Happy Friday! Let's get into some Syracuse basketball 2026 recruiting updates. As you know, the Orange remains on the hunt for its first verbal commit in this cycle, with the early signing period approaching next month.
Some 'Cuse fans are anxious that the team doesn't yet have a 2026 verbal pledge. All I can say is, take a breath and relax. First and foremost, two of the team's top 2026 targets may not sign until the regular period next spring.
Additionally, the Orange has 13 scholarship players on its 2025-26 roster, and only four of them will have exhausted their eligibility after the upcoming campaign.
Thus, the 'Cuse could have up to nine guys coming back, and it's entirely possible that Syracuse basketball coaches are focused on retaining current players and landing additional guys out of the transfer portal. As such, the squad's 2026 class at the high school level could be relatively small.
Syracuse basketball 2026 recruiting updates.
Asher Elson, four-star wing/big man
Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite
The 6-foot-10 Elson took an official visit to the Orange earlier this month. It went well, I'm told. He is down to a top four of Syracuse basketball, Auburn, Maryland and Xavier, according to Rivals. He has officially visited every finalist except Auburn, and Rivals says he will make a trip to the Tigers on November 6.
Vaughn Karvala, four-star wing/small forward
CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix
The 6-foot-7 Karvala unofficially visited the Orange last November, and there had been some talk of late about him taking an official visit to the 'Cuse. However, I'm told that Syracuse basketball coaches are focused on retaining their current wings, such as sophomore Tyler Betsey, freshman Kiyan Anthony and fellow freshman Aaron Womack. Karvala, on Thursday, disclosed a top three of California, Indiana and Xavier, and he will make his college decision known on November 1. Wishing Vaughn all the best!
Deron Rippey Jr., five-star point guard
Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.
The 6-foot-2 Rippey took an official visit to Syracuse basketball in late September. It went quite well, his dad has told me. Rippey just went on an official visit to Duke earlier this week. He goes to Tennessee this weekend, followed by N.C. State next month. After that, Rippey is likely to trim down his list to around five contenders. Orange coaches have prioritized him for a long time. We'll see how this all shakes out. I'm hoping to chat by phone with Rippey's dad later on Friday to catch up.
Jordan Smith Jr., five-star shooting guard
St. Paul VI Catholic High School
The 6-foot-3 Smith has the 'Cuse in his top six. He unofficially visited the program in September of last year. I don't have anything definitive at this point, but it wouldn't surprise me if Smith takes a second visit to Syracuse basketball in the coming weeks. I'll continue to check in with sources on that. Duke does have some analyst buzz in Smith's recruitment on 247Sports and Rivals.
2027 re-class candidates
There has been some talk of several 2027 prospects who hold 'Cuse scholarship offers considering a move to the 2026 cycle. One to monitor is four-star wing/small forward Clyde Walters, a 6-foot-6 player with Overtime Elite.
Also, Calvin Russell lll is expected to play for Syracuse basketball, at least initially. The 2026 five-star wide receiver out of Miami Northwestern Senior High School is verbally pledged to Syracuse football. He plans to sign with the Orange football program during the early period this December and be on the SU campus in January for the spring semester. When the 6-foot-5 Russell would join Syracuse basketball is not clear to me at this time.