Detailing Syracuse men’s basketball’s 2026 recruitment efforts

Despite being in its longest March Madness drought since 1967-1972, Syracuse’s recent recruiting efforts have been relatively strong. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor

By Justin GirshonSenior Staff Writer

August 20, 2025

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Syracuse men’s basketball has a 34-31 record since March 2023, when Adrian Autry took over as head coach following Jim Boeheim’s retirement. Though the Orange won 20 games in Autry’s first season at the helm, they extended their NCAA Tournament drought to three straight years. The 2024-25 campaign, Syracuse University’s worst since 1968-69, then extended that dubious streak to four.

While the on-court product has been far from the “Orange Standard,” Syracuse’s recruiting efforts have been relatively strong in recent years. In SU’s 2024 recruiting class, Donnie Freeman became the program’s highest-ranked commitment in over a decade. Meanwhile, the Orange’s 2025 class — highlighted by Sadiq White, Kiyan Anthony, Luke Fennell and Aaron Womack — is among the best incoming freshmen groups in the country.

As a pivotal year looms for Syracuse on the court, looking to snap its longest March Madness dry spell since 1967-1972, its quest to attract top-tier talent to central New York is ongoing off the court.

Here’s a look at the Orange’s recruiting efforts for the 2026 class:

Committed

Calvin Russell, Miami Northwestern:
Not Ranked by 247Sports

In July, Calvin Russell became Syracuse football’s first five-star recruit to commit to the program in over 20 years. But the wide receiver’s skills also extend to the hardwood, as he committed to SU as a dual-sport athlete.

Though there’s no ranking available by any national recruiting sites for Russell as a basketball player, his 247Sports page reports he held offers from Michigan, Illinois, LSU, Arizona State, Penn State, FAU and Tulane to also play basketball. While his junior year stats aren’t listed, Russell’s MaxPreps page shows he averaged 21.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game as a sophomore.

As of now, Russell is the Orange’s only 2026 commitment.

Final contenders

Jordan Smith Jr., guard, Paul VI Catholic
247Sports’ No. 2 prospect

On Aug. 5, On3’s Joe Tipton reported Jordan Smith Jr. has narrowed his recruitment down to six schools: Syracuse, Duke, Arkansas, Georgetown, Kentucky and Indiana. In terms of talent and background, Smith — 247Sports’ No. 2 prospect in the class — is a picture-perfect target for the Orange.

A dynamic 6-foot-2 combo guard, Smith attends Paul VI Catholic (Virginia) and also plays for Team Takeover. Autry carries strong connections with both, having previously coached at Paul VI and Team Takeover. That experience has helped him form Syracuse’s Washington, D.C. Maryland and Virginia recruiting pipeline, as Freeman, Judah Mintz and Benny Williams — three of the Orange’s highest-ranked commitments since 2020 — are from the DMV.

Additionally, SU assistant Brenden Straughn coached for Team Takeover – a team in the D.C. Amateur Athletic Union – from 2013-18, helping him become a recruiting force in the DMV. Meanwhile, second-year assistant Dan Engelstad also has strong ties to the DMV.

Smith doesn’t currently have an official visit set with the Orange, but after visiting Duke last fall, he has scheduled upcoming visits with Kentucky and Arkansas this fall.

Deron Rippey Jr., guard, Blair Academy
247Sports’ No. 18 prospect

Just over a month ago, Deron Rippey Jr. announced Syracuse was among the final 12 schools he was considering in his recruitment. Half of the programs who made the cut are in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with Duke, North Carolina, NC State, Louisville and Miami joining the Orange.

Whereas Smith is a combo guard, Rippey is a traditional floor general, slotting in as 247Sports’ second-best point guard in the class. Rippey, listed at 6-foot-2, is from Brooklyn, N.Y., attends Blair Academy in New Jersey (where former Orange guard Kyle Cuffe Jr. also went) and plays for New York City-based New Heights Adidas on the 3Stripes Select Basketball circuit.

