Terrence Jones III, a fast-rising 2027 guard from Baltimore, has heard from several schools lately, including Syracuse basketball, according to a top expert.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Jones, a point guard/combo guard, attends the Saint Frances Academy, which is often one of the top basketball programs in the Baltimore region. Over the years, Orange coaches have recruited various prospects from Saint Frances.
On the AAU circuit this spring and summer, Jones is suiting up for the 16U squad of the Baltimore-based Team Melo in Nike’s EYBL league. This past weekend, amid a live period with college coaches in attendance, the EYBL held a session in Memphis, Tenn.
The Syracuse basketball staff was in attendance at this EYBL session, I've been told. Jones put together a couple of strong performances. In one game, he tallied 15 points, four rebounds and two assists. In a second encounter, Jones had 19 points, seven assists and four rebounds.
In a post on X, top scouting analyst Trent Watson said that, following the recent live period, Jones has heard from teams such as Syracuse basketball, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Maryland and UAB.
Syracuse basketball has reached out to a talented Baltimore guard.
While his recruiting process has a way to go, Jones has picked up scholarship offers from schools including Villanova, Nicholls State, Hampton, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. On June 15, college coaches can start initiating direct contact with 2027 prospects, so I'd imagine that Jones will continue to see his offer sheet grow.
I'll of course continue to monitor whether the Orange ends up offering a scholarship to Jones. As the current AAU seasons carries onward, Syracuse basketball coaches are beginning to ramp up their efforts in the 2027 high school recruiting class.
To date, I'm aware of six prospects entering their junior years who have landed an offer from the 'Cuse. Two of those offers came in recent days: four-star big man Isaiah Hill and four-star power forward/center Caleb Ourigou.
Earlier offers by the Orange to 2027 players went out to five-star forward Baba Oladotun, five-star center Paul Osaruyi, five-star wing Moussa Kamissoko and five-star power forward Zion Green.
Come June 15, as the contact period in 2027 opens, I'll be curious to see which rising high school juniors might pick up offers from Syracuse basketball. Given the explosion of the transfer portal in college, the 'Cuse and its peers nationwide are likely focusing more on the portal and a bit less on prep recruiting.
As such, while the Orange staff may dish out some additional 2027 offers on or after June 15, I don't expect Syracuse basketball to offer a ton of prospects in this cycle as the contact period opens. That's likely to be the case year after year moving forward, too.