It may not be the Summer of Flip just yet, but it’s certainly getting hotter. Kyle Filipowski is turning heads across the AAU landscape and rising up the prospect rankings. He is pressing up in the rankings and will likely be a 5-star recruit by the time basketball season rolls around. He has a group of terrific programs lined up for official visits, including Duke, Ohio State and UCLA. First up was the Orange. Tristan Freeman at Busting Brackets released his rankings of best fits for the man they call “Flip.” Syracuse came in fourth.
“There are lots of positive factors when it comes to Filipowski possibly going to Syracuse. It‚Äôs a nearby option in terms of location and the forward fits with the Orange‚Äôs offense. He‚Äôs comparable to former forward Marek Dolezaj and along with top-30 commit Kamari Lands would create a great 2022 class, especially if top-50 center Donovan Clingan also joins.” – Busting Brackets
The good news is Filipowski’s impressive growth as a player has made him look like a potential anchor of any recruiting class. He’s 6′ 11″, with a huge wingspan, good handle, and smooth outside shot. The bad news is his surge has led blue bloods to jump into the fray instead of just schools in the northeast. The competition is hot. He’ll reportedly Zoom with the Duke staff on Wednesday.
“The biggest question though is how much longer head coach Jim Boeheim will be around. His sons, Buddy and Cornell transfer Jimmy Boeheim will be around for up to two years so Filipowski could be playing for multiple head coaches if he picks the Orange. He‚Äôll have to quell any potential rumors on the recruiting trail to potentially win this battle.” – Busting Brackets
UConn was third, Ohio State second, and Duke first. Filipowski is scheduled to speak with new head coach Jon Scheyer over Zoom. Freeman writes:
“He would be the ideal player to join the program and could start depending on who else they land. He would be a nice stretch forward that could be around for more than one season and provide roster stability while being a potential long-term star in the ACC. If Duke targets him strongly, it‚Äôll be hard to say no‚Ķ regardless of who the head coach is.” – Busting Brackets
Syracuse is absolutely in the mix to land Filipowski. The retirement of Coach K may be a good thing for SU. The unknown around Scheyer could help sway some prospects away from Durham. The Boeheim question has hovered around him for years, and since he still hasn’t given anyone insight into his eventual retirement, it’s hard to imagine it’s much of a deterrent for recruits. Proximity. Fit. Legendary coach. Syracuse has a lot going for it in this race.
