The momentum around Syracuse recruiting has been high over the last six months, but it took a bit of a hit this weekend. Mikey Lewis, a 2024 four star guard who SU offered, released his top six options, and the Orange are not one of them.
Lewis is a 6’3 170 pound combo guard from Napa, California. Syracuse wanted him, but Lewis will instead head to one of Illinois, LSU, St. Mary’s, San Diego State, Ole Miss or Kansas to play his college ball a year from now.
Lewis attends Prolific Prep in California, the same school that Frank Anselem attended, so the Syracuse coaching staff connections are certainly there.
It’s one of very few hiccups Adrian Autry has had early in his tenure as head coach. From a recruiting perspective, things have gone swimmingly so far. It began with getting a commitment from Elijah Moore in January as his lead recruiter under Jim Boeheim.
Moore is a top 100 prospect as a four star guard. Autry held on to him when he took over as head coach. He also added Donnie Freeman, a four star forward and top 50 player in the class of 2024. The building of that class is certainly not over. Syracuse is in pursuit of plenty of other players in that class despite it already being good.
It’s ranked 10th in the entire country by 247Sports and fourth in the ACC, behind North Carolina who’s first, Duke ranked seventh and NC State at number nine.
That goes along with a highly touted transfer class that Autry has recruited this year. It’s ranked 11th in the country by 247, and is led by JJ Starling, who is the fifth best transfer player overall. Chance Westry, Naheem McLeod and Kyle Cuffe round out the group.
In recruiting, you can’t get everybody. It’s important to cast a wide net because there will be plenty of players who say “no.” In fact, many more will say “no” than those who say “yes.” So, while Syracuse was obviously interested in Lewis and it’s unfortunate that the Orange are no longer in contention for his services, it certainly doesn’t take away from what Autry and his staff have done thus far.
