Syracuse Men’s Basketball Sets Sights on Game-Changing 2026 Recruits—Who’s Next to Commit?

Wisconsin forward Vaughn Karvala will join Rippey on a visit next month. He was under the radar last year when Syracuse offered, but that changed this summer as he is now considered a top 40 player.

Jordan Smith, Jr- a five-star guard listed in the top five of the class included Syracuse in his final 6. Smith has Duke, Kentucky, Georgetown, Arkansas, Indiana and the Orange as his finalists. He’s been on campus for an unofficial visit and the Virginia native has been described as a tenacious defender and program driver.

While our focus has been on the upcoming Syracuse Football season, Adrian Autry and his staff have spent the summer locking in on some highly rated players in the 2026 class, so let’s recap what we know.

While everyone’s buzzing about the upcoming Syracuse Football season, there’s a quiet storm brewing behind the scenes on the basketball front. Adrian Autry and his crew haven’t wasted a single summer day—they’ve been zeroing in on some seriously elite talent from the 2026 class. These aren’t just any prospects; we’re talking five-star guards and forwards with Syracuse squarely on their radar. From unofficial visits to official ones lined up in the fall, the Orange are working hard to turn heads and secure commitments. Curious about who’s stepping into the spotlight and what visits are on the docket? Stick with me as I break down the top names and the buzz swirling around each one—because this recruitment game is just heating up, and trust me, you want to keep an eye on it. LEARN MORE

Deron Rippey Jr is a five-star point guard from Brooklyn who is ranked among the top 15 players in the class. Rippey will make an official visit to Syracuse at the end of September and he’s got quite the list of suitors lined up.

Texas shooting guard Dakari Spear has Syracuse in his final 5. The four-star also has Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and Texas Tech in that group.

We’ll keep you updated as more recruiting news hits.