Class of 2026 G/SF Asher Elson (NY / OTE) to Xavier
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OttoinGrotto
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I don't know how serious of a player we are for an early signing, but I'd really like this guy to be Orange.
AngryOtto
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If he is watching freeman and white he can see how he fits into the offense and defense.
My feeling exactly, unless there is now so much confidence in the direction of this program after the way we have started, it's safe for him to commit now. Donnie is clearly on the path to the NBA after this season.
Totally agree, I would have to imagine the idea is that White would take Freeman role next season and Elson would take White role. It seems like they have been basically prioritizing Elson, Smith, and Rippey up until now. I know there is a portal, but will there be guys to replace the athletic level of Freeman? Which it seems like Elson is the type of forward needed to run the system they have put in place. Possibly they find that in the portal, but those level of athletes are typically at programs that can afford and will prioritize retaining their best athletes.
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cuseallday
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I am not expecting Syracuse to prevail here, but you never know with this recruiting stuff!
cuseallday
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FYI:
2026 class is not necessarily the easiest to recruit for given the amount of guys on the roster currently that can realistically return, as well with general uncertainty of Autry's future in the program, I think we see a path where he can completely shut up the noise ( I think he atleast is starting too right now, we see an identity for the first time of what they are trying to do and are doing since he became a coach) as soon as a few weeks from now. Also, they seem to be very tactical now in the type of player they want. You just hope that if they don't pick up the type of player (I'm thinking very athletic types that can play defense), they can find the equivalent in the portal. I'm cautiously optimistic for this season and think it will be a success to the point that Autry will be the coach in 2026-2027, but at year 4, it's crucial for sustainability that they have the type of roster to be close to, at, or even better of what they did in year 3. We don't want a Dino situation, especially for our basketball program.
cuseallday
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A couple of things are in play. Number one, Syracuse and every other high-major program are focused more on the portal these days, especially with rev-share now available, as opposed to high school recruiting (save for the top, top prep recruits). Number two, Syracuse could bring back 9 (or 10 if Kingz gets another year) guys from the current roster. Not saying that all of them will return, but that's a factor. Most importantly, as far as I can tell, high school recruits want to see how Syracuse fares on the court this season. If the team is good, and there's stability with the current coaching staff, that's good. If the team stinks, and the staff is let go, that's a factor, too. I wouldn't get too hung up on Syracuse "striking out" on prep recruits right now...Syracuse can also go after 2027 re-class guys later this year and into next year. And to reiterate, it's really mainly about the portal these days, as well as roster retention.
hoopsupstate
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Unless you get the very cream of the crop (Rippey, Smith) we need impact players from the portal who can step right in and play next year. Few freshmen, unless highly regarded are going to come in as bigs and get huge minutes. We will need a couple of bigs next year to round out the roster.
cuseallday
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Totally agree. I'd rather retain guys like Kiyan, Sadiq, Tyler Betsey, etc., than bring in a top-50 or top-100 kid from high school. No disrespect at all to Asher, Vaughn Karvala, etc., but that's just where the game is today or, more importantly, Syracuse's current roster. And you're spot on regarding bigs!
Orangefizz
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I would look at Asher as a backup on next year‘s roster to Sadiq. I don’t think we’re going to get a high level portal power forward, unless we want Sadiq to leave.
As for a center next year, I want a portal player to step in and start
Cuse_NYC
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We may all be in for a surprise if Sadiq bolts. The pro athleticism is there. Scouts aren’t dumb. He’ll have his games and people will notice.
hoopsupstate
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Sadiq is going nowhere. He has no body for the NBA. He would get absolutely punished in the NBA. He has the body of a perimeter player but a game that plays near the rim.
Orangefizz
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That’s why our new hoops S&C coach is pivotal. Hopefully he can gain bulk for his second year.
Todoubled23
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Waiting for mods to tell us off...but if Sadiq improves and showcases more playmaking and a little shooting consistently he'd be like a taller Ausar/Amen Thompson who profile very much like him (with a higher skillset than Sadiq right now).
Both twins are absolutely menacing on defense and provide lob/transition offense. Granted both were measured at 6'6/6'7 with shoes (SIX SEVENNNN) but both are very lean muscular wise like Sadiq.
