So you guys have probably heard by now but this Jalen Carey guy committed to Syracuse on Thursday and he’s pretty good at basketball. The four-star point guard from New Jersey now joins Darius Bazley (who is pretty excited about it) and the prodigal son Buddy Boeheim in SU’s strong class of 2018. And Syracuse might not even be done. With the addition of Carey, Scout.com is calling the Orange’s 2018 class the 8th best in the entire country. Now anytime Syracuse brings in a recruiting class with that ranking it’s going to be helpful for the program. However, the timing of this specific class and the addition of Carey makes this one the most impactful incoming group in program history. And here’s why.
For starters, the Syracuse program has been on a gradual decline for quite some time now. With Boeheim’s exit nearing closer, SU has been nothing but a mediocre ACC team lately. And with the program’s main recruiter, Mike Hopkins, bolting for Washington in the offseason, the outlook was looking bleak. The 2017 class was underwhelming to say the least and the loss of  Tauren Thompson means SU could be riding the bubble again this year for the third straight season. But now every Orange fan can breathe a sigh of relief because Carey and Bazley have the potential to bring Syracuse back to the upper-echelon of the ACC. I mean, even assuming Tyus Battle jumps for the 2018 draft next year,  SU’s projected 2018-19 roster is scary talented.
Guards: Jalen Carey, Elijah Hughes, Frank Howard, Howard Washington
Forwards: Darius Bazley, Matt Moyer, Oshae Brissett, Marek Dolezaj, Buddy Boeheim
Centers: Paschal Chukwu, Bourama Sidibe
Seriously, can we just skip this upcoming season and fast forward to 2018-19? That’s 11 guys with potential to make an immediate impact. I know it‚Äôs a little premature to get excited over that because things will certainly change, but on paper that team has the potential to scare the likes of Duke and UNC in the ACC. Something Syracuse hasn‚Äôt sniffed in four years. Boeheim has to look at the sheer number of athletic wings at his disposal and start salivating. The five forwards listed above bring endless lineup possibilities and a plethora of matchup problems. On top of that, Carey fills a need for Syracuse at point guard. All the best Orange teams have had solid floor generals and Carey has the talent to make an impact immediately. With the uncertainty of Boeheim‚Äôs future, sanctions and an underwhelming season last year, Syracuse was sliding towards the dreaded mediocrity. But now in comes Jalen Carey and the 2018 recruiting class at the perfect time. And all of the sudden, SU now looks to be back on the fast track to the top of the ACC where it belongs. One recruiting class has never been so needed in program history and one recruiting class has never changed as much as the 2018 class.
