Syracuse basketball’s new staff is wasting no time getting into the fight for the next wave of high school talent.
Under first-year head coach Gerry McNamara, the Orange are working heavily across the 2027, 2028 and 2029 classes, and for now, Rivals’ Recruiting Prediction Machine has Syracuse sitting in strong position with several key targets in the 2027 and 2028 cycles.
That picture can change quickly as visits stack up, lists tighten and Rivals analysts make formal predictions. But at this stage, the Orange are showing up near the top for a handful of prospects, including some of the most coveted names in the country.
In the 2027 class, Syracuse is currently No. 1 for five-star wing/small forward Moussa Kamissoko of Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y. The Orange also sit first for four-star power forward Zion Green of AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, Ariz., who took an unofficial visit to Syracuse in late August of last year.
Another 2027 target with Syracuse at the top of the RPM is four-star point guard J'Lon Lyons of Clinton Grace Christian School in Clinton, Md. Lyons is set to officially visit the Orange from September 11 to September 13, a source has confirmed.
Syracuse is also No. 1 for four-star wing Munir Greig of Coronado High School in Henderson, Nev., who is receiving interest from the coaching staff.
The 2028 board looks a little different, with Syracuse currently in the No. 2 spot for a trio of high-end prospects. That group includes five-star wing Isaiah Hamilton of Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., and five-star center Logan Chwastyk of Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, Pa., who was offered by SU last month.
The Orange are also No. 2 for five-star wing Kevin Wheatley Jr. of Masters Academy International in Stow, Mass. Wheatley Jr. unofficially visited Syracuse last December and continues to draw interest from the new staff.
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Anthony said he had a real relationship with Autry and spent the season getting a closer look at what the job demanded, even through the rough patches. He also addressed the benching at Virginia, saying Autry framed it as a basketball decision rather than a punishment, which gives a little more context to how the year unfolded behind the scenes. With Syracuse now heading into a new era, Anthonys perspective is one more reminder that the end of a coachs run is never only about wins and losses. [Read more 🡒]
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One of the most important additions is Vince Kehres, brought in from Toledo to help reshape the unit with an emphasis on effort, tackling and teamwork. His previous defense was far sturdier than Syracuses was a year ago, and now the real test is how much of that can carry over once the Orange start sorting out the details in camp, from the corners role in supporting the run to whether the pass rush can be rebuilt with help from the transfer market. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Adds Another Overseas Guard As Backcourt Questions Keep Growing
Syracuses backcourt continues to take shape with another overseas addition, as the womens basketball program has signed French point guard Claine Ricco for the upcoming season. Ricco arrives with a steady international rsum and is in the middle of representing France at the under-20 EuroBasket Tournament, where she has remained part of the national team pipeline after previous runs with Frances under-18 and under-19 squads.
For Syracuse, the move fits an offseason that has leaned heavily on players with international ties while the roster still has room to grow. The Orange currently list 13 players, and with SMU transfer Tyi Skinner expected to be the lead option at point guard, Ricco looks like another piece in a backcourt picture that is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]