As is often the case over the summer months, high school prospects are moving to new programs, including Syracuse basketball targets, ahead of the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.
For Orange hoops recruiting enthusiasts, high school players in both the 2027 and 2028 classes have announced transfer plans of late, and this includes four-star and five-star targets who either hold a scholarship offer or some level of interest from first-year head coach Gerry McNamara and his Syracuse basketball assistant staff.
While this list isn't meant to be fully exhaustive, and more transfer news is likely to arrive in the coming weeks as the summer inches closer to the fall, below are details on various 'Cuse recruiting targets who will suit up for a different high school squad in 2026-27.
Syracuse basketball recruits who are on the move for the upcoming season.
Rowan Phillips
The 2028 four-star combo guard is headed back to Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, Pa., after playing at the Westtown School in West Chester, Pa. He is a top-25 national prospect in his class. In late August of 2024, Phillips took an unofficial visit to the Hill to suit up in the Orange's annual Elite Camp. After the 2028 contact period opened on June 15, Phillips heard from the 'Cuse staff. Additionally, Syracuse basketball coaches were in for Phillips near the end of June at Philly Live in Philadelphia during a scholastic live period.
Kevin Wheatley Jr.
The 2028 five-star wing is following his head coach, the legendary Jason Smith, from the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., to the newly formed Masters Academy International in Stow, Mass., which will be part of the retooled 15-member Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic ("EYBL Scholastic"). Wheatley, a top-25 overall player in his class, took an unofficial visit to the Orange last December, around which time he picked up an offer from the former 'Cuse staff under then-head coach Adrian Autry. Wheatley has heard from the new Orange coaching staff since the 2028 contact period on June 15.
Zion Green
The 2027 four-star power forward, No. 15 overall in his cycle per Rivals, recently revealed that he would transfer from Mt. Zion Prep in Lanham, Md., to the AZ Compass Prep School in Chandler, Ariz., which is also an EYBL Scholastic team. McNamara and his staff have re-offered Green. In late August of last year, he unofficially visited the 'Cuse program.
Will Brunson
The 2028 five-star wing/small forward and top-20 national prospect was recently re-offered by the new Syracuse basketball staff. For 2026-27, he has transferred from the Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, N.J., to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Last December, Brunson took an unofficial visit to the Orange.
Payton Jones
The 2027 four-star point guard and top-85 national prospect is leaving Beaumont United High School in Beaumont, Texas, for Dynamic Prep in Carrollton, Texas, whose head coach is former NBA star Jermaine O'Neal. In each of the past two campaigns, Dynamic Prep has reached at least the semifinals of the season-ending Chipotle Nationals. This spring, amid a live period, 'Cuse coaches were in for Jones on the Under Armour Association circuit.
Isaiah Hamilton and Xavier Skipworth
The 2028 five-star wings are both transferring to the Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., which is in the EYBL Scholastic. Hamilton comes from the Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto, while Skipworth, most recently, was at the Bullis School in Potomac, Md. Hamilton and Skipworth each held an offer from the former SU staff, with the new Orange coaching staff also in pursuit of them.
Isaiah Clarke and Ahmed Nur
Clarke, a 2028 four-star forward, and Nur, a 2027 four-star big man, have both transferred to CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix, an EYBL Scholastic member that won this past season's high school national championship. Clarke is transferring from Crestwood Prep, and Nur is coming from Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minn. Clarke, a top-65 overall player in his class, received a Syracuse basketball offer a few days ago. Nur, a top-30 national prospect in 2027, landed his 'Cuse offer last month.
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