Syracuse basketball 4-star, 5-star recruits to battle in loaded City of Palms Classic

Multiple Syracuse basketball four-star and five-star recruits are expected to suit up at one of the nation's top showcases in high school hoops.

From December 18 to December 23, the 52nd-annual City of Palms Classic will transpire in Fort Myers, Fla. It's highly likely, by the way, that the Orange coaching staff will be in attendance at this prestigious annual event, as the 'Cuse has been on hand at the City of Palms Classic in the past.

In 2025, the showcase will have a 16-team tournament, a signature series and a sunshine series. Syracuse basketball targets will play in the 16-team field as well as the signature series.

Syracuse basketball recruits will vie for a coveted City of Palms Classic title.

In the 16-team tournament, Orange fans will want to keep tabs on three schools in particular. They are St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif., and Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y.

Jordan Smith Jr., a 2026 five-star shooting guard, is an All-American at St. Paul VI. He is one of the Orange's top targets in this class. Smith unofficially visited the 'Cuse last September and is expected to make another trip to the Hill at some point.

Over at St. John Bosco, 2026 five-star forward Christian Collins holds a scholarship offer from the 'Cuse. The Orange staff watched him earlier this summer on the EYBL circuit. Not too long ago, Syracuse basketball was also in for Collins at St. John Bosco amid the fall recruiting period.

Long Island Lutheran's 2025-26 roster includes 2027 five-star wing/forward Moussa Kamissoko, who picked up a scholarship offer from the Syracuse basketball coaching staff in late December of 2024.

In the City of Palms Classic signature series, keep an eye on CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix and Prolific Prep in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. CIA Bella Vista's roster features several 'Cuse targets. One is 2026 four-star wing/small forward Vaughn Karvala, who has unofficially visited SU and will take an official visit to Syracuse basketball later this month.

A second is 2026 four-star center Aliou Dioum, who, a month ago, included the Orange in his top six. Also, 2027 five-star power forward/center Paul Osaruyi holds a Syracuse basketball offer.

Prolific Prep, which is expected to be No. 1 in preseason rankings ahead of the 2025-26 campaign in high school hoops, picked up numerous highly rated transfers this off-season. One is 2026 four-star power forward MJ Madison, who transferred to Prolific Prep from Long Island Lutheran.

The Orange offered a scholarship to Madison this past May. We'll see if he ends up visiting the program.