It’s May 4th, and Syracuse still doesn’t have a top 100 recruit. That’s the storyline that has taken over the majority of the offseason amid the Orange’s disappointing postseason. While we at the Fizz have taken an in-depth look at why this year’s recruiting class can still be good, but in a different way, SU fans have gotten used to getting top tier recruits year-to-year and should expect nothing less from Jim Boeheim and his staff. With that being said, the Orange is still in hot pursuit of four star forward Jordan Tucker, who is also a consensus top 40 recruit. It was reported earlier in the week by Syracuse.com’s Mike Waters that Tucker is picking between SU and Georgia Tech in a decision that is expected shortly after the unofficial visit to Tech today. However, recent events and history favors the Orange in Tucker’s looming decision. Here are three reasons why:
Georgia Tech Just Signed A Similar Player
The Yellow Jackets received a commitment from Evan Cole, a 6-foot-8 forward whose dimensions are almost exactly the same as Tucker’s. You have to wonder if Josh Pastner saw the writing on the wall that it would take a miracle at Tucker’s unofficial visit to land one of the best players remaining on the market. Along with this, Tech is very invested in MJ Walker, who is a more highly-touted player than Tucker. The Yellow Jackets may be focusing more of their attention towards the guard since GT already has a pair of forwards in their 2017 recruiting class.
Syracuse Is Communicating All The Time
Adam Zagoria reported yesterday that Tucker hears from Syracuse “every day.” The Orange is in desperation mode right now, and Boeheim realizes this is his best chance at landing a top 100 guy for the coming year. Tucker was also very active on Twitter about his SU visit by posting a number of tweets about it as well as a picture of him in an Orange uniform, which he had to clear up to Syracuse fans that it was not a commitment quite yet. Along with that, Tucker has interacted with Matthew Moyer on Twitter about Moyer wearing Tucker’s #2. Hey Matt, wanna take one for the team and switch it up?
NBA Aspirations
The goal for all of these prospects is getting to the next level, and Tucker’s skillset is one that could definitely thrive in the league. Because of that, Syracuse makes sense for the forward. SU is the better basketball brand, no ifs, ands or buts. Over the past five years, the Orange has had an average of two players drafted. That trend is likely to continue this year as well with Tyler Lydon and Andrew White. Not to mention that Tyler Roberson could latch on with a Summer League team as well. During the last five years, Georgia Tech has had a just one player picked, Glen Rice Jr., and he is out of the league.
As much as it seems like Tucker is coming to the Hill next year, you can’t guarantee anything. It wasn’t too long ago that it seemed like Quade Green was a lock until he bolted for Kentucky. And let’s not forget, before Pastner was a head coach, he was an assistant at Memphis for who else, but John Calipari.
