The Syracuse basketball coaching staff is heading into the weekend with a clear mission: keep building momentum on the recruiting trail. With a loaded showcase set to unfold in Brooklyn, the Orange are expected to have a presence at the 2025 Jordan Holiday Classic - a two-day event that’s become a magnet for four- and five-star talent from across the country.
Assistant coach Brenden Straughn, widely respected for his recruiting chops and deep connections - especially in the DMV area - is expected to be in attendance. And make no mistake, this isn’t just a casual trip to NYC. This is about face time with some of Syracuse’s biggest long-term priorities, including their top target in the 2026 class.
Let’s start with the marquee matchup on Sunday afternoon. At 1:30 p.m.
ET, NBA TV will broadcast a heavyweight showdown between Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) and St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.).
It’s a game loaded with high-level prospects, but for Syracuse fans, all eyes will be on St. Paul VI’s Jordan Smith Jr.
Smith, a 2026 five-star shooting guard and consensus All-American, has been at the top of Syracuse’s board for a while now. The Orange offered him back in May 2023, and they’ve been relentless in their pursuit ever since.
Smith has already taken two unofficial visits to campus and recently included Syracuse in his top six. With Straughn’s strong ties to the DMV and a close relationship with Smith, it’s hard to imagine he won’t be courtside when Smith takes the floor Sunday.
On the other side of that game, Long Island Lutheran features another name to watch: 2027 five-star wing Moussa Kamissoko. Syracuse extended an offer to Kamissoko roughly a year ago, and while he’s still early in his recruitment, he’s firmly on the radar. His combination of size, length, and versatility on the wing makes him a prospect worth tracking as the Orange begin to shape their 2027 board.
Earlier in the day, at 10:00 a.m. on NBA TV, Mt. Zion Prep (Lanham, Md.) will take on Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) in another high-profile clash.
Mt. Zion’s Zion Green - a five-star forward in the 2027 class - is Syracuse’s top target in that cycle.
Green took an unofficial visit to campus in late August and has already hosted the entire Orange coaching staff during an open gym in October. He’s a top-10 national prospect with elite athleticism and a developing offensive game that’s already drawing national attention.
If Syracuse can stay in the mix here, it could be a major recruiting win down the line.
Another name to keep an eye on during the weekend is Theo Edema, a 2027 four-star big man out of Cushing Academy (Ashburnham, Mass.). Edema officially visited Syracuse in September and continues to be a frontcourt prospect the Orange are evaluating closely. He’ll be in action Sunday at 6:30 p.m. when Cushing takes on Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.).
This weekend is more than just a scouting trip - it’s a chance for the Syracuse staff to reinforce relationships, show presence, and stay in front of the elite talent that could shape their future. With top targets across multiple classes taking the court in one gym, the Jordan Holiday Classic is a prime opportunity for the Orange to make an impression that lasts well beyond the final buzzer.