Syracuse basketball’s push into the 2028 class has taken it to another player from CIA Bella Vista, the Phoenix program that just finished as the national champion.
According to his Instagram page, the Orange have extended a scholarship offer to Isaiah Clarke, a 2028 four-star forward from Canada. Clarke is listed at 6-foot-7 and plays as a hybrid small forward/power forward. He’s set to spend the 2026-27 season at CIA Bella Vista, which competes in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic, better known as EYBL Scholastic.
Clarke previously played for Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto, where he was teammates with 2028 five-star wing Isaiah Hamilton. Hamilton also has a Syracuse offer and has since moved on to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla.
CIA Bella Vista’s profile only got louder this spring. In April, the Bears beat Montverde in the Chipotle Nationals championship game in Fishers, Ind., to claim the high school national title. CIA Bella Vista finished 26-4 in the 2025-26 season and was the unanimous No. 1 team in the country.
Syracuse is not alone in chasing Clarke. His offer list also includes Long Island University, Georgia Tech, UNLV, Florida State, New Mexico, St. Bonaventure, University of Illinois Chicago and Providence.
He’s also been producing for the Toronto-based Canada Elite 16U team, where he and Hamilton are both on the roster. Canada Elite is 7-1 so far, and Clarke is putting up 18.13 points, 4.75 rebounds and 1.63 assists per game while shooting 52 percent from the field, 30 percent from 3-point range and 77 percent from the free-throw line.
The recruiting industry has Clarke rated highly in the 2028 class. The 247Sports Composite has him at No. 85 overall, No. 12 among power forwards and No. 1 in Ontario. Rivals’ Industry Ranking has him at No. 92 nationally, No. 23 among small forwards and No. 1 in Edmonton.
June 15 opened the 2028 contact period, giving Syracuse’s staff the chance to begin direct communication with rising juniors. McNamara and his assistants have already handed out a wave of offers to 2028 prospects while also showing interest in other rising juniors.
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