Syracuse Just Got A New Recruiting Problem With 5-Star Priority Target

Syracuse's hopes of securing five-star recruit Moussa Kamissoko hang in the balance as he transfers to powerhouse Spire Academy, joining a star-studded roster under renowned coach Kevin Boyle.

Syracuse basketball’s pursuit of Moussa Kamissoko just got a little more complicated.

The five-star wing and priority 2027 target is moving to Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio, for the 2026-27 high school season, a shift that became official on Wednesday night after rumors had been circulating for weeks. Kamissoko, who is set to visit Syracuse next week, had most recently played at Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y.

At 6-foot-8 and 180 pounds, Kamissoko is one of the headliners in his class. Rivals has ranked him as high as No. 8 nationally, and he now joins a Spire roster that is already loaded under head coach Kevin Boyle, who previously built several national title teams at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla.

Spire announced the move on social media, calling Kamissoko “one of the most elite players in the country” and pointing to his versatility as a major piece in the program’s push for a championship this season.

For Syracuse, the move matters because Kamissoko remains one of the Orange’s top priorities in the 2027 class. His senior-year stop at Spire puts him in a new setting alongside another elite group of talent, including 2027 five-star point guard King Gibson and 2029 five-star wing David Johnson.

Gibson picked up a Syracuse offer in mid-May, but the Orange no longer looks like a major factor in that recruitment. Johnson, a Rochester, N.Y., native who left Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., for Spire, previously had an offer from the former SU staff under Adrian Autry. He has not been re-offered by Gerry McNamara’s staff, though Inside the Loud House believes McNamara and his assistants will evaluate him as Syracuse gets more involved with 2029 prospects later on.

Kamissoko’s move also comes with a busy visit list. He has scheduled trips to Florida State, Syracuse, Virginia, Oklahoma State, BYU, Illinois, UConn, Louisville and Baylor.

Spire, which was part of the EYBL Scholastic last season, went 29-5 overall in 2025-26, finished 11-3 in regular-season play and reached Chipotle Nationals in Fishers, Ind. Multiple high school hoops experts have told Inside the Loud House that the program is viewed as a strong candidate to make another run at Chipotle Nationals this coming year.

There’s also broader movement around the high school landscape. Spire is an Adidas partner, and there have been rumblings about a possible new powerhouse league that could feature Adidas- or even Under Armour-sponsored teams, though nothing has been announced publicly.

Kamissoko’s production last season backs up the hype: he averaged 16.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

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