As Inside the Loud House has outlined in numerous articles lately, the new Syracuse basketball staff under first-year head coach Gerry McNamara has amped up its high school recruiting efforts across the 2027 and 2028 classes.
In 2029, things are still more in their infancy. Players in the 2029 cycle are heading into their sophomore year of high school. College coaches can't initiate direct communication with 2029 prospects until mid-June of next year.
The new Syracuse staff has focused its prep recruiting on 2027 and 2028. One 2029 target to monitor is big man Mamadou Issa Sow (@sow90655) of @BellaVistaHoops & @Arizona_Unity, who holds an SU offer and has tons of upside, scouts say (via @NeilAdlerSU) 🔽 https://t.co/EacQU1Noyz
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) June 30, 2026
Still, rising sophomores can pick up scholarship offers from college programs. For example, Mamadou Issa Sow, a 2029 big man out of CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix, was re-offered by the new Syracuse basketball staff this past April.
The updated SC NEXT 25 Player Rankings for the Class of 2029 are now live. https://t.co/tUSURLHySe
— Paul Biancardi (@PaulBiancardi) July 6, 2026
The former SU staff under then-head coach Adrian Autry had offered 2029 five-star wing David Johnson of the Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., and 2029 combo guard Isaiah Rider IV of Higley High School in Gilbert, Ariz. It wouldn't be a surprise if McNamara re-offers either, or both, of these rising sophomores.
Beyond that, here are five 2029 prospects whom Syracuse basketball should offer.
Draydne McDaniel
Five-star wing and No. 2 nationally, per ESPN's latest 2029 rankings
Prolific Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Offers include Arizona State, Ole Miss, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech and Alabama
Notes: The new Orange staff is pursuing several prospects at the powerhouse Prolific Prep. Five-star point guard Nasir Anderson and five-star center Lewis Uvwo, both in the 2027 class, hold offers from SU, while 2028 five-star point guard Michai White, who has heard from the 'Cuse since the 2028 contact period opened this past June 15, just announced he's transferring to Prolific Prep.
Cayden Gaskins
Five-star power forward and No. 4 overall, per ESPN
Christopher Columbus High School in Miami
Notes: In recent years, Orange coaches have recruited some high school prospects who played for Florida-based juggernauts like IMG and Montverde. However, I'd like to see the new SU staff start pursuing players from Columbus, which won the high school national championship two seasons ago.
London Jackson
Five-star wing/small forward and No. 7 nationally, per ESPN
Harlan High School in San Antonio
Offers include Florida International, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech and UTSA
Notes: This past season, in 2025-26, Jackson was named to the MaxPreps freshman All-America second team. He averaged 19.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
Flory Kuminga
Five-star small forward and No. 11 overall, per ESPN
The Patrick School in Hillside, N.J.
Notes: He is the younger brother of NBA player Jonathan Kuminga. Over the years, Syracuse basketball coaches have recruited various prospects from The Patrick School, and it would make sense for McNamara and his staff to make a run at Flory Kuminga.
MJ Postell
Four-star shooting guard and No. 21 nationally, per ESPN
St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, N.J.
Offers include Hampton, La Salle and Pepperdine
Notes: Postell is from New Jersey, which is along the Northeast corridor, a key recruiting stretch for the Orange. Plus, he attends St. Benedict's Prep. SU's new general manager, Greg Fahey, is also from New Jersey and began his coaching career at St. Benedict's Prep. Perhaps there's a connection there.
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