Yesterday, Syracuse reeled in its second big fish in the class of 2022! Justin Taylor, a 6-foot-6 wing from Charlottesville, VA, committed to the Orange last night. Taylor boasts plus shooting ability, underrated vision, and plenty of length (some call him Buddy Boeheim 2.0).
After a rough year on the ‘crooting trail, with a hyperextended dead period because of COVID, the Dior Johnson saga, and the Wild West environment of the transfer portal, SU has bounced back in the best way possible. The class of 2022 rankings are below, and the Orange sit in a prime spot.
Ohio State’s best player in their class is Roddy Gayle, who Syracuse was inches away from landing. UCLA is West Coast or bust, an area the Orange don’t usually target. LSU’s recruiting methods have the Tigers’ athletic department fielding investigative calls from the NCAA on a yearly basis. So SU is doing something right.
It might not just be something, but someone, who’s vaulted the Orange to the front of the recruiting conversation. Gerry McNamara has been Syracuse’s lead man for both four-star forward Kamari Lands and now Taylor.
McNamara’s success as a four-year player for Jim Boeheim speaks volumes. Lands and Taylor might not know much about G-Mac’s playing career, but their parents do. Not only did McNamara graduate from Syracuse, but he left with over 2,000 points scored, and his final game set an NCAA attendance record with over 33,000 packing the Dome. Both Lands and Taylor could have NBA potential after two or three years in Orange, so G-Mac’s freshman year is their dream. Start every game your freshman year, make a deep tournament run, become an SU legend. And most importantly, earn Jim Boeheim’s respect.
We’ve all heard the conversations about Syracuse’s next head coach. Let’s not worry about that right now. While Mike Hopkins is struggling in Washington, the Orange have another ace recruiter. And he’s finding Syracuse’s next generation of greats.
