Syracuse, N.Y. — A handful of Syracuse basketball targets earned spots on ESPN’s latest list of the top-60 basketball recruits in the country for the class of 2022.
Among the five targets who’ve received scholarships, Dior Johnson is the only player to commit to the Orange, making his decision in February.
The five-star guard is ranked No. 12 — one spot higher than last year’s mark and the highest overall among SU recruits. Johnson will play his junior and senior seasons at national powerhouse Oak Hill Academy.
Zion Cruz, a five-star guard from Jersey City, N.J., is ranked No. 17 and will transfer with Johnson to Oak Hill next season to form a highly potent offensive backcourt. Cruz and Johnson were spotted sitting together at the Carrier Dome earlier this year when Syracuse faced Duke.
Baldwinsville guard J.J. Starling entered the national rankings for the first time, coming in as the 57th-best sophomore in the country and No. 1 in New York.
Starling, a four-star guard, averaged 28.6 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game last season for the Bees. He was also named to the All-CNY boys basketball first team for 2019-20.
Starling has multiple college offers, including Syracuse, Washington, Providence, Alabama, St. John’s and Siena.
Here are the complete rankings of Syracuse basketball recruits for the Class of 2022:
12. Dior Johnson, PG, Lakewood, CA, Oak Hill Academy, 6′2″, 170 pounds, 5-star
17. Zion Cruz, SG, Jersey City, NJ, Oak Hill Academy, 6′2″, 165 pounds, 5-star
40. Chance Westry, SF, Harrisburg, PA, Trinity High School, 6′4″, 175 pounds, 4-star
49. Donovan Clingan, C, Bristol, CT, Bristol Central High School, 7′1″, 250 pounds, 4-star
57. J.J. Starling, PG, Baldwinsville, NY, Baker High School, 6′4″, 165 pounds, 4-star
Contact Mike Curtis anytime at mcurtis@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @MikeACurtis2.
MORE ORANGE BASKETBALL:
- Goodbye Carrier Dome? Syracuse University goes with ‘the Stadium’ in basketball release
- Axe: Syracuse basketball’s recruiting scores send Jim Boeheim’s critics into hiding
- Dennis DuVal, ex-top cop and player, on George Floyd’s death: ‘blatant disregard’ of police rules (Q&A)
- Why Bourama Sidibe picked a protest over a team meeting on race: ‘People are not treated equally’
- Former Syracuse player Jalen Carey announces transfer to Rhode Island (Report)