Class of 2026 CG Ryan Moesch (NY) COMMITTED TO SYRACUSE (4/14/26)

[Irishsecra1]

You often see lucky first time traders in the market who then think they are a genius and they wind up losing all their money from ill considered decisions.

Let's hope GMAC doesn't have the same problem. I absolutely agree GMAC did well mining for talent, finding good players that nobody else wanted for Siena. But a good player in the MAAC is different from a guy who can play in the ACC.

Obviously, a small sample size, but both Doty and Folefac held their own against Indiana and Duke.
If not for his ankle injury the second half of the Duke game, Doty would have scored more as well.
His pushoff really suffered in the second half so his makes were way down compared to the first half.

 

[Orangezoo]

Obviously, a small sample size, but both Doty and Folefac held their own against Indiana and Duke.
If not for his ankle injury the second half of the Duke game, Doty would have scored more as well.
His pushoff really suffered in the second half so his makes were way down compared to the first half.

If I were coach at any DMV program above Siena in the pecking order I’d be embarrassed to have missed on Folefac. This kid for sure developed under Gerry and AO but no way he didn’t have some serious game coming into college. He does a lot of mature and impressive things on the court for a freshman big man of that size.

 

[Irishsecra1]

If I were coach at any DMV program above Siena in the pecking order I’d be embarrassed to have missed on Folefac. This kid for sure developed under Gerry and AO but no way he didn’t have some serious game coming into college. He does a lot of mature and impressive things on the court for a freshman big man of that size.

He was literally a no star recruit, just like Doty.

 

[pearl31]

could be one of those uncanny kids who you look at and say what? him?! how?! like orangezoo was saying-
seems low risk high reward, time will tell

 

[RF2044]

Now that Moesch has comitted to SU, which I'm very pleased to see has happened btw, I'll add three things to this thread that I haven't said.
1. He's going to be a very good college PG when its all said and done. I hope he finishes he college career at SU and I hope he's able to develop well under GMAC - seems like as great a coach-player pairing as there ever was, though I'm sure there have been many other great ones.
2. He's got to learn to stay in front of quicker guards. His inability to do that will affect his playing time and this is not a huge knock. A lot of first year high school players can't stay in front of the person they're guarding. But, for the PG, this is a key necessity. Right now, Moesch is too small and too weak to fight through D-1 screens and he's going to struggle to keep people in front of him. Bully-Ball is a part of D-1 hoops. Moesch will struggle with this until he gets stronger. Take a picture of Gavin Doty's biceps and compare it to those of Moesch. Nuff said on this point. It's perfectly normal to have to physically mature to adjust to the college game, but make no misake, Moesch will need to do this to gain PT.
3. He needs a ton of work on his jump shot. In HS, he got away with a lot of things that D-1 ball doesn't allow to happen. Also, when he dirves into the lane, he's going to struggle to finish. This will be a big issue that can only be solved in the weight room. Lastly, he needs to stay on his feet more on defense. He jumps right out of plays in progress. He needs to stay low and when bigger players bring the ball down, he needs to make them pay by knocking it loose.

Moesch is GMAC's project. It's a noble one. It will be fun to watch. But don't expect much out of the gate. Give Moesch time to make the adjustment. That's my take.

Appreciate the level-setting perspective. Interesting "project" for sure. I could see it going either way [i.e., he's too small for the ACC, or he ends up developing and turns into a steal].

 

[sufan59]

could be one of those uncanny kids who you look at and say what? him?! how?! like orangezoo was saying-
seems low risk high reward, time will tell

Also, I feel much more comfortable about this pickup because of what is around him. It's one thing if our other guards were undersized as well. They are not. In fact, he's the shortest on the team by 5 inches right now excluding Lobdell. And he clearly has elite skills to be a 4 star at his size, would probably be a 5 start with more height. A deviation here makes sense when you consider the other parts of the guard room.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I'm higher on Moesch than most here having seen him play a bunch. His ranking is a direct reflection on his size and not his basketball acumen. Coming in I believe he has higher upside than Joe Girard. I don't believe he will be as good of a shooter, but does everything else better. The size will impact his defense, but I don't think he will have issues getting into the lane. He's quick, not fast. He can jump.

 

[RF2044]

I'm higher on Moesch than most here having seen him play a bunch. His ranking is a direct reflection on his size and not his basketball acumen. Coming in I believe he has higher upside than Joe Girard. I don't believe he will be as good of a shooter, but does everything else better. The size will impact his defense, but I don't think he will have issues getting into the lane. He's quick, not fast. He can jump.

How's his handle?

