Syracuse basketball assistant coach Ben Lee made a recent stop at AZ Compass Prep’s Pro Day, according to social media posts, putting the Orange in the middle of one of the country’s most talent-packed prep settings.
AZ Compass Prep, based in Chandler, Ariz., plays in the 15-team Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic, a league widely viewed as the top prep basketball conference in the country. The Dragons have built a roster loaded with high-end prospects, and their talent was on full display as college coaches gathered for the event.
The school also put up another strong season in 2025-26, going 25-3 overall and reaching the semifinals of the Chipotle Nationals in Fishers, Ind. AZ Compass Prep finished as a top-five national team that year, according to outlets including ESPN and MaxPreps.
For Syracuse, the most notable name to keep tabs on is Darren Ford. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard from Monroe, La., is a 2028 prospect ranked inside the top 50 nationally in his class by several recruiting services, and Inside the Loud House is told the Orange staff is evaluating him.
Ford is part of a deep AZ Compass Prep group that also includes 2028 five-star combo guard Jakyi Miles, 2027 five-star wing/forward Demarcus Henry, 2027 four-star forward Kur Lual, 2028 four-star wing Dreylon Okey, 2027 four-star guard Jimmie Haywood and 2028 four-star point guard Malachi Kaffey.
At this point, Inside the Loud House isn’t aware of any AZ Compass Prep player who has landed a scholarship offer from Syracuse’s new staff under first-year head coach Gerry McNamara, other than 2027 four-star forward Zion Green. Green took an unofficial visit to Syracuse in late August of last year, though McNamara and his staff are not pursuing him now.
In late August, AZ Compass Prep head coach Pete Kaffey described his 2026-27 team, which mixes returnees with new faces, as "super talented" and said it has a strong blend of younger players and veterans. Syracuse’s presence at Pro Day suggests the Orange are keeping a close eye on that group.
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