Syracuse Basketball: Latest recruiting intel across 2026, 2027 and 2028 classes

As we await the start of Atlantic Coast Conference play for Syracuse basketball on New Year's Eve against Clemson on the Hill, let's delve into some recruiting updates across several classes.

Understandably, Orange recruiting enthusiasts are anxious about the fact that the program has yet to secure a commitment in the 2026 cycle. Part of the context here is that there is uncertainty as to whether head coach Adrian Autry and his staff will be leading the 'Cuse beyond the 2025-26 season. The team was just 14-19 in 2024-25 and likely needs to make a significant run toward getting into the upcoming NCAA Tournament for Autry and his assistants to remain in place.

Additionally, up to nine or even 10 players on the Orange's current roster could return, which means that the squad's 2026 class at the high school level was always likely to be small. Plus, as I've been told by sources, Syracuse basketball will be more focused on transfer portal recruiting after the 2025-26 campaign than prep recruiting.

Here is the latest chatter I've gathered about Syracuse basketball recruiting efforts.

2026 Class
It's pretty simple. The Orange's top target in this cycle is five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr., who has the 'Cuse in his top six and has unofficially visited the team twice. I outlined in another recent column where things stand with Smith in his recruiting process. Look for Syracuse basketball coaches to try and get Smith on an official visit to the Hill before he makes his college decision, which is expected to come anywhere between February and April.

Two other prospects to note. One is 2027 four-star wing/small forward Clyde Walters of the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite. The Orange offered a scholarship to Walters in late June of this year. In early December, Walters took an official visit to Syracuse basketball. I'm told it went well. Walters is a possible re-class candidate into the 2026 cycle. He'll likely make a decision on re-classifying this spring. The 'Cuse has a good chance to land Walters.

Then there's Calvin Russell lll. He's a five-star wide receiver out of Miami Northwestern Senior High School who is signed with Syracuse football in its 2026 class. Russell has said in the past that he'd like to play basketball in college, too. And he's really good at it, as I outlined over the summer. Russell is expected to enroll at SU for its spring semester that will start in January of next year, and I'm told that it's possible he could join Syracuse basketball for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. But a final decision doesn't appear to have been made.

Analysts have said that, besides Walters, several other 2027 high school prospects who hold offers from the Orange could be eyeing a potential re-class into 2026. They are four-star big man Theo Edema of the Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass., five-star wing/small forward Moussa Kamissoko of Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y., four-star point guard Anderson Diaz of the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite and five-star center Paul Osaruyi of CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix. Edema took an official visit to Syracuse basketball this past September, although another suitor, Maryland, has analyst buzz for him.

2027 Class
To date, I'm aware of at least 15 high school juniors who have picked up a scholarship offer from the Orange. One of them, four-star guard/wing Dooney Johnson of Milwaukee Juneau High School, has verbally pledged to Gonzaga. Here are the other 14 (in alphabetical order):
•Four-star power forward Donovan Davis of Freedom High School in Freedom, Wis.
•Four-star point guard Anderson Diaz of the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite
•Four-star center Theo Edema of the Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass.
•Five-star forward Zion Green of the Mt. Zion Preparatory Academy in Lanham, Md.
•Three-star wing DJ Hawkins of the St. Thomas More School in Oakdale, Conn.
•Four-star big man Isaiah Hill of Pike High School in Indianapolis
•Five-star wing/forward Moussa Kamissoko of Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y.
•Four-star point guard J'Lon Lyons of the Clinton Grace Christian School in Clinton, Md.
•Four-star center Cherif Millogo of St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge, Calif.
•Five-star power forward/center Paul Osaruyi of CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix
•Four-star shooting guard Patrick Otey of the St. Thomas More School in Oakdale, Conn.
•Four-star big man Caleb Ourigou of the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite
•Five-star power forward CJ Rosser of the Southeastern Preparatory Academy in Orlando, Fla.
•Four-star wing/small forward Clyde Walters of the Atlanta-based professional league Overtime Elite

As I've noted, Walters and Edema have officially visited the 'Cuse. At the beginning of October, the Orange staff was in for Green at Mt. Zion Prep. He also took an unofficial visit to the Hill in late August. Green, a top-10 national prospect in the 2027 cycle per Rivals, is arguably the top target for Syracuse basketball in this class.

Lyons got a visit from the 'Cuse in September amid the fall recruiting period, and he has expressed serious interest in visiting the Orange at some point. Two other 2027 targets to monitor are Hawkins and Otey, who both play at St. Thomas More. Syracuse basketball sophomore forward Tyler Betsey, a transfer from Cincinnati, also competed for St. Thomas More as a four-star, top-50 national prospect in the 2024 class.

2028 Class
I'm aware of at least 12 high school sophomores who hold a scholarship offer from the 'Cuse. In alphabetical order, they are:
•Guard Nico Antoniacci of Riverside Junior/Senior High School in Taylor, Pa.
•Four-star guard Ian Archbold of the Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.
•Five-star point guard Tai Bell of Mater Lakes Academy in Hialeah, Fla.
•Four-star small forward Will Brunson of the Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, N.J.
•Point guard Tyylon Ennis of Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas
•Five-star wing Isaiah Hamilton of the Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto
•Four-star wing Rezon Harris Jr. of Father Judge High School in Philadelphia
•Five-star wing Colton Hiller of Coatesville Area High School in Coatesville, Pa.
•Four-star center Toussaint Malukila of Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, N.J.
•Five-star wing Xavier Skipworth of the Bullis School in Potomac, Md.
•Four-star guard Carter Smith of the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia
•Five-star wing Kevin Wheatley Jr. of the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.

It's super early for the 2028 cycle. College coaches can't initiate direct communication with high school sophomores until the contact period opens in mid-June of next year. Still, there are a few recruits to keep an eye on.

In mid-November, the Orange staff was in for Smith at Penn Charter in Philly. Brunson took an unofficial visit to the Syracuse basketball program on December 17. I'm told that Brunson's visit went well, and that he was in attendance at the JMA Wireless Dome as the 'Cuse beat Mercyhurst, 76-62. Orange coaches could certainly dole out more 2028 offers, especially after the contact period opens.

One guy to watch is 2028 five-star point guard Michai White, who also plays at the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H. In late August, White suited up in Syracuse basketball's annual Elite Camp, and it wouldn't surprise me one iota if he secures a 'Cuse offer. White has an interest in visiting the team again, assuming he gets an offer, I'm told.

2029 Class
I've gotten wind of two offers in this cycle, which consists of high school freshmen. In alphabetical order, they are:
•Wing David Johnson of the Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va.
•Combo guard Isaiah Rider IV of Higley High School in Gilbert, Ariz.

The primary recruiting services haven't yet published player rankings for the 2029 class, however, Johnson and Rider are trending as five-star prospects. Last month, nbadraftroom.com named them among the top 15 high school freshmen around the country.