Both twins are absolutely menacing on defense and provide lob/transition offense. Granted both were measured at 6'6/6'7 with shoes (SIX SEVENNNN) but both are very lean muscular wise like Sadiq.
Jerami Grant was similar to Sadiq. He gained muscle and expanded his game in the NBA.
Sherman20
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It’s bizarre that we wouldn’t be able to beat out these other three schools. They all have new coaches for their programs this season, and one guy only got the job because he’s a nepo baby (Pearl) and the other is a nepo baby but somewhat proven (Pitino Jr).
50YRsofCuse
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I think that we as posters sabotage recruiting efforts by posting negative comments about the head coach and coaching staff. Believe that a recruit looks at a lot of information about a school and its basketball team. This board at times accentuates the negatives much more than the positives. It is understandable because it is a public forum where you express your thoughts and likes/dislikes about the team.
Been a lot of posts on how Autry is a poor coach and how this is a make it or break it year. Has to raise questions or doubts when a recruit is exploring options.
It comes down to the question “Does a recruit come to play for a school or for a coach?”
Been a lot of posts on how Autry is a poor coach and how this is a make it or break it year. Has to raise questions or doubts when a recruit is exploring options.
It comes down to the question “Does a recruit come to play for a school or for a coach?”
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No excuses, you win some recruiting battles, you lose some recruiting battles. Sometimes a recruiting battle takes you places where it becomes a lose-lose for both parties and the school and or player backs out. Other times your competition has a better deal and set up to offer for that player than what you can offer. Regarding Autry, enough information about where he stands is outside of this board, it’s pretty simple. If Syracuse losses this recruiting battle because the recruit didn’t want to wait until Autry proves that he will be the long term coach here, then so be it. I think it would be a worse look to not be honest and say yeah Autry for sure turned this around and is the guy 100% for the next 5 years (it looks like he has, but until they play power conference competition, you can’t say that for sure). I’m cautiously very optimistic Autry will prove that soon enough, but yeah we’re going to get the real answer soon enough. You move on to other options that fit the profile and at this point it will probably be the spring time when we know the next forward entering the program.
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cuseallday
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Well, I think it's fair game to say that Red needs to have a good year to retain his job. There's no other way to slice it. And I'm a huge Red fan. And I overlapped for three years at SU with Griff. I agree - good to stay positive as much as possible, but also gotta be realistic. Lots of positive posters on here. In terms of your final statement/question, I think in the case of SU's top three targets in 2026 (Asher Elson, Deron Rippey Jr. and Jordan Smith Jr.), they would be coming to play for the coaching staff more than the program/brand. All three are extremely close with various Syracuse coaches, Autry, Griff, Kline, B Straughn, etc.
I am guilty of being critical of the program and at times the Coach, while commenting on the positives. It’s a fan board so we vent and can be very critical when things aren’t going right. I doubt that we have as much influence in recruits being that they know we are fans, and they are given sound advice, criticism, pros and cons by well informed advisors.
What goes on here goes on at Duke, Kentucky and UConn fan sites. As winning programs, I’d say the criticism is worse as these programs get the pick of the litter each year and expectations are always very high. Cal and the UK program was flogged badly for not winning enough during the years when he had a roster comprised every year of at least 5 top 30 players with at least 3 McDonald’s All Americans. Recruits didn’t run away when UK didn’t win championships, and when Cal didn’t get sho-ins into the NBA or caused them to transfer (from Dakari, Briscoe, Hagans, Quade, Justin Edwards, Harrison twins, Khalil Whitney).
Fan sites are a place for fans to vent and criticize and should not have a significant influence on a potential recruit.
AngryOtto
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Rippey and smith are high end players and would be great to sign. Elson would add depth and develop.
As someone else mentioned with the number of players entering the portal each cycle it seems most effort may be focused there instead of high school players unless they are an elite talent.
As someone else mentioned with the number of players entering the portal each cycle it seems most effort may be focused there instead of high school players unless they are an elite talent.
Cuse_NYC
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really? He looks the part to me. I’ll give you a pretty, pretty good nba comp… Camara from Dayton. Now starts for Portland and is one of the best defenders in the league.
