The new Syracuse basketball staff, led by first-year head coach Gerry McNamara, is among numerous high-major programs that have recently been in touch with 2028 three-star wing and top-80 national prospect Enmanuel Valera Melo, according to recruiting analysts.
On June 15, the contact period opened for 2028 prospects, allowing college coaches to start initiating direct communication with rising high school juniors. Since the 2028 contact period opened, McNamara and his assistants have reached out to a variety of players in this class, with some of those rising juniors picking up scholarship offers from Syracuse basketball.
Four-star 2028 prospect Emmanuel Valera has heard from Stanford, Northwestern, Marquette, Syracuse, Florida State, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, his coach told @Stockrisers.
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) June 18, 2026
The 6-foot-6 Valera Melo, who hails from the Dominican Republic, is hearing from schools such as the Orange, Stanford, Northwestern, Marquette, Florida State, Mississippi State, Notre Dame and Illinois, according to posts on X from analysts.
2028 wing Enmanuel Valera Melo of @PSACardinals / @phelpshoops has heard from a number of schools this week, per his coach.
— Trent Watson 💎 (@Trentw_23) June 19, 2026
He lists interest from Stanford, Northwestern, Marquette, Syracuse, Florida State, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, & Illinois. pic.twitter.com/ObWvkZjLFP
Valera Melo attends The Phelps School in Malvern, Pa. On the AAU circuits this spring and summer, he is playing up a division for the 17U team of the Bronx, N.Y.-based PSA Cardinals in Nike’s EYBL league.
Syracuse basketball is showing an interest in 2028 3-star wing Enmanuel Valera Melo.
According to recruiting services and his Instagram page, Valera Melo's early scholarship offer sheet includes schools such as Illinois, Mississippi State, TCU, La Salle, Manhattan, High Point and Wyoming.
The development of Emmanuel Valera-Melo at Phelps will be one to monitor.
— New England Recruiting Report NERRHoops (@NERRHoops) December 17, 2025
The big sophomore from the Dominican Republic brings fluid scoring to the court, thriving as a shooter, but has some craftiness and handle in his bag that is intriguing.@NewHeightsNYC @phelpshoops pic.twitter.com/hq4JSmqieH
From June 1 to June 7, Valera Melo played for the Dominican Republic during the 2026 FIBA U18 AmeriCup in León, Mexico. As the Dominican Republic went 3-3 overall, he averaged 24.2 minutes, 7.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
This spring and summer, for the PSA Cardinals, Valera Melo is averaging 5.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest while connecting on 37.3 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from 3-point land and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line.
One of his PSA Cardinals teammates in the 17U division is 2027 five-star wing/small forward Moussa Kamissoko out of Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y. The new Orange staff is in pursuit of Kamissoko, analysts say.
Within the 2028 class, the industry-generated 247Sports Composite places Valera Melo at No. 81 overall, No. 29 at small forward and No. 6 in Pennsylvania. Over at the industry-generated Rivals Industry Ranking, he is No. 89 nationally, No. 20 at small forward and No. 6 in Pennsylvania. Rivals has Valera Melo at No. 79 around the country in his cycle.
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