Syracuse Basketball: 4-star big who has visited SU huge jump in rankings

Four-star Matthew Gilhool from the Philadelphia area, who appears to be a priority recruit for Syracuse basketball coaches in the 2025 class, continues to prove one of the fastest-rising prospects around the country in this cycle.

The 6-foot-11 power forward/center holds a scholarship offer from the Orange and has visited the SU campus.

Rivals.com, one of the primary recruiting services, recently updated its top-150 players of the 2025 class, and Gilhool was a big-time mover.

In fact, he went from being unranked by Rivals.com and shooting all the way into the top-75 overall, arriving at No. 71 nationally. That’s impressive.

Syracuse basketball is recruiting 2025 four-star big man Matthew Gilhool hard.

In late August, Gilhool took an unofficial visit to the Hill to compete in the Orange’s annual Elite Camp. Around the time of this camp, he picked up a ‘Cuse scholarship offer.

During the fall recruiting period, Syracuse basketball associate head coach Gerry McNamara was in attendance for Gilhool during an open gym at his high school in Pennsylvania. Toward the end of September, Gilhool took an official visit to the Orange.

His 2023-24 season is just getting underway at the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia. In the most recent AAU season this past spring and summer, Gilhool was a break-out performer while playing for the Philadelphia-based Philly Pride in the Under Armour Association league.

Over the summer, it was disclosed that Gilhool would reclassify from the 2024 cycle to the 2025 class. Within the 2025 cycle, Gilhool is emerging as a top-10 to a top-15 big man nationwide.

Beyond Syracuse basketball, his growing 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.

Not long after his official visit to the Hill, Gilhool told SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister that the ‘Cuse was one of his top options, which is encouraging.

In all fairness, though, Gilhool’s recruitment could have a way to go. Assuming he shines in 2023-24 for William Penn, I envision more impressive offers coming his way, although the Orange coaching staff has made it clear that Gilhool is a priority target for Syracuse basketball in the 2025 class.