Syracuse Basketball: Analysts dish praise on 4-star, 5-star recruits at loaded Hoophall Classic

With the Syracuse basketball staff on hand, multiple Syracuse basketball four-star and five-star recruits earned high marks from national analysts and scouts for their play at the recently held Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., including some games on national television.

In recent days, some of the top high school programs in the 2023-24 season descended upon the Spalding Hoophall Classic, which is arguably the top showcase of the current term.

Highly rated squads with recruiting connections to the ‘Cuse that competed in this season’s Hoophall Classic included Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., and Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y.

As I noted in another recent column, the Orange coaching staff was in attendance this past Sunday and Monday at the event, a source told me.

Syracuse basketball recruits played well at the recent Hoophall Classic.

At this showcase event, ‘Cuse fans were able to keep tabs on Syracuse basketball 2024 commit Donnie Freeman of IMG, along with five prospects who hold scholarship offers from the Orange coaching staff.

Those Syracuse basketball targets were 2025 four-star combo guard Derek Dixon of Gonzaga, 2025 four-star shooting guard Kiyan Anthony of Long Island Lutheran, 2025 four-star point guard Nigel James, also of Long Island Lutheran, and two 2026 players from St. Paul VI, five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr. and point guard Anthony Brown.

Dixon helped guide Gonzaga to a 72-67 victory over Hudson Catholic Regional High School in Jersey City, N.J. The top-75 national prospect, who took an official visit to the ‘Cuse in late September of last year, tallied 19 points and went 3-of-6 from long range.

IMG had two games at the Hoophall Classic, going 1-1. In a 75-65 win over the Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kan., Freeman registered 19 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals, while going 7-of-13 from the field.

During this event, multiple national analysts and scouts spoke positively of Freeman, including On3’s Jamie Shaw, 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein and ESPN’s Paul Biancardi.

In IMG’s second encounter, a 65-49 setback to the Link Academy in Branson, Mo., Freeman struggled with his shot, but he did generate nine boards, two assists and one block. Freeman, a four-star power forward and a top-30 overall player in the senior class, is officially signed with Syracuse basketball.

Long Island Lutheran went 0-2 at the Hoophall Classic. In an 81-62 loss to Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, James finished with eight points, two rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Anthony collected five points, one rebound, one assist and one steal.

In an exciting affair, the AZ Compass Prep School in Chandler, Ariz., squeaked by Long Island Lutheran, 65-62. James had eight points, two boards, four assists and one steal. Anthony, meanwhile, contributed four points, one rebound, two assists and one steal.

For his play, James was praised by several national analysts and scouts. Shaw, of On3, wrote in an article that James “is a straw that stirs the drink type of point guard. While he might not be the one finishing plays, he is the one that gets things started. James is a good on-ball defender with quick feet and hands. He can penetrate the defense, and touch the paint consistently.”

James, a top-100 national prospect in the junior class, went on an official visit to the ‘Cuse last September, while the following month, Anthony, who recently vaulted into the top 30 of the 2025 cycle, officially visited the Orange.

In another excellent battle at the Hoophall Classic, Christopher Columbus knocked off St. Paul VI, 70-61. Smith, who was offered by Syracuse basketball in early May of last year, was tremendous.

He connected on 7-of-10 from the field, finishing with 17 points, four boards, three assists and two steals. Smith is rated as high as No. 10 nationally in the sophomore class by On3.

As I recently reported, per a source, Orange coaches are working to schedule a visit with Smith on the SU campus. In a recent piece, Shaw wrote that Smith “is a tough player, and that is where a lot of his production comes from. The 6-foot-3 guard has become a lot more comfortable on the ball, getting downhill and making a play. He is a physical presence and an explosive athlete.”