Syracuse basketball four-star and five-star targets in the 2025 and 2026 classes will vie for the coveted Peach Jam crown on Nike's EYBL circuit later this summer.
Last weekend, the EYBL league conducted its fourth and final regular-season spring session, in Kansas City, Mo., with the experts at The Circuit praising several 'Cuse targets for their performances there.
Now attention will soon turn toward the annual season-ending Peach Jam event, which this year will run from July 13 to July 21 in North Augusta, S.C.
Was also told by someone from Nike EYBL staff that they will need a week or two to officially release the Peach Jam field. https://t.co/ndz4e4qwbI
— Sam Lance (@slancehoops) May 27, 2024
According to Sam Lance, in the main 17U division, the Peach Jam field will include 24 teams - the top-nine squads from each conference, earning automatic bids, as well as six at-large berths.
While Lance noted in a post to his X page on May 27 that the official field was likely to be released in a week or two, based on the current standings via the EYBL Web site, it looks like numerous groups whose rosters include Orange recruits will earn invites to the Peach Jam.
The clock is ticking. Are you IN or OUT? 🍑 pic.twitter.com/xn7fn8PGEv
— EliteYouthBasketball (@NikeEYB) May 27, 2024
Syracuse basketball targets who are likely to contend for the Peach Jam title.
There are two conferences in the 17U division, the Merritt Conference and the Raveling Conference. EYBL teams that are in the top nine of each conference and have 'Cuse recruiting ties include:
Merritt Conference
Miami-based Nightrydas Elite, 14-1 record, No. 1 spot
Raveling Conference
Washington, D.C.-based Team Takeover, 14-1 record, No. 1 spot
Albany, N.Y.-based City Rocks, 11-4 record, No. 3 spot
Boston-based Expressions Elite, 9-6 record, No. 7 spot
Those four teams above should receive automatic bids to the Peach Jam. Additionally, out of the Raveling Conference, the Charlotte, N.C.-based Team United has a 7-8 record and is in the No. 10 spot. I could envision Team United picking up an at-large berth.
Let's suppose, then, that Nightrydas Elite, Team Takeover, City Rocks, Expressions Elite and Team United end up as participants in this summer's Peach Jam. Here are some Syracuse basketball recruits to watch:
Nightrydas Elite
•Dante Allen, a four-star guard in the 2025 class, was offered by the 'Cuse in late April of this year. He is a prospect to monitor to potentially visit the Hill at some point.
Team Takeover
•Jordan Smith Jr., a five-star shooting guard in the 2026 class, picked up an Orange offer in May of last year. He plans to take an unofficial visit to the 'Cuse on June 7.
•Derek Dixon, a four-star combo guard in the 2025 class, was offered by SU last June and then took an official visit to the 'Cuse in late September of 2023.
City Rocks
•Imahri Wooten, a four-star wing in the 2026 class, was offered by Syracuse basketball last October, around the time that he unofficially visited the Orange. His dad has told me that Wooten is highly interested in going on an official visit to the 'Cuse.
•Keyshuan Tillery, a four-star point guard in the 2025 class, holds an Orange offer and unofficially visited the program last August to compete in the team's annual Elite Camp.
Expressions Elite
•London Jemison, a four-star small forward in the 2025 class, secured a Syracuse basketball offer in late September of last year. Toward the end of December, 2023, he took an official visit to the 'Cuse.
Team United
•Sadiq White Jr., a five-star forward in the 2025 class, verbally committed to the Orange a few days ago. He was offered by the 'Cuse in late April of 2023 and has unofficially visited Syracuse basketball twice - in mid-September of last year and in late February of this year on Jim Boeheim Day.