With all the Syracuse basketball noise made by Taurean Thompson and Andrew White this summer, it’s easy to forget the Orange hasn’t been making many moves in the 2017 recruiting class. Syracuse may be set for the 2016-17 season, but after this year the Orange will lose White, John Gillon, Tyler Roberson, Dajuan Coleman and anyone else who decides to go pro. This team might be one of the deepest Jim Boeheim has ever had, but next year’s squad will have a lot of holes to fill. Earlier this week, the Orange got a step closer to getting its first commitment of the cycle when Brandon Randolph listed Syracuse in his top four.
Brandon Randolph has narrowed his list to Arizona, Oregon, Syracuse and Wake Forest. Top 50 prospect that can score it.
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) September 13, 2016
Randolph is a four-star guard out of Yonkers, NY. He’s listed at 6-6, and is No. 40 in the ESPN 100 rankings. He’s long and can score the ball in a variety of ways, but Randolph’s offer sheet speaks more to his talent than anything else. North Carolina, Kansas, Arizona, Indiana, Louisville, and the list goes on. There’s a lot of competition for Randolph’s services, and after a big cut Syracuse is still in the mix.
Randolph’s length makes him an easy fit into the Boeheim system, and Randolph could have an immediate opportunity to play if he chooses the Orange. The only guard you can be confident Syracuse will have after this season is Frank Howard, and while Howard might end up being the most improved player on the team this year, Boeheim will never want him starting at the two. Tyus Battle — the only other guard who isn’t a senior or graduate transfer — could be SU’s next one-and-done. No matter how it plays out, Syracuse needs a guard or two, and Randolph could be the man for the job.
Posted: Nathan Dickinson
