Syracuse target Jalen Carey sets official decision date

The Syracuse Orange have been doing recruiting things lately and just last week we learned that 2018 target Jalen Carey trimmed his list down to three schools. Syracuse made the final cut along with Miami and UConntbeserious.

Carey, the No. 34 ranked player in the ESPN 100, is making his official decision on October 11, which also happens to be his birthday.

“I’m still just trying to see what’s the best school for me, so I’m taking it all in,” Carey told Adam Zagoria on Friday. “I was thinking about committing on my birthday, Oct. 11th. I spoke with my principal about it, she said we could set up something here, like a school day.”

Asked what he likes about Syracuse, Carey notes that the staff thinks he can come in and contribute as a freshman.

“They think I can come in and play right away, put the ball in my hands and make plays for others. They feel I can be a big part of their program, they need a guard badly so they I feel I can come in and fill that guard spot right away. That makes me feel special, knowing that they’re not willing to take any chances. They know I’m the only option, they have all their faith in me. That’s something really special.”

Carey is also familiar with one of the guys on the team currently and he’s cognizant of how Syracuse has developed its guards in past.

“I spoke with Tyus a little bit at Nike Skills Academy. I know Tyler Ennis went there, they talked to me a lot about him. I know a lot of other guards went there, Dion Waiters and how they feel I’m the same or better as some of those guys and how they would help me.”

Photo by Nate Shron/Getty Images

Syracuse is still the favorite to land Carey at 247 sports as five out of seven guys who voted think he’s headed to Central New York. The other two votes are for Seton Hall and Kansas, so take that for what it’s worth.

Zagoria said on his podcast, “From where I stand right now I think Syracuse is in pretty good shape with this kid. The father really liked what they’re saying. Syracuse has obviously had success with guards, they have Tyus Battle from New Jersey.”

UConn figures to be pretty guard heavy next year and the staff over there just signed James Akinjo last week. On the flip-side, Miami should have a need for Carey with Ja’Quan Newton set to graduate after this season. Other guards Bruce Brown and incoming freshman Lonnie Walker could bolt to the league after this season.

Let’s hope Carey prefers 10 feet of annual snowfall to South Beach and that Kentucky or Duke don’t come calling on Oct 10.