Syracuse Basketball: NYC big man Asher Elson jumps to 4 stars in composite rankings

New York City big man Asher Elson, a fast-rising 2025 prospect who holds a Syracuse basketball offer, has moved to four stars in rankings from the 247Sports Composite.

Lately, several of the primary recruiting services have updated their 2025 ratings, and that in turn leads to adjustments in the rankings from the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, as well as the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking.

When I wrote this article, the 6-foot-10 Elson arrived as four stars, No. 120 nationwide, No. 25 at power forward and No. 5 in New York within the rising high school senior cycle, per the 247Sports Composite. Congrats to Asher!

Elson, listed as a power forward/center on recruiting Web sites, received a scholarship offer from the Orange staff in mid-April of this year.

Syracuse basketball faces growing competition for 2025 four-star big man Asher Elson.

Not long after the 'Cuse offered Elson, a couple of NYC hoops experts told me that they thought Elson had one of the highest ceilings in the 2025 class and would eventually become a four-star or even a five-star prospect in this cycle. They were right.

Currently, Elson's offer sheet includes college squads such as Syracuse basketball, Georgia Tech, Creighton, Illinois, St. John's, Temple, UAB and Fordham, per recruiting services. Analysts have said that his offer list is expected to further expand.

Elson is a standout rising senior at South Shore High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. According to experts, he's tracking as one of the top players for the upcoming 2024-25 season in New York City's Public Schools Athletic League ("PSAL"), of which South Shore is a member.

On the AAU circuit during the spring, Elson caught the attention of some top national analysts and scouts for his play with the 17U team of the Bronx, N.Y.-based New York Gauchos in the Adidas 3SSB league.

During April and May sessions on the 3SSB circuit, per that league's Web site, the Gauchos compiled a 9-4 overall record. The 3SSB's season-ending playoffs are scheduled to take place from July 11 to July 14 in Rock Hill, S.C., amid an NCAA live period.

In reviewing the 3SSB Web site, it's unclear to me what teams have qualified for the playoffs in South Carolina. Assuming the Gauchos have, I'll certainly track how Elson and his teammates fare, and whether the Syracuse basketball staff is in attendance for him during the live period.

When I wrote a column about Elson in early June, he was No. 149 overall via the 247Sports Composite. Since that time, he's vaulted up around 30 spots.

After 247Sports recently refreshed its 2025 rankings, it put Elson at No. 148 nationally, while over at On3, he checks in at No. 143 overall. Look for Elson to crack the top 100, however, sooner rather than later.

From a 'Cuse recruiting standpoint, as far as I can tell, there are three 2025 prospects at power forward/center who fans should monitor. Besides Elson, they are four-star Matthew Gilhool of the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia and five-star Chris Cenac Jr. of the Link Academy in Branson, Mo.

The Orange offered Cenac in early June. Gilhool is a long-time recruiting target of the 'Cuse who has visited Syracuse basketball several times and plans to announce his finalists on Monday, July 8.