NCAA penalties aside, next year’s Syracuse team should have a lot of fans excited based simply off of talent.  When the Orange was given a scholarship back, it meant that next year’s team could be even better if it could find someone to fill that next spot.  Luckily, a big man that SU was interested in pre-sanctions still hasn’t made his decision yet.
Taurean Thompson, a 6-foot-9, 200 pound forward out of New Jersey recently narrowed his list to just four schools, and unsurprisingly, the Orange made the cut.  Thompson will decide between Syracuse, Georgetown, Providence, and Seton Hall following his senior season, meaning a decision should be coming in March or April.
The 2016 season should be plenty of proof that depth in the frontcourt matters, and SU will have ridiculous depth come next year.  Dajuan Coleman, Tyler Roberson, and Tyler Lydon should be returning.  Syracuse will also be bringing in small forward Matthew Moyer, while center Paschal Chukwu will have served his one-year transfer sit out.  Factor in Thompson into that mix, and the Orange will have one of the deepest frontcourts in the ACC, let alone the nation.
Syracuse has been closely following Thompson for a while.  The four-star big man visited campus back in September and has been connected to the program since last May.  He is one of the best players in the country yet to decide on his college choice, which plays out very nicely for the Orange.  The interest that was shown earlier in 2015 gives Syracuse a great chance to land Thompson following the NCAA’s penalty reduction.
Thompson is currently attending Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, which has produced SU-level talent like CJ Fair, Ron Patterson pre-transfer, and Chris McCullough, who has finally started his NBA career following a torn ACL.  Moyer and Thompson have played against each other numerous times in high school, and Moyer is doing his due diligence to try and sway Thompson to choose the Orange.  Considering SU is competing with three Big East schools, it has an advantage in TV exposure and notoriety in the ACC, which should definitely be a main selling point.
Follow Taurean Thompson’s recruitment with The Fizz on Twitter @OrangeFizz.  Be sure to check in for all basketball recruiting news, especially when Thompson announces his college decision following his season.
