There is a whole lot of buzz surrounding Syracuse Men’s Basketball right now. The Orange are off to a hot start and have a lot of exciting non-conference games on the docket. Plus, the recruiting class of 2022 has been hyped up to be the best in the Jim Boeheim era. So, how do you follow that talented of a class? Well, you go and target some of the biggest names in the following year.
Boeheim and company are already hard at work recruiting the class of 2023. The Orange have extended six scholarship offers, all to top-100 players. While SU has a small forward and power forward on the list, it is really the backcourt that is being targeted.
This approach makes sense when you think about the current construction of Syracuse’s roster. By the time the class of 2023 comes to town, Buddy Boeheim will be gone and Joe Girard could be depending on if he uses his extra year of eligibility. Without them, the Orange are left with Symir Torrence and Quadir Copeland, pending any transfers. So, in two years the backcourt is going to be pretty thin.
Syracuse always needs a strong big man, and the Fizz has advocated for it before. However, the class of 2023 might be the one exception that focusing on the guards is a good idea. The Orange have four offers out right now to backcourt players. Let’s meet them.
DJ Wagner – Combo Guard – 5 Stars
The major headliner of the class of 2023 is DJ Wagner. The New Jersey-native is 6-foot-3, 165 lbs. and holds a five-star rating. Not to mention, Wagner is the No. 1 overall recruit in the class according to 247Sports. With the high ranking comes a lot of suitors, including the oh-so-dangerous Kentucky Wildcats. That is where multiple experts are predicting Wagner to go, so don’t get your hopes up on this one Syracuse fans.
Aden Holloway – Point Guard – 4 Stars
Aden Holloway is a 6-foot-0 guard from La Lumiere School, the same high school as JJ Starling. The North Carolina-native is the No. 54 overall recruit and No. 10 point guard in his class. He has taken a dip in the rankings in recent months, but is still seen as one of the more underrated point guards in 2023. Holloway isn’t your stereotypical Syracuse guard though. The Orange usually look for lengthy guys to play at the top of the zone. Holloway isn’t that. He is smaller than most and relies on his quickness and shooting. He’d be a great get for SU, however, despite not fitting the usual mold. Just watch out for Notre Dame, who also has an offer out to Holloway.
Elijah Fisher – Shooting Guard – 5 Stars
Elijah Fisher is the best shooting guard in the class of 2023, according to the 247Sports rankings. The Ontario-native boasts a five-star rating and the No. 17 overall spot. At 6-foot-6, 195 lbs., Fisher is a big dude. He is strong, long and built — the perfect fit for both the top of the zone and the wing. Fisher has played for the Canadian National Team and considered going the G-League route, but ultimately wants to go to college. Syracuse has a good history with recruiting prospects from Canada, but one has to wonder how Quincy Guerrier‚Äôs transfer will impact SU‚Äôs ability to do that. Plus, reports are saying Fisher is high on Kansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma State.
Blue Cain – Shooting Guard – 4 Stars
Blue Cain is one of the quickest risers in the national rankings as of recent. Just a couple months ago, the Tennessee-native was unranked. Now, he is No. 70 overall and the No. 16 shooting guard. Cain is 6-foot-4, 180 lbs. He’s not the biggest of players, but he is the definition of a marksman. Cain can shoot the lights out from the outside, which is what Syracuse is always looking for. Right now, the only power-five offers he has are SU, South Carolina, Georgia Tech and Tennessee. Obviously you need to watch out for the hometown Volunteers, but other than that, the Orange are in a good spot to land Cain.
