Syracuse basketball 4-star commits, recruits who are in hunt for national title tourney

In the coming weeks, the field for the eight-team, season-ending Chipotle Nationals will get unveiled, and I anticipate that some Syracuse basketball commits or recruiting targets will see their teams get invited to this annual event.

This year's Chipotle Nationals will take place from April 3 to April 5 in Fishers, Ind., ultimately crowning a national champion in high school hoops. According to analysts, the eight-team field will be announced in the next month or so.

In recent days, several experts gave their projections, at least for the time being, as to various high school programs that are significant contenders to make the 2025 Chipotle Nationals.

From a 'Cuse recruiting perspective, teams to keep an eye on include the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix and Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y.

Nothing is a certainty, but as far as I can tell, based on comments from analysts, IMG and CIA Bella Vista appear to be in strong shape for bids to the Chipotle Nationals, while Long Island Lutheran has some work to do.

Syracuse basketball commits and targets are in contention for a national championship tournament.

IMG has been a mainstay in the national top five throughout the 2024-25 season, and one of its senior leaders is Orange 2025 signee Sadiq White Jr., a four-star forward.

CIA Bella Vista burst onto the scene this term. Its roster includes four players who, in late October of last year, picked up scholarship offers from the 'Cuse staff. Those Syracuse basketball recruits are 2026 four-star point guard Miles Sadler, 2027 five-star big man Paul Osaruyi, 2026 four-star guard Rokiem Green and 2026 four-star center Aliou Dioum.

Long Island Lutheran started off 2024-25 slow, but the Crusaders are on a roll these days. Leading the charge is Orange 2025 commit Kiyan Anthony, a four-star shooting guard. This squad's line-up also features 2026 five-star point guard Dylan Mingo, who has garnered interest from the 'Cuse staff, and 2027 four-star wing/forward Moussa Kamissoko, who holds a Syracuse basketball offer.

This weekend, in Brookville, N.Y., Long Island Lutheran, CIA Bella Vista and IMG are suiting up in an annual showcase called the Bob McKillop Invitational. It's a huge opportunity for the Crusaders, in particular, to play their way into the Chipotle Nationals field.

One other group I'll mention is St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., which was the runner-up at last year's Chipotle Nationals. For now, my sense is that St. Paul VI is on the outside looking in for this season's eight-team field, although if the Panthers can make a late surge in the powerhouse Washington Catholic Athletic Conference ("WCAC"), perhaps St. Paul VI could sneak in.

The Panthers are led by 2026 five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr., who was an All-American as a sophomore a campaign ago. He has a 'Cuse offer and unofficially visited Syracuse basketball last September.