Rivals’ latest 2028 refresh puts a bright spotlight on Syracuse’s early recruiting board, with several Orange targets landing inside the national top 25 and a long list of four-star prospects spread across the top 100.
First-year head coach Gerry McNamara and Syracuse’s new staff have already offered scholarships to at least 16 players in the high school junior class since the contact period opened on June 15. The cycle is still young, and more offers are likely to come, but the current crop already gives a clear look at where some of the priority names stand in the updated rankings.
At the top of the list is Mason Collins, the four-star wing from The Tatnall School in Wilmington, Del. Rivals slots him at No. 6 overall, No. 2 among shooting guards and No. 1 in Delaware.
Another major name is Isaiah Hamilton, a four-star wing from Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla. He comes in at No. 13 nationally, No. 2 at small forward and No. 4 in Florida.
Logan Chwastyk, a four-star center from Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, Pa., checks in at No. 16 overall, No. 6 at center and No. 2 in Pennsylvania.
The Orange also have interest in Liam Mitakaro, a four-star point guard from CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix. He sits at No. 18 nationally, No. 2 at point guard and No. 1 in Arizona.
Kevin Wheatley Jr., a four-star wing from Iowa United Prep in Des Moines, Iowa, lands at No. 20 overall, No. 3 at small forward and No. 1 in New Hampshire.
A little farther down the board, Tai Bell is ranked No. 26 overall. The four-star point guard from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami is No. 4 at his position and No. 5 in Florida.
Syracuse target Xavier Skipworth, another four-star wing out of Montverde Academy, is ranked No. 31 overall, No. 8 at small forward and No. 8 in Florida.
Settimo Yugu, a four-star forward from CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix, comes in at No. 40 nationally, No. 7 at power forward and No. 3 in Arizona.
Isaiah Carter, a four-star wing from St. James Academy in Springfield, Va., is ranked No. 41 overall, No. 9 at shooting guard and No. 1 in Virginia.
The list continues with Rowan Phillips, a four-star combo guard from Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, Pa. Rivals has him at No. 60 overall, No. 13 at shooting guard and No. 3 in Pennsylvania.
Rounding out the group is Carter Smith, a four-star combo guard from William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia. He checks in at No. 87 nationally, No. 16 at point guard and No. 6 in Pennsylvania.
For Syracuse, the message from this Rivals update is simple: the board is already stocked with highly rated 2028 talent, and plenty of those names are sitting near the top of the national rankings.
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Syracuse Gets Another Chance To Prove Oddsmakers Wrong
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Virginia comes in at 3-2 and is trying to bounce back from a loss to Florida State, so there is enough on paper to suggest a competitive game. For Syracuse, though, the bigger question is whether it can again turn skepticism into leverage and give oddsmakers another reason to rethink where this group belongs. [Read more 🡒]