The high school hoops season is just around the corner, and numerous Syracuse basketball recruits will compete for top-flight groups during the upcoming 2025-26 season.
On3/Rivals, in recent days, listed a preseason top 25 that is based on the Massey Ratings, which will certainly fluctuate throughout the 2025-26 term. Also, the Massey Ratings are just one set of rankings, and other teams that feature 'Cuse recruits will likely be ranked elsewhere.
However, in the preseason, let's take a look at where Orange targets' squads reside, per the Massey Ratings.
Syracuse basketball recruits are playing for highly ranked programs.
No. 3, Dynamic Prep in Irving, Texas
This past April, Dynamic Prep advanced to the championship game of the Chipotle Nationals in Fishers, Ind. Four-star shooting guard Dakari Spear transferred to Dynamic Prep for his senior year. In early September, Spear took an official visit to the Hill, and he's got the Orange in his final five.
No. 4, Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y.
One of the standouts for Long Island Lutheran is 2027 five-star wing/forward Moussa Kamissoko. He picked up a scholarship offer from the 'Cuse staff in late December of last year.
No. 6, St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va.
An All-American at this powerhouse DMV program is Jordan Smith Jr., a 2026 five-star shooting guard and top-five national prospect in his class. Smith is one of the Orange's top targets in 2026. He unofficially visited the 'Cuse last September, and I'm told he's expected to visit again at some point. Syracuse basketball is in his final six.
No. 7, CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix
CIA Bella Vista's 2025-26 line-up includes 2027 five-star power forward/center Paul Osaruyi and 2026 four-star wing/small forward Vaughn Karvala. The Orange offered Osaruyi last fall. Karvala has unofficially visited the program. He was to officially visit the 'Cuse this weekend, but didn't end up traveling to Central New York. A source has told me Karvala is rescheduling his official visit to Syracuse basketball.
No. 22, Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.
Brewster has sent numerous of its guys to the Orange over the years. One of Brewster's 2025-26 players is 2028 four-star point guard Michai White. Reports have indicated that the 'Cuse staff is showing an interest in White, a top-15 national prospect in the sophomore class.
Outside the top 25, at No. 45, is the Bullis School in Potomac, Md.
In June, the Orange offered a scholarship to 2028 five-star guard/small forward Xavier Skipworth, who is a sophomore at Bullis, an excellent program in the talent-rich Washington, D.C., area.