5-star recruit, watched by Syracuse basketball last month overseas, discloses top 12

Chris Cenac Jr., a 2025 five-star big man who received a scholarship offer from Syracuse basketball in early June, is down to 12 schools, according to media reports.

The Orange, unfortunately, isn't one of them. Per reports, the dozen teams still in the running for the 6-foot-10 power forward/center are LSU, Houston, Auburn, Alabama, Baylor, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisville, Texas, Kentucky, two-time defending national champion Connecticut and Michigan State.

While I'm bummed that the 'Cuse is no longer in contention for Cenac, I'm wishing Chris all the best in his recruiting process moving forward.

Cenac, who has seen his recruitment explode in recent months, eclipsing more than 30 scholarship offers in total, is ranked as high as No. 5 nationwide in the 2025 class by On3.

Per an article from top national reporter Joe Tipton of On3, Cenac has taken unofficial visits to both LSU and Houston, although he hasn't yet scheduled any upcoming official visits. According to Tipton, Cenac eyes a college decision by January or February of next year.

Syracuse basketball didn't make the top 12 of 2025 five-star big man Chris Cenac Jr.

During the most recent AAU season, national analysts and scouts praised Cenac for his play while suiting up for the 17U team of the Dallas-based YoungGameChangers in the PUMA-sponsored PRO16 league.

In the 2023-24 campaign, as a junior, Cenac was a standout for the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. However, in mid-June, Cenac revealed via his X page that he would transfer for his senior year to the powerhouse Link Academy in Branson, Mo., which is part of the country's top high school hoops conference, the 14-member Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic (“EYBL Scholastic").

For the upcoming 2024-25 season, within EYBL Scholastic competition, Cenac and Link will square off against Syracuse basketball 2025 five-star commit Sadiq White Jr., who recently transferred for his senior term to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., as well as 'Cuse 2025 four-star priority target Kiyan Anthony, who is a rising senior at Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y.

Last month, Cenac and Orange 2026 five-star priority recruit Jordan Smith Jr. helped lead the USA Basketball U17 national team to the gold medal at the 2024 FIBA World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey.

According to his X page, Syracuse basketball assistant coach Brenden Straughn was on hand at this international event.

As it relates to the Orange staff's recruiting of 2025 big men at the high school level, in early July, four-star Matthew Gilhool, who had visited the 'Cuse at least three times, didn't include Syracuse basketball in his top seven.

In mid-April of this year, Syracuse basketball did offer a scholarship to Asher Elson, a fast-rising, four-star power forward/center. He played well as a junior at South Shore High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., although recent social media posts suggest that he may spend his senior season with the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite.

At this juncture, I'm not aware of any other 2025 big men whom the Orange coaching staff is aggressively pursuing these days. White, to his credit, is a small forward/power forward, but the other guys - Cenac, Gilhool and Elson - likely can play both power forward and center.