It’s hard to jump from a top 200 recruit to a top 100. It’s even harder to jump from unranked to top 60, but that’s exactly what has happened to Syracuse commit Chris Bunch. While this season has proven painful for plenty of SU fans, next year’s class provides the hope of renewed excellence.
The 2022 class is one of the best ever under Jim Boeheim, so much so it’s hard to imagine him not sticking around to coach them at least one season. On3 has filed its latest rankings and Bunch is the highest for the Orange class coming in. He’s up to 57th nationally, a 4-star talent, and the 14th best SF in the country. Not bad.
Rankings are clearly not always an indicator of success at the collegiate level, but it’s encouraging to see Bunch skyrocket up the rankings. When he committed to the Orange in October, here’s how The Fizz’s Cam Ezeir scouted him:
“The senior is a polished shooter off the dribble, with control of his handles and an aggression to the rim that turns heads. He also fits an SU system that flourishes off catch-and-shoot weapons, which Bunch has¬†continued to polish¬†over his high school career. His wing presence is uncanny whether as a decoy or main option.”
Bunch is the highest ranked Orange on the On3 list, with Justin Taylor coming in at 132nd. Bunch’s dad is Charlie Bell, a VP at Roc Nation. This put Bunch around some of the best talent in the game. Bell says, ‚ÄúHe‚Äôs learned from the best in the world. He can get in the gym with these top guys and he gets great advice from the best players in the world. They can tell him what he needs to do and what he needs to work on.”
Talk to people around the prep game and they see a potential star. Bunch has a game that can brings wows from the crowd, and a personality that is comfortable in front of the camera. He’s from an athletic family with two parents who competed at the D1 level, and an ease with celebrities around him. Rankings can be fickle, but there’s plenty of observers that think Bunch’s ranking is right on the money.
