Syracuse basketball 5-star target puts on defensive clinic vs. SU commit at FIBA World Cup

On Saturday, at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland, a Syracuse basketball target bested a 'Cuse commit.

The USA U19 national team faced off with Australia to open Group D play at this event, which runs until July 6. Australia put up a fight, but the USA prevailed by a final count of 88-73.

Suiting up for the USA is Syracuse basketball 2026 priority recruit Jordan Smith Jr., a five-star shooting guard and the No. 2 overall prospect in this class, per 247Sports. The 6-foot-3 Smith started this encounter for the USA and put on a defensive clinic.

Deemed as one of the top defensive players in the 2026 class, on Saturday, Smith finished with 25:42 minutes, 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals and 3 blocks.

For Australia, Orange incoming freshman Luke Fennell, a 2025 four-star combo guard, is on the roster. On Saturday, in the setback, he had 12:04 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists.

The 6-foot-6 Fennell, most recently before joining the 'Cuse, played in the 2024-25 campaign for the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the National Basketball League ("NBL"), a professional league with teams in Australia and New Zealand.

A Syracuse basketball target battled a 'Cuse commit on Saturday.

In Group D play on Sunday, the USA will play another heavyweight program, France, while Australia takes on Cameroon. Group D is perhaps the toughest group at this event, I've seen some experts note.

Earlier this month, at a training camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., Smith made the 12-member USA U19 roster for the 2025 FIBA World Cup. Another Syracuse basketball priority target, 2026 five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr., was one of 18 finalists for this squad.

Smith is an All-American at St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va. Next month, he will try to capture a 17U title with the Washington-based Team Takeover in Nike's EYBL league at the annual Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C.

Offered a scholarship by the 'Cuse in early May of 2023, Smith took an unofficial visit to the Hill last September, and he may visit Syracuse basketball again.

Fennell, from Melbourne, Australia, is one of five incoming freshmen for the Orange. He is rated four stars and No. 128 overall by 247Sports. The team's 2025 class at the prep level is No. 12 around the country, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

Other incoming freshmen, including four-star forward Sadiq White Jr. from Charlotte, N.C., four-star shooting guard Kiyan Anthony from New York City and three-star wing Aaron Womack from the Milwaukee area, arrived in Central New York earlier this week to start summer workouts.