Maryland has moved out in front ahead of Syracuse basketball in the recruitment of 2026 four-star big man Asher Elson, according to Rivals.
The Terrapins are No. 1 for the 6-foot-10 power forward/center from New York City, per the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine, although the Orange is not far behind. The Recruiting Prediction Machine takes into account various factors, including visits.
A few days ago, 247Sports national analyst Dushawn London reported on X that Elson will take an official visit to Maryland out of the Big Ten Conference on September 4. That's likely why the Terps surged past Syracuse basketball for Elson.
However, as he takes more visits, makes any sort of list cuts and other things transpire, Maryland, the 'Cuse or another one of his suitors could emerge as the front-runner in Elson's recruitment. The Orange is very much in the mix for him, I should stress.
Syracuse basketball will soon host Asher Elson on an official visit.
In late July, London first reported that Elson will take an official visit to the Orange from October 10 to October 12. I confirmed this news with a source.
Elson, who reclassified from the 2025 cycle to the 2026 class, competes for the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite. Before that, he was an All-League performer for South Shore High School in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Syracuse basketball staff offered a scholarship to Elson in April of last year. His offer list also includes teams like Ole Miss, Maryland, Creighton, Fordham, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Temple and St. John's.
During the latest AAU season, Elson played well for the 17U team of the New York-based New Heights in the Adidas 3SSB league. One of his New Heights teammates was 2026 five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr., who will officially visit the Orange in late September, as I first reported.
.@NewHeightsNYC 6’10 SF Asher Elson (2026) of @OvertimeElite has REAL UPSIDE & was a productive prospect all week at the @3SSBCircuit Championships! 👀 pic.twitter.com/912bRd1yI5
— Nate Buss Hoop Talk (@n8buss) July 14, 2025
Last month, New Heights reached the quarterfinals of the Adidas 3SSB's season-ending playoffs in Rock Hill, S.C. According to the league's Web site, Elson averaged 12.5 points and 3.6 rebounds for New Heights while connecting on 55.4 percent from the field, 36.7 percent from beyond the arc and 75.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Elson, rated No. 115 nationally by Rivals, and Rippey are priority targets for the 'Cuse in the 2026 class. Others might include five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr., four-star guard Dakari Spear, four-star wing Vaughn Karvala, five-star guard/forward Alex Constanza, four-star power forward MJ Madison and four-star center Aliou Dioum.