In just a few hours 4-star wing Chris Bunch will choose between Syracuse, Washington and Rutgers. The Orange would round out an impressive Class of ’22 if Bunch joins. They already have a quartet of talent coming in, with the last open position in the starting five coming at SF. Point Quadir Copeland, shooting guard Justin Taylor, power forward Maliq Brown and center Peter Carey would welcome a top-60 player nationally who can shoot and finish. Not a bad future starting lineup for SU.
Of course, that’s unlikely to happen because of all the movement in the transfer portal these days. Which brings us to SU’s west coast rival and old friend, Washington’s Mike Hopkins. The Huskies have battled the Orange for top recruits in the past, and it just so happens Jim Boeheim’s longtime top lieutenant is one of the finalists as well for Bunch.
The Fizz scouted the game film and analyzed the type of player Bunch is.
Here’s the tale of the recruiting tape:
Syracuse: Bunch has said Boeheim is the reason he’d join the Orange. He admires the legendary status of the Hall of Famer. He also says his priority is to win. There’s no doubt, SU gives him the best chance to do that. The Orange have made multiple deep March runs in recent years, and should be a tourney team again this season. Bunch is a showman, and likes the attention. He’s bright, and smooth speaking in front of a camera. Syracuse certainly brings a bigger brand, bigger crowds, and a bigger stage than the other two schools. The downside for the Orange may be the deep recruiting class. Bunch has said he wants to play, and he wants to be a centerpiece. Could four other incoming freshman, plus the existing talent that may return in ’22-’23 sway him away?
Washington: Bunch loves the energy of Hopkins. He likes Hop’s enthusiasm and positivity. Here’s guessing “enthusiasm and positivity” aren’t adjectives he’d describe Boeheim with. But the Huskies are coming off a terrible year and Hop is trying to rebuild everything on the fly with a big transfer class. It’s his only West Coast option (in a fantastic West Coast city) as a California kid, and Hop would know the secrets to beating SU on the recruiting trail.
Rutgers: Bunch says he loved how Coach Pikiell brought energy and a fun vibe to Piscataway. He described it as a “place to be,” and a “basketball school.” Boeheim and staff should show Bunch the last decade of SU football to prove how much they’ve become a “basketball school.” Rutgers is coming off its best season in years and would certainly make Bunch the focal point.
Crystal Ball prediction: Syracuse. The positives far outweigh the negatives and the competition. Bunch will embrace the attention of the ACC and 30K at the Carrier Dome.
