Syracuse basketball 2019 recruiting targets move up in ESPN rankings

In case you missed it, ESPN recently revised its 2019 Top 100 basketball rankings along with its top 60 for the 2020 class and top 25 for its 2021 class. Sticking with the front end, Syracuse figures to be in the hunt for a big 2019 class given the expected losses after the 2018-2019 season and open slots still available.

Among said class, Syracuse targets moved up significantly — chief among the highest ranked of the movers was Isaiah Stewart, who rose to the No. 5 ranked prospect in the 2019 class. The Rochester native recently trimmed his list of suitors to 10, which included Syracuse. For what it’s worth, 247 has Duke as the favorite to land Stewart.

Precious Achiuwa is now ranked No. 12 at ESPN (but 247 has him as the No. 5 ranked prospect in the class).

Khalil Whitney has made a lot of noise on the circuit this summer and as a result has slid all the way up to No. 14 in the 2019 class. He attends the same high school as former Syracuse forward Tyler Roberson.

Aidan Igiehon has also moved to the No. 21 slot with Kofi Cockburn just behind him in the Jordan spot. Akok Akok is now ranked at No. 59 but I’m admittedly unsure as to where he was before.

Already committed to Syracuse, Brycen Goodine has balled out on the summer circuit for BABC. He wasn’t listed on the ESPN 100 before this summer but rose all the way to the No. 64 slot.

Also making his inaugural appearance in the ESPN 100 is Joe Girard at No. 89, who we recently spoke with and is on a visit to Syracuse as we speak.

At the end of the day, one could argue this is really just a game of chutes and ladders. But if anything it likely means that the staff continues to have a keen sense of spotting underrated talent on the recruiting trail. It could also mean that other programs will come in and try to swoop the risers in the class. Looking at you, Duke and Kentucky.

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