Syracuse basketball 4-star, 5-star D.C. targets in juicy EYBL battle amid live period

College coaches, including the Syracuse basketball staff, are expected to be in attendance this weekend on the shoe-sponsored AAU circuits amid the first spring live period.

I noted in another recent column some of the four-star and five-star prospects in the 2025 and 2026 classes whom Orange coaches may watch in person during this evaluation period.

Most of the players in those two cycles who currently hold scholarship offers from the 'Cuse staff suit up in Nike's EYBL league, which this weekend will conduct a session in Indianapolis.

In taking a look at the EYBL's schedule from May 17 to May 19, there are some intriguing match-ups among various Syracuse basketball targets, including one game slated for this Saturday that will feature two of the top grassroots hoops programs from the talent-rich Washington, D.C., area - a key recruiting market for the Orange staff.

Let's review a couple of exciting EYBL contests that will involve Syracuse basketball recruits.

This isn't by any means a comprehensive list, but here are a handful of upcoming 17U EYBL affairs in Indianapolis that Orange recruiting enthusiasts may enjoy monitoring, per the Nike league's Web site.

Friday, May 17
4:00 pm, Philadelphia-based Team Final versus Miami-based Nightrydas Elite
Dante Allen, a 2025 four-star shooting guard, is a standout for Nightrydas Elite and was offered by the Orange in late April. Two 2025 prospects on Team Final hold 'Cuse offers, and they are four-star big man Matthew Gilhool and four-star point guard Jerry Easter II. Gilhool has visited the Hill several times.

5:30 pm, Boston-based Expressions Elite versus Albany, N.Y.-based City Rocks
Two standouts for Expressions are 2025 four-star point guard Nigel James and 2025 four-star small forward London Jemison, both of whom have officially visited Syracuse basketball. On the City Rocks roster is Imahri Wooten, a 2026 four-star wing who unofficially visited the 'Cuse last October and is highly interested in taking an official visit to Syracuse basketball.

Saturday, May 18
12:30 pm, Oxon Hill, Md.-based Team Durant versus Washington, D.C.-based Team Takeover
Get your popcorn ready for this one. Four guys between these two elite D.C. area programs hold Orange offers. For Team Durant, keep an eye on 2025 four-star guard Acaden Lewis, who was offered by SU in late April and plans to visit the 'Cuse, as well as 2025 four-star forward Cam Ward. On Team Takeover, 2025 four-star combo guard Derek Dixon has officially visited Syracuse basketball, and 2026 five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr. will take an unofficial visit to Central New York next month. I would be stunned if the Orange staff isn't in attendance at this game.

3:30 pm, Philadelphia-based Team Final versus Baltimore-based Team Melo
Easter, Gilhool and their Team Final colleagues will collide with a Team Melo group that features two Syracuse basketball 2025 priority targets, four-star shooting guard Kiyan Anthony and four-star point guard Tyler Jackson, both of whom have officially visited the 'Cuse. Anthony and Easter, by the way, are good friends.

5:00 pm, Oxon Hill, Md.-based Team Durant versus Boston-based Expressions Elite
Lewis and Ward will take on James and Jemison in an encounter where I'd also anticipate that the Syracuse basketball staff will be on hand.

Sunday, May 19
12:30 pm, Albany, N.Y.-based City Rocks versus Washington, D.C.-based Team Takeover
Three Orange recruiting targets to monitor here - Wooten, Smith and Dixon.