4-star Shon Abaev, who has officially visited Syracuse basketball, names his final 5

Shon Abaev from Florida, a fast-rising prospect in the 2025 class who took an official visit to Syracuse basketball over the summer, is down to five finalists. The Orange isn't one of them.

Per articles from top On3 national reporter Joe Tipton and others, the 6-foot-8 Abaev has a top five of Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Cincinnati and Oregon. He has officially visited all of his finalists, along with the 'Cuse and several other college squads.

First and foremost, I'm wishing all the best to Shon moving forward in his recruitment. Within the senior class, the four-star wing/small forward is currently ranked in the top 30 nationally by multiple recruiting services.

The Orange coaching staff offered a scholarship to Abaev in late April of this year. The versatile, high-scoring player has seen his stock soar in recent months, in part due to his stellar AAU performances over the spring and summer for the 17U team of the Pembroke Pines, Fla.-based SOH Elite in the Under Armour Association ("UAA") league.

Abaev, in interviews, has spoken highly of the strong relationship that he had been forging with Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry, who was on hand for Abaev during a session on the UAA circuit in the late spring amid an NCAA live period.

In late August, Abaev took an official visit to the Hill, and he was in attendance at the JMA Wireless Dome when Syracuse football beat non-conference foe Ohio in the 2024 season opener for the 'Cuse.

Abaev is a standout at the Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which I believe is competing during the 2024-25 season in the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite, where it is operating as Fear of God Athletics.

A quick review of the 2025 cycle for Syracuse basketball.

Earlier this week, the Orange landed a verbal commitment from 2025 combo guard Luke Fennell, a 6-foot-6 player who hails from Melbourne, Australia. The 'Cuse also has 2025 verbal pledges from five-star forward Sadiq White Jr. from Charlotte, N.C., and three-star wing Aaron Womack from the Milwaukee area.

Regarding other 2025 targets, I imagine the top focus for Syracuse basketball coaches at this juncture is four-star shooting guard Kiyan Anthony from New York City, who has the 'Cuse in his final three and is eyeing a college decision sometime in November, per recent media reports.

Additionally, 2025 four-star big man Asher Elson from New York City, who is also playing in Overtime Elite during the 2024-25 campaign, received a scholarship offer from the Orange staff in mid-April of this year. Elson recently told top On3 national analyst/scout Jamie Shaw that he may visit Syracuse basketball soon, but that he's also considering a potential move to the 2026 class.

Last weekend, 2026 five-star guard/small forward Alex Constanza of the Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., went on an official visit to the 'Cuse. His dad, all-around great guy Ed Constanza, told me in a recent piece that his son's trip to the Orange went well.

At this juncture in his recruitment, Alex Constanza is considering a potential re-class to the 2025 cycle, but no decision has been made, his dad says. Syracuse basketball is a front-runner for Constanza for the time being, I reported earlier this week.

I caught up with Ed Constanza via text message on Thursday night. He said that his son and Abaev are good friends, but that Abaev not having the Orange in his final five doesn't impact Alex Constanza's recruiting process.