Syracuse basketball has sustained success for the last several years across two major conferences. With three incoming 2018 recruits, the future remains bright.
There are not many head coaches who have been as successful as Jim Boeheim. He has been at the helm of the Syracuse basketball program for 42 total seasons already and seems to keep the team relevant year in and year out. Over the course of his career with the program, the Orange have reached 33 NCAA Tournaments and won one national championship. It is hard to argue with that kind of prolonged success.
As we look forward to the future of college basketball, it seems likely that Syracuse will continue to be one of the nation’s top programs. Coach Boeheim has found a unique niche in college sports with his tremendous zone defense and that is something that consistently keeps the team relevant. With the majority of Syracuse’s roster returning from last season’s Sweet 16 team, expectations are high for the program coming into 2018-19. The Orange are a likely preseason top-25 team thanks to their defense and the return of leading scorer Tyus Battle.
However, living up to those expectations will not be easy. Simply trotting out the same rotation as last season will likely not allow the Orange to reach their full potential during this upcoming campaign. That is why the additions of three 2018 recruits could make a huge difference. These players, although unlikely to be stars in their first years on campus, could provide immediate help to the depth of the roster, something that was an issue a year ago. In addition, each member of this recruiting class is a legitimate threat from 3-point range. Poor shooting from the perimeter was arguably Syracuse’s biggest weakness last season and these three players could help to remedy that.
Now, let’s break down each of Syracuse’s three incoming freshmen. What do they bring to the table and what impact might they have on the program?