Syracuse assistant Allen Griffin, who is also from Brooklyn and has played a pivotal role in recruiting the NYC area, has had eyes on Rippey dating back to September 2023. Rippey unofficially visited SU on Feb. 24, 2024, and is set to return for an official visit from Sept. 25 to 27. He also has visits scheduled for 10 of the other 11 schools that made his top 12.

DaKari Spear, guard, Dynamic Prep
247Sports’ No. 64 prospect

On Friday, DaKari Spear announced Syracuse, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech and Virginia Tech are the final five schools he’s considering. Spear is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Texas, and he’s set to play his senior season at Dynamic Prep — alongside class of 2027 five-star Marcus Spears Jr. — after previously attending The Colony. He also plays for Drive Nation.

Spear is 247Sports’ No. 6 player from Texas and No. 9 shooting guard in the 2026 class. Though he announced his final five, Spear hasn’t taken any official visits yet. While a date isn’t finalized, Spear told Zags Blog earlier this month he has an official visit set up with the Orange. He also added he has a “really close bond” with SU’s coaches, and his visit will mark the first time he’s ever been to New York.

Aliou Dioum, center, Bella Vista Prep
247Sports’ No. 88 prospect

Aliou Dioum announced on Aug. 13 the final six schools he’s down to are Syracuse, Wake Forest, Mississippi State, Illinois, West Virginia and UNLV. The 6-foot-10 center is a Senegal native, and he moved to the United States in 2023. He originally attended Accelerated Prep in Colorado, but later transferred to Bella Vista Prep in Arizona. Dioum also played for Arizona Unity this summer on the Elite Youth Basketball League circuit.

Among centers, 247Sports ranks him as the 22nd-best in the class. In an interview with Zags Blog, Dioum said SU is a favorite because it’s where one of his favorite players, Carmelo Anthony, went. Tipton reported Dioum already had an official visit at Wake Forest and is scheduled to visit UNLV, West Virginia and Mississippi State over the next month. He does not yet have an official visit to Syracuse scheduled.

Official visits

Alex Constanza, small forward, SPIRE Academy
247Sports’ No. 22 prospect

Alex Constanza is set to play his senior year at SPIRE Academy in Ohio after transferring from Westminster Academy in Florida. The versatile 6-foot-8 forward has yet to release a list of final schools or schedule any upcoming official visits. However, Constanza was in Syracuse last October for an official visit.

The Florida native also took official visits to Illinois last December and Georgetown in June. Constanza’s father, Ed, told Inside The Loud House in April that his son is considering a second visit to SU and he’s looking to visit Arkansas, BYU, Ole Miss, Arizona State and Baylor. One of the most coveted players in the 2026 class, Constanza also holds offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida, St. John’s and Miami.

Vaughn Karvala, small forward, Bella Vista Prep
247Sports’ No. 39 prospect

Set to be teammates with Dioum after transferring from Oregon High School (Wisconsin) to Bella Vista Prep, Vaughn Karvala is also considering the Orange in his recruiting process. While the 6-foot-6 small forward has not released a final list of programs he’s considering, Karvala will officially visit Syracuse the same weekend as Rippey in September.

Karvala has already taken an unofficial visit to SU, having done the same at Marquette, Purdue and Wisconsin. When speaking with 247Sports in June, Karvala highlighted the role Engelstad has played in his recruitment, praised the environment at SU and said he thinks the coaching staff is “amazing.” Karvala has only officially visited Xavier so far.

Asher Elson, power forward, Overtime Elite
247Sports 3-star prospect

A Brooklyn native, Asher Elson began his high school career at local South Shore High School before moving to Overtime Elite ahead of the 2024-25 school year, similarly to former SU guard Elijah Moore. The 6-foot-10 power forward was slated to graduate in 2025, but he reclassified to the 2026 class.

The Orange offered Elson a scholarship in April 2024, and he’s set to make an official visit to SU in October. He also has an official visit scheduled with Maryland in early September. While Elson has yet to release the final schools he’s considering, he also has offers from programs including St. John’s, Illinois, Fordham, Creighton and Georgia Tech.