Syracuse Basketball: Analyzing Orange 2021 incoming recruiting class

Syracuse Basketball has a pretty small 2021 recruiting class although each of the four players has a chance to make an immediate impact.

4. Jimmy Boeheim

The 6-8 forward decided to join his younger brother Buddy and play for his dad Jim. Boeheim didn’t play last season as Cornell and the rest of the Ivy League decided against playing but he did have his best collegiate season in 2019-20 for the Big Red. The Fayetteville native has improved as a shooter, scorer, and defensive rebounder throughout his college career. However, he is not a great 3-point shooter and his individual defense has a lot to be desired.

Boeheim averages 10.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 43% from the field and 29.8% from the 3-point line for his career. He could start, at any of the frontcourt positions, but will definitely be part of SU’s regular rotation.

3. Symir Torrence

The 6-3 Marquette transfer heads home to Syracuse. Torrence is a strong, physical pass-first point guard with good length (6-8 wingspan) and plays with an edge. He can get by his defender off the dribble and has the ability to finish at the rim a number of ways or find the open shooter.  Torrence is a good shooter with good form but he does need to improve his 3-point accuracy.

Torrence averaged 2.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting just 31.1% from the field and 13.9% from the 3-point line last year. He took 58% of his shots from beyond the 3-point line. He is expected to be the team’s third guard backing up both Joe Girard and Buddy Boeheim.

2. Cole Swider

The 6-9 forward is a physical player who transferred from Villanova. Swider is a physical two-way player who can score inside and out, he also has improved his 3-point shooting in each of the first three collegiate seasons. Swider is a good defender although he does need to improve his rebounding.

Swider averaged 5.7 points, 2.8 caroms, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 treys while shooting 42.6% from the field and 40.2% from beyond the arc last year with the Wildcats. He will start and see a lot of time at the 3 and 4.

1. Benny Williams

The consensus top-40 2021 recruit is a two-way player who is an elite athlete that plays above the rim. Williams is at best when he is attacking the rim although he is a good passer and rebounder.  He could start at the 3 but will likely see starters minutes regardless if he is in the starting lineup or not.

Bottom Line: SU lost several key players from last year’s Sweet 16 squad but the Orange do have plenty of talent coming back. Jim Boeheim did a good job bringing in veterans, everyone besides son Jimmy has more than one year of eligibility,  although those three players have things to improve on. The success of the class will depend on the production/development of Williams — who is one of the Orange’s highest-rated recruits in recent memory.

Grade C or C+, SU has plenty of scholarships available this year, however, the Orange doesn’t really need to add any more depth this year. Boeheim has gotten his 2022 class off to a great start getting verbal commitments from a two  4-star recruits — Quadir Copeland, and Justin Taylor.