DMV wing Qayden Samuels, recently offered by Syracuse basketball, jumps to 5 stars

Qayden Samuels, a top-flight prospect out of the talent-laden Washington, D.C., market who received a Syracuse basketball offer earlier this summer, continues to climb in the 2026 national rankings.

The 6-foot-5 Samuels, listed as either a shooting guard or a small forward on recruiting Web sites, attained five-star status from both 247Sports and ESPN in recent days as they refreshed their national ratings for the high school junior class.

ESPN currently places Samuels, within the 2026 cycle, at No. 11 overall, No. 3 at small forward and No. 1 in Maryland. Over at 247Sports, he is now No. 16 nationwide, No. 5 at small forward and No. 1 in Maryland.

When I wrote this article, the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking had Samuels at No. 16 around the country in the 2026 class. He has proven a fast-rising prospect in this cycle of late, based on his play in the most recent AAU season and at other showcases, such as the Capitol Hoops Summer League.

Syracuse basketball faces tough competition for 2026 five-star wing Qayden Samuels.

The Orange coaching staff offered a scholarship to Samuels in late July of this year. Per his X page and recruiting services, Samuels' full offer sheet hovers around 20, with other suitors including two-time defending national champion UConn, Tennessee, the College of Charleston, Alabama, Michigan, Georgetown, Kansas, Georgia, Louisville, Villanova, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, George Mason, Rutgers, Florida State, Maryland, Providence, VCU and Illinois.

On June 15 of this year, the 2026 contact period opened, enabling college coaches to initiate direct communication with prospects in this cycle. Around that time, Samuels heard from many college programs, including Syracuse basketball.

Samuels is a standout for Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md., which competes in the loaded Washington Catholic Athletic Conference ("WCAC"). In the 2023-24 campaign, as a sophomore, Samuels was named to the All-WCAC first team.

This spring and summer in grassroots basketball, Samuels earned high praise from analysts and scouts for his performances for the 16U squad of the D.C.-based Team Takeover in Nike’s EYBL league.

In July, when the EYBL held its annual Peach Jam tournament in North Augusta, S.C., amid an NCAA live period, Orange head coach Adrian Autry was in attendance for a Team Takeover game in the 16U division.

As I've stated on many occasions, Autry and other 'Cuse coaches have strong relationships in the DMV recruiting world. In particular, the Syracuse basketball staff has deep ties to the Team Takeover program.

Two of Samuels' Team Takeover colleagues are 2026 four-star guard Prince-Alexander Moody and 2026 four-star point guard Anthony Brown, both of whom hold scholarship offers from the Orange. Moody also plays alongside Samuels at Bishop McNamara.

Juniors in high school, beginning on August 1, could begin taking official visits to college campuses. I'll be curious to see whether Samuels decides to make a trip to the Hill at some point in the future.