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There is no official frontrunner for Class of ’13 point guard Tyler Ennis, but Syracuse has a good chance to land him. And¬†if the Orange can get Ennis, it will be a recruiting victory with long term implications.
The Brampton, Ontario native is a top 5 point guard and a legitimate five-star talent, but has “four-year player” written all over him. Ennis (St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey) will likely contribute as a freshman wherever he goes, but doesn‚Äôt have the eye-popping athleticism that might influence him to leave early. He could also open the door for his teammate and fellow PG Isaiah Briscoe to follow three years from now. Ennis also has offers from Kansas, UConn, Georgetown, Maryland and Georgia Tech among others.
Sounds like he wants to team with his St. Benedict‚Äôs pal Briscoe down the road.¬†When the duo spoke with¬†The Fizz¬†at Syracuse‚Äôs Midnight Madness, they discussed playing together in college. That was before Briscoe‚Äôs freshman season even began at St. Benedict‚Äôs. Syracuse offered Briscoe, a PG in the Class of ’15, back in January. Briscoe says Ennis‚Äô decision won‚Äôt impact his, but here‚Äôs betting Ennis choosing SU might clinch it for Briscoe.
Briscoe is Kyrie Irving’s second cousin, but more importantly for the Orange, the brother of SU women’s basketball star Iasia Hemmingway. When asked how much time he spends on the Hill, Briscoe said, “Every time I get a break I’m up here working out, having fun.”
Ennis is the type of athlete that makes others around him better. He has a selfless mentality, and a game to back it up. Scouts agree the 6-foot-2, 175 pounder is a pass-first guard with excellent ball-handling skills, a high basketball IQ, and a blossoming jump shot. Distributing comes naturally to him, but he also figures to be a good enough shooter to keep defenses honest. He’s not an above-the-rim player, but he can still drive to score frequently.
St. Benedict’s Prep went 36-3 this season en route to a state title, with Ennis garnering Gatorade State Player of the Year honors in New Jersey. In a feature story on Ennis for SNY, Head Coach Mark Taylor had the highest of praise for his point guard.
“Tyler Ennis might have the best IQ out of any player I‚Äôve ever coached. And to go beyond that, he might have to most poise and calmness in crazy situations on the court, which makes it impossible for teams to rattle our team. That‚Äôs something as a point guard you can‚Äôt teach.”
That type of steadiness would be enormous for Syracuse as it transitions into a new league with new opponents, and delirious road venues like Cameron Indoor and the Dean Dome.
Before this season even begins, Syracuse could find itself stocked at point guard for years to come.
Quick Hitters
- An initial favorite in the Ennis sweepstakes, Arizona is now out of the race after two point guards transferred to play for the Wildcats.
- UCLA has emerged as a late sleeper for Ennis. The Bruins didn’t offer him a scholarship until early May, but they brought in a dynamite class this year and will have a potential opening at the point guard position.
- Ennis’s family lives in Buffalo, which could tip the scales in favor of the Orange.
- He takes pride in his Canadian nationality. If he chooses Syracuse, he’ll be continuing a well-established Canadian pipeline to SU.
Posted: Andrew Kanell
