s take a look at the latest On3 NIL Valuations of various Syracuse basketball four-star and five-star recruiting targets.
Per the On3 Web site, this valuation is a proprietary algorithm that “calculates the optimized NIL opportunity for athletes relative to the overall NIL market and projects out to as long as 12 months into the future.”
The On3 NIL Valuation looks at the brand and roster values of student-athletes, factoring in three main categories, which are performance, influence (i.e., social media) and exposure. The valuation, by the way, can change from week to week.
When I wrote this article, and to reiterate, these valuations could have changed by the time this column was published, I counted at least five Orange recruits who were in national rankings for high school basketball players as it relates to their On3 NIL Valuations.
The On3 NIL Valuations of Syracuse basketball four-star and five-star targets.
Kiyan Anthony
No. 5 overall, On3 NIL Valuation of $538,000
Anthony, a 2025 four-star shooting guard, is a junior at Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y. He received a scholarship offer from the Orange last November and took an official visit to the Hill in late October of this year.
Joson Sanon
No. 43 overall, On3 NIL Valuation of $157,000
A 2025 five-star wing, Sanon is a standout junior at the Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vt. The Syracuse basketball coaching staff offered him in late October of this year.
Tyler Jackson
No. 55 overall, On3 NIL Valuation of $118,000
The 2025 five-star point guard picked up a ‘Cuse offer in late April. He is spending his junior year with the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite. Jackson has said he’s interested in visiting Syracuse basketball at some point.
Jordan Smith Jr.
No. 59 overall, On3 NIL Valuation of $111,000
A 2026 five-star shooting guard, Smith was offered by the Orange in early May. He is a sophomore at St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., and Smith has indicated he has an interest in taking a visit to the ‘Cuse.
Maximo Adams
No. 79 overall, On3 NIL Valuation of $79,000
Adams is a 2026 five-star small forward who secured a Syracuse basketball offer this past February. He is a sophomore at Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, Calif. Adams’ AAU coach has told me that the Orange is in Adams’ current top five, and also that he would like to visit the ‘Cuse in the future.
I was a little surprised that neither of the Orange’s 2024 commits were in the high school basketball national rankings as it pertains to On3 NIL Valuations. The ‘Cuse senior class includes four-star power forward Donnie Freeman from Washington, D.C., and four-star shooting guard Elijah Moore from New York City, both of whom recently signed their national letters of intent to play for Syracuse basketball next season.