As 4-star big visits this weekend, latest intel on Syracuse basketball's 2026 targets

Asher Elson, a four-star wing/big man in the 2026 class, is taking his official visit to Syracuse basketball this weekend. He's among a group of top targets for the Orange staff in this cycle.

The 6-foot-10 Elson, from New York City, suits up in the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite. He received a scholarship offer from the 'Cuse in mid-April of 2024, and Syracuse basketball coaches have pursued Elson for a while now.

He recently took an official visit to Maryland. Media reports and recruiting services indicate he may also take official visits to Ole Miss and Xavier soon. The Orange has a great shot to prevail for Elson.

Here is the latest chatter on other Syracuse basketball 2026 recruits.

Deron Rippey Jr., five-star point guard
Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.
The 6-foot-2 Rippey took an official visit to the Orange in late September, and it went quite well, his dad has told me. Rippey just finished up an official visit to Kentucky earlier this week that also went well, and he still has trips coming up to Duke, Tennessee and N.C. State. Last weekend, Orange assistant coach Allen Griffin was in attendance for Rippey at the 2025 Border League event in Las Vegas. Rippey plans to trim down his list to around five schools after he wraps up his visits, his dad says. A decision hasn't yet been made on whether Rippey will sign during the early period this November or in the regular period next April. Some analysts have said to keep an eye on N.C. State. We'll see about all that.

Jordan Smith Jr., five-star shooting guard
St. Paul VI Catholic High School
The Orange is in the top six of the 6-foot-3 Smith. He unofficially visited the 'Cuse in September of last year, and I've been told the Syracuse basketball staff is trying to get him on campus for a second visit, perhaps after the Orange's 2025-26 season starts. The 'Cuse staff recently was in for Smith at St. Paul VI. He unofficially visited Duke last weekend and is on an official visit to Kentucky this weekend. The Blue Devils have buzz for Smith on both 247Sports and Rivals. He plans to wait until the regular signing period next spring to commit to a college program.

Dakari Spear, four-star shooting guard
Dynamic Prep in Irving, Texas
The 6-foot-4 Spear took an official visit to the 'Cuse in early September. He has the Orange in his final five, along with Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech. Spear has also officially visited Texas Tech, and he was supposed to visit Vanderbilt, but the chatter is that he didn't head to Nashville, Tenn., to officially visit the Commodores. Dynamic Prep played in last weekend's Border League. My sense is that Spear's recruitment could come down to Texas Tech and Syracuse basketball.

Vaughn Karvala, four-star wing/small forward
CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix
The 6-foot-7 Karvala unofficially visited the Orange last November. He was set to officially visit the Hill in late September, but that trip got postponed. He has officially visited Xavier and California, and Karvala will also officially visit Indiana later this month. Some of the chatter is that the 'Cuse is no longer a contender for Karvala, although a source told me this week that the Syracuse basketball staff is still working to get him on campus for an official visit soon. Stay tuned there. CIA Bella Vista was at last weekend's Border League showcase.

Alex Constanza, five-star guard/small forward
Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio
The 6-foot-8 Constanza took an official visit to the Orange last October, and it went quite well. In July, 'Cuse coaches were in for Constanza during a live period in PUMA's PRO16 league on the AAU circuit. However, I texted with Constanza's dad this week regarding Syracuse basketball, and he said this: "There has been zero communication since July, but let's see." Constanza has taken recent official visits to Kansas and N.C. State.

MJ Madison, four-star power forward
Prolific Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
In May, the 'Cuse offered a scholarship to the 6-foot-9 Madison. There had been some buzz about Madison wanting to visit the Orange, but nothing has transpired as of yet. The Syracuse basketball staff has been in attendance for Madison during live periods. He played well for his new school, Prolific Prep, at last weekend's Border League.

Possible 2027 re-class candidates
There is talk that three 2027 players who hold Syracuse basketball scholarship offers could potentially make a move to the 2026 cycle. They are:
•Four-star wing/small forward Clyde Walters of the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite
•Four-star point guard Anderson Diaz of the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite
•Five-star center Paul Osaruyi of CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix

In particular, keep an eye on the 6-foot-6 Walters, as the Syracuse basketball staff may try to get him on the Hill for a visit at some point, a source has told me.

Oh, and let's not forget Calvin Russell lll
The 6-foot-5 Russell, a senior at Miami Northwestern Senior High School, is a five-star wide receiver in the 2026 class. He verbally committed to Syracuse football in early July. Per a source, Russell is also likely to play for Syracuse basketball, at least initially. In hoops, he is a talented, underrated guard/small forward. The word is that Russell could enroll at SU early and begin his time there this coming January. It's not clear to me at this time if he would play at all for Syracuse basketball in the 2025-26 season.