Prior to this summer, the recruiting scene was all guns a blazing at Syracuse. Now, the trail is starting to dissipate and for good reason. With a top 5 2022 recruiting class incoming, and three commits representing it, the plethora of talent still interested in SU starts to become an issue of too many cooks in the kitchen.
That’s the exact problem surrounding the lead on four-star Chance Westry. With Kamari Lands, Justin Taylor and Quadir Copeland all on their way to CNY, where could Westry fit, if at all?
It’s a question that has only one answer. If you’re SU, above all, find him a spot no matter what. The Pennsylvania native put on a show during the Peach Jam tournament this summer, where top talent from all over the country showcase their skills. His 6-foot-6, 190-pound frame also speaks for itself.
His ability to attack the basket and pull up from deep range is uncanny and a trait that many stretch-4 players don’t have entering the college game.
A positive for SU in the chase for for Westry is its stellar class and the fact that both he and Lands transferred to the same school for their senior campaigns, Hillcrest Prep in Arizona. It’s a chance for the duo to see if they complement or deter each other when on the floor, which is exactly what Taylor and Copeland are now doing at IMG Academy in Florida.
That being said, Lands and Westry are both small forwards, which could lead to competition and ultimately the two vying for playing time over the other, rather than sharing the floor together. That’s the biggest caveat and what traces back to the “too many cooks in the kitchen” sentiment.
Although basketball has transformed into a position-less game, it has to be taken with a grain of salt. SU is still widely-known to play two guards, two forwards and a center, with a power forward occasionally manning the middle. Lands and Taylor supposedly have those two forward spots locked down, so unless Westry can join Copeland in the backcourt, or one of the new commits is fine with taking a 6th man role, it doesn’t look like Westry can find a desirable fit at Syracuse.
These hypotheticals are with the unsure nature of Joe Girard’s return, and much of the same with Benny Williams and any other recently transferred player or returnee.
Plus, 247Sports has added LSU to Westry’s current trio of crystal ball predictions.
Overall, Westry ending up at SU is slim, with an already strong recruiting class being a possible advantage or the culprit that sees him in another uniform.
