Syracuse Basketball: Analysts, scouts dish on skill set of 5-star commit Sadiq White

It's early on in the 2025 recruiting cycle, but Syracuse basketball currently has a top-10 national class thanks to the recent verbal pledge by five-star forward Sadiq White Jr. from Charlotte, N.C.

The 6-foot-8 White, a consensus top-35 national prospect in the rising senior class, is a standout with Myers Park High School in Charlotte and the 17U squad of the Charlotte-based Team United in Nike's EYBL league.

White, a long-time priority recruit for the Orange in the 2025 cycle, has unofficially visited the Hill twice and chose the 'Cuse over other finalists Alabama, Southern California, Georgetown, LSU, Tennessee, and Texas.

As I noted in another recent column, White's verbal commitment to Syracuse basketball could prove a springboard to other highly ranked 2025 targets potentially pledging to the Orange in the coming months.

Either way, the 'Cuse staff put in a ton of work in pursuing White, and it paid off. He is a tremendous first get for head coach Adrian Autry and his assistants in the 2025 class.

Top analysts and scouts weigh in on new Syracuse basketball 2025 five-star commit Sadiq White Jr.

In the wake of White verbally committing to the Orange, numerous national recruiting analysts and scouts have detailed via articles and social media posts what kind of skill set he will bring to the Hill.

White, a lefty, is supremely athletic and runs the floor well, experts say. His calling card to date in high school has been his defensive instincts, although White continues to polish his offensive repertoire. He is lengthy and mobile, rebounds well, can get high above the rim and shines out in transition.

For the time being, I don't the sense that White is a huge weapon from beyond the arc, but experts say that he scores with proficiency in the mid-range and closer to the basket.

Rivals.com national analyst Rob Cassidy wrote in part, "White’s elite athleticism is what pops off the page when watching him on the floor, as it manifests itself in nearly every aspect of the game. It allows him to play even bigger than his impressive 6-foot-8 frame on the defensive end, the glass, and when it comes to playing above the rim on lobs and put-back dunks. The long, athletic southpaw handles the ball relatively well for his size and position as well. He has the physical gifts to be a game-changing multiple-positional defender as he develops from an effort and discipline standpoint on that end of the floor."

Adam Finkelstein, the director of scouting at 247Sports, says in part that "White is one of the most explosive athletes in the national class. He is super bouncy, able to play up at the top of the box, and quick with his second (and third) bounces. He is not only an elite lob threat, but the type of finisher who can immediately change the momentum of the game with a highlight dunk. ... Beyond his leaping ability, White is also a versatile athlete. He moves with pace and force, covering the court and playing through contact with increasing frequency. Physically, he has the length to match his athleticism with a nearly 7-foot wingspan and 8-foot-11 standing reach. He has broad shoulders, a sturdy base in his lower body, and continues to fill-out his wiry frame."

Jamie Shaw, a national analyst/scout with On3, echoes the sentiment of other top experts that White is a top-flight defender, due to his length, athleticism and instincts. "White simply has good anticipation and his twitchy athleticism allows for him to get to some plays that others may not be able to," Shaw says.

Shaw and other experts note that White's jump shot needs to keep on improving, as does his ability to create his own scoring opportunities. Yet Shaw says that White is stellar attacking the rim out in transition, and in half-court offensive sets, the Syracuse basketball commit has good movement and cuts well.

Shaw adds: "Most of his points come at the rim or at the free-throw line. His leaping ability and lob threat put pressure on the defense to stay connected. It will be interesting to see how Autry uses White on offense."