Syracuse Basketball: Final takeaways as 4-star, 5-star recruits finish AAU seasons

In recent days, the shoe-sponsored AAU circuits wrapped up their seasons, and we've got key takeaways and intel as it pertains to Syracuse basketball four-star and five-star recruiting targets.

Across the various grassroots hoops leagues, an Orange target won a title, several others advanced deep in their respective playoffs, there were a few stunning upsets, and the 'Cuse staff was out and about at different U.S. sites amid the second and final live period in July.

Let's review the top highlights from last weekend.

Syracuse basketball recruiting targets wrapped up their AAU campaigns.

Recruits advance far
Isaiah Hill, a 2027 four-star big man who holds a 'Cuse scholarship offer, won a Peach Jam title in the 16U division with Indy Heat in Nike's EYBL league. In the EYBL 17U division, the New York City-based Renaissance Hoops reached the final game, while the Los Angeles-based Team Why Not advanced to the semifinals.

Anderson Diaz, a 2027 four-star point guard with Renaissance Hoops, recently picked up a 'Cuse offer. So did 2026 five-star forward Christian Collins of Team Why Not.

Over at the Adidas 3SSB circuit, 2026 five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr., 2026 four-star big man Asher Elson and 2026 five-star wing Abdou Toure, all of whom have Syracuse basketball offers, reached the quarterfinals. Rippey and Elson are with the New York-based New Heights, while Toure plays for the Boston-based BABC.

The Boston-based Middlesex Magic claimed 3rd place in the Under Armour Association ("UAA") playoffs. Two standouts for the Middlesex Magic are 2026 four-star wing/power forward Quinn Costello, who was offered by the Orange last month, and 2026 four-star point guard Ryan Moesch, who has interest from the Syracuse basketball staff.

Huge upsets
Entering Peach Jam, the 17U squad of the Washington, D.C.-based Team Takeover sported the top overall record from the spring and summer regular-season competition, at 14-1. But Team Takeover, led by Orange 2026 five-star priority target Jordan Smith Jr., went just 3-2 in Peach Jam pool play and didn't qualify for the tournament's quarterfinal round.

Top performers
Numerous Syracuse basketball recruits scored high praise from national analysts and scouts for their performances as the AAU leagues wrapped up their seasons. These 'Cuse targets include, but are not limited to:
•2026 five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. of the New York-based New Heights (Adidas)
•2026 four-star point guard Miles Sadler of the Phoenix-based Arizona Unity (EYBL)
•2027 five-star wing/forward Moussa Kamissoko of the Bronx, N.Y.-based PSA Cardinals (EYBL)
•2027 five-star guard/small forward Alex Constanza of the Marietta, Ga.-based Team Scoot (Puma's PRO16 league)
•2026 four-star wing/power forward Quinn Costello of the Boston-based Middlesex Magic (UAA)
•2026 four-star point guard Ryan Moesch of the Boston-based Middlesex Magic (UAA)
•2026 four-star power forward Maximo Adams of the Las Vegas-based Vegas Elite (EYBL)
•2028 five-star shooting guard Colton Hiller of the Bronx, N.Y.-based PSA Cardinals (EYBL)
•2026 five-star forward Christian Collins of the Los Angeles-based Team Why Not (EYBL)
•2027 four-star guard/wing Dooney Johnson of the Milwaukee-based Team Herro (EYBL)
•2027 five-star power forward CJ Rosser of the Charlotte, N.C.-based Team United (EYBL)

Orange coaches' watch
As the shoe-sponsored circuits culminated and champions were crowned, this past weekend was an NCAA-permitted live period, with Syracuse basketball on hand for various recruits. Based on my sources, media reports and social media posts, here are some high school prospects whom the Orange staff was in attendance for during the live period (this isn't an exhaustive list):
•2026 five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. of the New York-based New Heights (Adidas)
•2026 five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr. of the Washington, D.C.-based Team Takeover (EYBL)
•2026 four-star power forward Maximo Adams of the Las Vegas-based Vegas Elite (EYBL)
•2027 four-star point guard Anderson Diaz of the New York City-based Renaissance Hoops (EYBL)
•2026 four-star shooting guard Dakari Spear of the Irving, Texas-based Drive Nation (EYBL)