In the upcoming 2026-27 season, the loaded Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic ("EYBL Scholastic") will have 15 member institutions. The super league in high school hoops will also feature numerous Syracuse basketball recruiting targets in the 2027 and 2028 classes.
On Tuesday, per a post on his X page, 2028 four-star wing Isaiah Carter from Virginia said that he would transfer from the Highland School in Warrenton, Va., to the St. James Academy in Springfield, Va., which is part of the EYBL Scholastic.
The 6-foot-7, 195-pound Carter, the No. 23 overall player in the 2028 cycle per Rivals, picked up a scholarship offer from Orange first-year head coach Gerry McNamara in late June as he balled out for Highland at DMV Live in Hyattsville, Md., during a scholastic live period with McNamara and the 'Cuse staff in attendance at the event. Carter is one of more than a dozen guys in 2028 who have landed an offer from Orange coaches.
— zay24carter (@zay24carter2028) August 25, 2026
A top-40 national prospect in his class per both the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and the industry-generated Rivals Industry Ranking, Carter's full scholarship offer sheet includes schools such as Pittsburgh, TCU, Kansas, Maryland, Tennessee, Georgetown, VCU, Oklahoma State, BYU, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Fordham, Old Dominion and Texas A&M.
In a move that was expected for some time, 2028 Isaiah Carter makes his move to The St. James (VA) official. One of the bigger stock risers from @DMVHoopsLive, the 6’6” guard is one of the better volume shot makers in his class nationally.
— Colby Giacubeno (@ColbyGHoops) August 25, 2026
Impact addition for HC Book Richardson… pic.twitter.com/PCQx6IczeJ
The St. James Academy, led by former college coach Emanuel "Book" Richardson, went 12-14 overall during the 2025-26 campaign, according to MaxPreps. By the way, the commissioner of the EYBL Scholastic is the legendary Steve Smith, who spoke with Inside the Loud House not too long ago for an article that you can read here.
This spring and summer in grassroots hoops, Carter competed for the 16U team of the Hampton, Va.-based Boo Williams in Nike's EYBL league. He averaged 12.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game while connecting on 40.5 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from beyond the arc and 86.2 percent from the free-throw line.
Other Syracuse basketball recruits are playing in the EYBL Scholastic, too.
AZ Compass Prep School in Chandler, Ariz.
Zion Green, a 2027 four-star forward, will spend the upcoming season with the Dragons. He holds a 'Cuse offer and unofficially visited SU in late August 2025. Green is not a priority target for the Orange at this time.
CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix
The Bears won the high school national championship in 2025-26. Ahmed Nur, a 2027 five-star wing/forward, transferred to CIA Bella Vista for his senior year. He will officially visit the Syracuse program starting on Wednesday and is an SU priority recruit in this cycle. The Orange has also offered three prospects in the 2028 class. They are four-star forward Isaiah Clarke, five-star point guard Liam Mitakaro and four-star forward Settimo Yugu.
Iowa United Prep in Des Moines, Iowa
Malik Moore, a 2028 four-star point guard, will play for Iowa United Prep in 2026-27. While he doesn't have a 'Cuse offer yet, Orange coaches reached out to him after the 2028 contact period opened this past June 15.
La Lumiere School in La Porte, Ind.
Syracuse basketball is in the top seven of 2027 four-star point guard Devin Cleveland, who has said he plans to officially visit all his finalists before making a college decision. Recently, he has set four official visits, but the Orange isn't on Cleveland's schedule yet.
Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y.
Moussa Kamissoko, a 2027 five-star wing/small forward with the Crusaders, is a Syracuse basketball priority recruiting target. He will take an official visit to the 'Cuse from September 3 to September 4, Inside the Loud House has reported.
Masters Academy International in Stow, Mass.
Kevin Wheatley Jr. is a 2028 five-star wing at the newly formed Masters Academy International, led by famed head coach Jason Smith, who recently spoke with Inside the Loud House. Wheatley holds a re-offer from McNamara and his staff, and last December, Wheatley took an unofficial visit to the Hill.
Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla.
The Eagles are led by head coach and DMV legend Steve Turner, who previously had a ton of success at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. Two Montverde players for Orange fans to monitor are 2028 five-star wing Isaiah Hamilton, who is from Canada, and 2028 five-star wing Xavier Skipworth, who hails from the D.C. metro area.
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