Syracuse Basketball: City Rocks star Mason Blackwood, 4-star wing, prospect to watch

Mason Blackwood, a fast-rising 2025 four-star wing, is having a tremendous spring on the AAU circuit, and I'd love to see Syracuse basketball coaches offer him a scholarship at some point.

Blackwood, a 6-foot-7 guard/small forward, is a standout with the Albany City Rocks in Nike’s EYBL league. He's also a rising senior at the New Hampton School in New Hampton, N.H.

One of his teammates with the City Rocks and the New Hampton School is 2025 four-star point guard Keyshuan Tillery, who holds a 'Cuse offer and took an unofficial visit to the Hill in late August of last year to compete in the Orange's annual Elite Camp.

Last month, amid a live period on the AAU circuit, the EYBL held a session in Indianapolis. Per media reports, Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry was in attendance for at least one City Rocks game during this spring evaluation period.

Recently, I caught up with two recruiting experts who extensively cover high school hoops in New York state. While they hadn't heard that the Orange staff was officially pursuing Blackwood at this time, they added that it wouldn't surprise them if the 'Cuse did end up showing an interest in Blackwood, given that the team is recruiting his teammate, Tillery.

Let's see if Syracuse basketball gets involved with 2025 four-star wing Mason Blackwood.

According to his X account, Blackwood has picked up a bunch of new scholarship offers in recent weeks. New suitors for him include Wake Forest, Rutgers, Penn State, West Virginia, Northwestern and Boston College.

Blackwood's offer sheet also includes Fordham, George Washington, Bryant, George Mason, Marquette, Buffalo, Albany and Siena.

Blackwood, who is from Greece, N.Y., a Rochester suburb, has proven a hot commodity this spring while putting up some big-time numbers for an excellent City Rocks squad in the EYBL's 17U divsion.

Late last month, as the EYBL held its fourth spring session in Kansas City, Mo., Blackwood averaged 17.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals per contest, while getting named to The Circuit's All-EYBL Session IV second team.

Per the EYBL Web site, through all four spring sessions, Blackwood is averaging 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per encounter. The City Rocks, meanwhile, have sported an 11-4 overall record, and they should be among the favorites to win it all when the EYBL holds its annual season-ending Peach Jam event from July 13 to July 21 in North Augusta, S.C.

Currently, ESPN rates Blackwood as four stars and the No. 30 small forward within the 2025 class. Several recruiting services place him as three stars and in the top 150 nationally. That being said, based on his play this spring in grassroots hoops, I'd be shocked if Blackwood doesn't contend for four-star status and the top 100 overall, according to all the primary recruiting Web sites.

Amid the EYBL's recent stop in Kansas City, 247Sports national basketball director Eric Bossi noted that Blackwood will "be under real consideration" to move up in the 2025 national rankings.

Bossi added in part on Blackwood: "He first caught our eye late last summer because of his production, all-around ability and the fact that he didn't force much. Since, Blackwood has stepped things up and has added a little more skill. Though he's not taking a ton of threes each outing, Synergy says that he's making over 50% of those he takes while averaging nearly 14 points per game."

I'll be curious to see if the Syracuse basketball staff ultimately decides to pursue Blackwood. I hope the Orange does, in fact, make a run at him.