Five-star basketball recruit Sadiq White committed to Syracuse on Wednesday. He becomes the first SU commit in the class of 2025 and the second top-25 recruit of that year to sign to a school, per 247 Sports.
This is a huge signing for Orange head coach Adrian Autry and his staff. There are positive signs in recruiting, with young players trusting a program that has lacked consistent winning in recent years.
Transitioning from a nearly 50-year tenured head coach, Syracuse legend Jim Boeheim, to a younger Autry brings its challenges. Autry needs time to establish his recruiting strategy and get back on track.
Autry quickly adapted from being SU’s associate head coach (2016-2023) to taking over the program after Boeheim’s retirement. There were many questions surrounding Autry’s hire, and whether he’d be the right fit to be the face of Syracuse basketball. Despite missing the NCAA Tournament last season, Autry has proven many critics wrong with SU’s strong end to the regular season.
Looking at this year’s graduating class, the Orange have secured two excellent recruits for Central New York. Five-star forward Donnie Freeman is expected to play a big role at Syracuse this year, and four-star guard Elijah Moore was another significant addition for Autry.
White’s commitment is another step in the right direction for SU basketball. So, what makes Autry’s staff so appealing to young players?
“Just the genuine relationship that they had,” White said via 247 sports. “They haven’t missed a game all year both AAU and high school. They were there for every big moment for me this season. They gave me input on how they can see me getting better, how I can grow in their system and just trying to make me a pro and get me to the next level.”
The Orange are moving forward. If SU can make a consistent run in the regular season next year, more talent will be drawn to Syracuse.
