Syracuse Basketball: Brenden Straughn travels overseas to watch 4-star, 5-star recruits

Syracuse basketball assistant coach Brenden Straughn continues to show why he's an elite recruiter who is dedicated to his craft.

Per his social media accounts, Straughn is currently in Lausanne, Switzerland, for the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup. Basketball insider Adam Zagoria first reported a few days ago that the 'Cuse staff was expected to be in attendance at this event.

Straughn, on Friday morning, watched Orange incoming freshman guard Luke Fennell, a 2025 four-star prospect from Melbourne, Australia, who is playing for that country's national team. At this event, Straughn is also in for 'Cuse priority target Jordan Smith Jr., a 2026 five-star shooting guard and top-five national prospect in his class from the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Smith is suiting up for Team USA at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup. Last July, Straughn was also in the house for the 2024 FIBA World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey. The USA Basketball U17 national team captured the gold medal, and Smith was on the roster of that winning U.S. squad.

I think it's a testament to Straughn's recruiting prowess that he's traveling overseas to check in on Fennell and Smith.

Syracuse basketball commit Luke Fennell played well in his latest game.

Australia, unfortunately, lost to Germany in the quarterfinals on Friday by a final count of 80-67. Fennell was great. In just under 24 minutes, he generated 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. He also had two rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block.

Two days ago, when Australia beat the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals, 106-96, Fennell had 12 points and went 4-of-4 from 3-point land.

Smith is arguably the Orange's top target in the 2026 class. He was offered a scholarship by the 'Cuse staff in early May of 2023, took an unofficial visit to the Hill last September and may take a second visit to Syracuse basketball at some point.

An All-American at St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Va., Smith this spring and summer is starring for the 17U group of the Washington-based Team Takeover in Nike's EYBL league.

Smith and Straughn are extremely close. Straughn previously was an assistant with Team Takeover and has recruited Smith hard for a while now. While the elite 2026 prospect holds a daunting offer sheet, I believe that Syracuse basketball has a decent shot to prevail for Smith, given his relationship with Straughn, in particular.

On Friday, the USA was scheduled to face Canada in the quarterfinals, beginning at 11:15 am EST. So far in this event, Smith is averaging 7.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per contest while making 48.1 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from downtown.