Syracuse Basketball: In latest team top 25, 5-star commit at No. 1, others skyrocket

ESPN recruiting director Paul Biancardi unveiled his latest team top-25 rankings in high school hoops earlier this week, and several Syracuse basketball commits and targets are highly placed.

Three squads in Biancardi's most recent top 25 have Orange recruiting connections. They are the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix, and Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y.

All three of these powerhouse groups are part of the country's premier high school hoops conference, the 14-member Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic ("EYBL Scholastic").

In Biancardi's top 25, IMG is No. 1 nationally, while CIA Bella Vista is No. 12 and Long Island Lutheran is No. 17. Both IMG and CIA Bella Vista are off to fast starts in EYBL Scholastic play.

Syracuse basketball commits and recruits are suiting up for nationally ranked teams.

One of the standouts for IMG during the 2024-25 season is senior Sadiq White Jr. from Charlotte, N.C., who is a five-star forward and top-20 national prospect in the 2025 class. He is one of four signees in the Orange's 2025 cycle, which ranks in the top 10 overall, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

Another pledge for the 'Cuse in its 2025 class is four-star shooting guard and top-35 national prospect Kiyan Anthony from New York City. Anthony is a senior at Long Island Lutheran, although he has missed some games lately due to an injury.

On New Year's Eve, Anthony visited the Syracuse basketball program, and he was in attendance at the JMA Wireless Dome for the Orange's home game against Wake Forest, which the 'Cuse unfortunately lost, 81-71.

CIA Bella Vista has scored several impressive triumphs of late over nationally ranked opponents. In late October of last year, Syracuse basketball coaches offered scholarships to four talented players on the CIA Bella Vista 2024-25 roster.

They 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.

Toward the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign in high school hoops, I caught up with various analysts and scouts to get their take on which programs would prove significant contenders for an EYBL Scholastic regular-season crown and to make some serious noise at the season-ending Chipotle Nationals this spring.

Those experts noted both IMG and Long Island Lutheran. Based on its recent performances, I would add CIA Bella Vista to this list as well.