I also have questions about his ability to finish -- love lefty PGs who can get to the rim. But is he just quicker than most HS players [like a Mike Edwards, Josh Wright, Kaleb Joseph, or Jalen Carey] back lacks the handle to be a high major PG?

Or is that not an issue for him?

 

[Cusefan0307]

How's his handle?

I also have questions about his ability to finish -- love lefty PGs who can get to the rim. But is he just quicker than most HS players [like a Mike Edwards, Josh Wright, Kaleb Joseph, or Jalen Carey] back lacks the handle to be a high major PG?

Or is that not an issue for him?

I'm not worried about his handle at all. He got to the rim at ease in the NEPSAC. He always played well against some of the other good guards consistently mentioned on the recruiting board. My only concern here is he will have to develop a float game because I am not sure he will be able to finish some of those shots against 7 footers. I also think he needs a higher release on his jumper, but overall he's a good shooter.

 

[007]

How's his handle?

I also have questions about his ability to finish -- love lefty PGs who can get to the rim. But is he just quicker than most HS players [like a Mike Edwards, Josh Wright, Kaleb Joseph, or Jalen Carey] back lacks the handle to be a high major PG?

Or is that not an issue for him?

FWIW, Moesch's AAU coach this summer said in the Zags interview linked above: “Ryan Moesch is easily one of the best ball handling shiftiest and most elite ball screen DHO players we’ve ever had."

 

[dollarbill44]

If a freshman point guard is playing a lot of minutes we probably are in big trouble.

I think that depends on the PG. Some of the best PGs of all time started from day 1.
I concede that you probably mean Moesch, specifically.

 

[su4life25]

I, like Moesch played under John Clancy the long time Chittenango HS head coach. From age 9/10 onward, Clancy would have been the primary coach for Moesch up until he left for Cushing. Having played for Clancy.. I can say, he ran an extremely tight ship and has a very strong basketball IQ and does a hell of a job developing players with the proper fundamentals. Not only that, John is extremely analytical and had this professional approach to the game (game film, scouting report, practicing against different offensive and defensive systems). Just from my anecdotal evidence and knowing who that coach was in Moesch's ear most of his life makes me really excited about him. His BBALL IQ will be very high!

 

[MamesJungro]

I'm higher on Moesch than most here having seen him play a bunch. His ranking is a direct reflection on his size and not his basketball acumen. Coming in I believe he has higher upside than Joe Girard. I don't believe he will be as good of a shooter, but does everything else better. The size will impact his defense, but I don't think he will have issues getting into the lane. He's quick, not fast. He can jump.

I hope so! I believe that Joe G. holds the record for most games lost wearing a Syracuse uniform

 

[bnoro]

I'm higher on Moesch than most here having seen him play a bunch. His ranking is a direct reflection on his size and not his basketball acumen. Coming in I believe he has higher upside than Joe Girard. I don't believe he will be as good of a shooter, but does everything else better. The size will impact his defense, but I don't think he will have issues getting into the lane. He's quick, not fast. He can jump.

Really glossing over the defensive question marks there.

I think he has offensive ability, but if we can't hide his defense then we are in trouble whenever he is on the floor, especially when we hit the ACC part of the schedule.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I hope so! I believe that Joe G. holds the record for most games lost wearing a Syracuse uniform

That’s actually Frank Howard.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Really glossing over the defensive question marks there.

I think he has offensive ability, but if we can't hide his defense then we are in trouble whenever he is on the floor, especially when we hit the ACC part of the schedule.

He will compete there. If Clemson can get Joe Girard to play average defense in man to man it should be no problem for Moesch.

 

[MamesJungro]

That’s actually Frank Howard.

lol. I stand corrected

 

[albanycuse]

He looks like he was born to find the open man on the court. Excellent floor vision and nifty passes from some of his videos….

 

[orangefog]

That don’t impress me, Moesch. I mean, he’s got the look, but has he got the touch? Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s alright.

 

[rrlbees]

i see a cross between john stockton and jason kidd.

 

[rhcuse]

And a tinge of Pete Maravich

 

[baggerbob]

GMac & Billy Edelin might beg to differ.

Billy led Oak Hill to a consensus National Championship in high school. The competition he played against was a lot better then this kid has seen.

 

[Starman]

Dual/Mingo playing side by side could be interesting as well, with Tobiason playing SF during those minutes.

I think I had to take a Dual Mingo class before traveling abroad.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Billy led Oak Hill to a consensus National Championship in high school. The competition he played against was a lot better then this kid has seen.

Moesch has been in the NEPSAC for two years playing against D1 kids. He hasn’t been in Chittenango in quite some time.

 

[Giants1973]

Moesch has been in the NEPSAC for two years playing against D1 kids. He hasn’t been in Chittenango in quite some time.

He needs gain some weight and muscle