NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing 5 early contenders for 5-star Jalil Bethea

Syracuse Orange

The Orange already have a pair of four-star commits in the 2024 class in forward Donnie Freeman, as well as shooting guard, Elijah Moore. He joins a group of young guards besides star sophomore Judah Mintz, including a trio of guard transfers in JJ Starling, Kyle Cuffe, and Chance Westry.

With such as logjam in the backcourt, it could be difficult for Bethea to get a large enough role in the offense to make the Orange worth it. Plus, head coach Adrian Autry is entering his first season and he’s unproven in leading a program at the NCAA Basketball level. We’ll see which of these transfers breaks out to get a better look at the roster and how viable the team is in its new era with a new HC.

Temple Owls

If Villanova ultimately doesn’t get in the picture, Temple would represent being the “local” option for the native Pennsylvanian. The Owls are completely rebuilding under new head coach Adam Fisher, who was an assistant at Penn State last season. They lost both key guards this offseason in Damian Dunn and Khalif Battle and likely will take a step back in the AAC.

This is an option where Bethea would be the star and someone that can be a star in the league next season. The concern is that unless other key prospects were to join him, Bethea likely won’t be winning much compared to other potential destinations.