Syracuse basketball, like many of its peers around the country, is in search of its first commit in the 2026 recruiting class.
As analysts have pointed out numerous times of late, only a handful of the highest-ranked 2026 prospects have verbally committed to a college program, which is unusual at this point in the cycle. Experts cite various reasons, such as revenue-sharing now ocurring, new regulations surrounding NIL deals, and collegiate squads focusing more on transfer portal recruiting than recruiting at the prep level.
To the best of my knowledge, the Orange staff has offered nearly 20 rising high school seniors, while showing an interest in others. Of course, the 'Cuse isn't aggressively pursuing all these 2026 players at this juncture, as the recruiting process ebbs and flows for college programs and high school prospects.
In any event, based on media reports, interviews given by recruits, comments from analysts and insiders, and my sources, here's my take on which 2026 players are currently the top targets for the Orange.
I've broken up these Syracuse basketball recruits into tiers.
Top Targets
Deron Rippey Jr., five-star point guard
Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.
Rippey, a top-20 national prospect and the nation's No. 2 point guard, took an unofficial visit to the Hill on Jim Boeheim Day in late February of 2024. From September 26 to September 28, Rippey will take an official visit to Syracuse basketball, as I first reported a few days ago. The Orange staff has watched Rippey on numerous occasions in different settings of late.
Jordan Smith Jr., five-star shooting guard
St. Paul VI Catholic High School
Smith, the country's No. 2 national prospect in the 2026 cycle, and Rippey have been the top two targets in this class for the Orange for a while now. Smith took an unofficial visit to the 'Cuse last September, and reports state he's interested in possibly visiting Syracuse basketball again. Smith is extremely close with Orange assistant Brenden Straughn, who twice has traveled overseas to be in attendance for the DMV product while he's won gold medals with USA Basketball junior national teams.
Vaughn Karvala, four-star wing/small forward
CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix
The fast-rising Karvala has climbed into the top 30 nationally and will play alongside other Syracuse basketball targets at CIA Bella Vista as a senior. Karvala has unofficially visited the Orange, and I've confirmed that he's interested in taking an official visit to the Hill. I was also told that the 'Cuse staff would be in for Karvala this weekend during a live period on Nike's EYBL circuit.
Keep An Eye On
Alex Constanza, five-star guard/small forward
Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio
The top-15 national prospect went on an official visit to the Orange last October, and that trip went well. Per his dad, things got a little quiet between Constanza and Syracuse basketball earlier this year, although I was told by a source that the 'Cuse was watching him this weekend during the live period in PUMA's PRO16 league. Constanza's dad has said that his son may visit the Orange a second time.
MJ Madison, four-star power forward
Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y.
In May, the 'Cuse offered this top-80 national prospect. I've been told that Madison wants to visit Syracuse basketball at some point. He suits up for the Albany, N.Y.-based City Rocks in the EYBL league, and the Orange staff, I believe, has watched Madison during AAU live periods in the current grassroots hoops season.
Dakari Spear, four-star shooting guard
Dynamic Prep in Irving, Texas
Spear, a top-50 national prospect, transferred to the powerhouse Dynamic Prep earlier this summer. The Orange staff has been in attendance for him at his former Texas high school and on the AAU circuit. I was told that this weekend, Syracuse basketball coaches were expected to watch Spear in the EYBL league.
Abdou Toure, five-star wing
Notre Dame High School in West Haven, Conn.
Toure, a top-15 national prospect, is an interesting prospect from a 'Cuse recruiting perspective. The Orange offered him last July, but candidly, I haven't heard a lot about Syracuse basketball in his recruitment. However, this weekend, amid the live period on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, 'Cuse head coach Adrian Autry has been on hand for Toure, according to reports. Something to monitor.
Adrian Autry, T.J. Otzelberger and Fran McCaffery also here. https://t.co/Qbgz23NLPZ
— Sam Lance (@slancehoops) July 12, 2025
Maximo Adams, four-star small forward
Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Calif.
Last month, the Orange offered a scholarship to Adams, a top-40 national prospect. This spring and summer, Adams has played quite well on the EYBL circuit, although it's not clear to me if the 'Cuse has been on hand for him during live periods. However, one of Adams' AAU coaches says that the small forward is working to schedule an official visit to Syracuse basketball, likely sometime this fall.
Tough To Gauge
Christian Collins, five-star forward
St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif.
Collins, the No. 2 national prospect in 2026, was just offered by Syracuse basketball a few days ago, so let's see how things shake out. This weekend during the live period, the Orange staff has watched Collins on the EYBL circuit.
Dylan Mingo, five-star point guard
Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y.
The 'Cuse was showing an interest in this top-five national prospect for a while and offered Mingo last month. Candidly, in recent interviews, Mingo hasn't mentioned Syracuse basketball when discussing potential official visit destinations. Let's see if the 'Cuse can get him on the Hill for a visit.
Neiko Mundey, four-star point guard
Prince George’s Christian Academy in Landover, Md.
In late August of 2023, the top-60 national prospect took an unofficial visit to the Hill to compete in the Orange's annual Elite Camp. Syracuse basketball has visited Mundey at his high school and watched him on the 3SSB circuit, although I'm not seeing the Orange mentioned when analysts report on Mundey's official visit candidates.
Quinn Costello, four-star wing/power forward
The Newman School in Boston
Costello, who recently vaulted into the top 50 nationally, is arguably the country's fastest-rising 2026 prospect, and his scholarship offer list has soared. The Orange offered him last month, and the 'Cuse staff has been in for Costello this weekend during the live period on the Under Armour Association ("UAA") circuit. Syracuse basketball will have to get him on a visit to Central New York to have a shot.
Qayden Samuels, five-star wing
Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md.
Earlier this year, analyst comments and reports suggested that the Orange was recruiting the top-10 national prospect hard, and that Samuels wanted to visit the Hill. Samuels is EYBL teammates with Smith on Team Takeover, and the 'Cuse staff has watched both five-star prospects during AAU live periods. Let's see if the Orange gets Samuels on an official visit to the SU campus.
Asher Elson, four-star power forward/center
Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite
Last October, Elson said that he was eyeing a possible visit to the Orange. He holds a 'Cuse scholarship offer and has reclassified from the 2025 cycle to the 2026 class. Candidly, I don't know how aggressively Syracuse basketball is recruiting Elson these days.
Aliou Dioum, four-star center
CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix
The Orange offered this top-90 national prospect last fall. As I noted in an article on Saturday, Dioum says Syracuse is one of his favorite schools, in large part because one of his favorite all-time players is 'Cuse legend Carmelo Anthony. This weekend on the EYBL circuit, the Orange staff has been in attendance for Dioum's program, the Phoenix-based Arizona Unity.
Not Sure Syracuse Is Heavily Involved
The following 2026 prospects have been offered by Syracuse basketball, but from my perspective, the Orange staff isn't in aggressive pursuit:
Anthony Brown Jr., four-star point guard
Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C.
Imahri Wooten, four-star wing
Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, N.Y.
Miles Sadler, four-star point guard
CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix
Rokiem Green, four-star guard
CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix
Five additional 2026 prospects who have some level of interest from Syracuse basketball, with the 'Cuse staff watching them during at least one AAU live period this spring and summer:
Ryan Moesch, four-star point guard
Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass.
Lucas Morillo, four-star combo guard
The Newman School in Boston
Cody Peck, four-star power forward
IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Brandon McCoy, five-star combo guard
St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif.
Jacob Lanier, four-star wing
Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School in Little Rock, Ark.