Even prior to the post-season ban and the generally disappointing 2014-15 basketball season, many Syracuse fans were already looking to the 2015-16 season as one where the Orange will yet again be a powerhouse.  As of today, Syracuse is bringing in four four-star recruits for next season, which is good enough for the fourth best class in the country, according to ESPN.
The Orange have signed forwards Moustapha Diagne and Tyler Lydon and guards Malachi Richardson and Franklin Howard.¬† Richardson was named a McDonald’s All-American last month.
Then there is the possibility that the Orange add four-star center, Thomas Bryant, to the mix for next season.  Bryant is said to be choosing between four schools as he is also fielding offers from Indiana, Kentucky and Kansas.
Even if the Orange fail to land Bryant, this incoming recruiting class will do more than just add new blood and talent.  It will give Syracuse something they have seriously lacked in recent years, depth.
Following Chris McCullough’s season-ending injury the Orange have pretty much gone to a seven-man rotation.  After the starting five, Jim Boeheim turns to B.J. Johnson and Ron Patterson and rarely looks further down the bench.
Assuming McCullough returns for his sophomore season, Syracuse will only lose one player and that is Rakeem Christmas.  As it stands, the Orange will add two forwards and two guards to the roster.
This could give Syracuse a sufficient mix of experience and youth in its lineup.  The Orange will return four of its current starters and unlike this year, these players will have someone who can relieve them.
The forward position should be loaded with McCullough, Diagne, Lydon, and Gbinije.  The Orange expect to see DaJuan Coleman return from injury at center and could have  Bryant to compliment him.  At the guard position, Trevor Cooney will return for his senior season and recruits Howard and Richardson will help him.
The only position at which the Orange may lack depth is point guard.  Kaleb Joseph is improving but he has yet to prove he can be relied on as Tyler Ennis or Michael Carter-Williams once were.  Therefore, given the depth at forward, it would not be surprising if Michael Gbinije plays point guard in certain situations as he has done this season.
Overall, even without Bryant, Syracuse is set to have a very deep team next season, something that is a key to success in the ACC and something that has been missing the last couple of seasons.
Posted:  Logan Grossman
3 responses to “Hoops Recruiting Class of 2015 Adds Depth to Thin Orange”
No Roberson??
Do you think BJ and Patterson “transfer”?
Someone will have to transfer if the Orange still hope to sign Thomas Bryant. Both BJ and Patterson have not gotten consistent playing time and there is no way of knowing if one, both or neither will look to transfer. As for Roberson, it is hard to see where he will fit in next season because the front court is so loaded.
I think BJ Johnson is a goner. I think Patterson stays and may become primary backup PG. BJ gets no playing time. Gbinije is also emerging as a primary scoring option and I think he will log too many minutes at SF for BJ to get enough PT to be happy.
Of note, there was no mention of Chinoso Obokoh. He doesn’t play much and when he does, looks a little lost out there, but it would be an interesting situation with Bryant. Maybe Obokoh improves over the summer? Bryant and Obokoh are former teammates at Bishop Kearney in Rochester and good friends. With Coleman back, I don’t think there is any PT for Obokoh should Bryant be on the hill as well. Does that make his friend a transfer candidate as well? It’s kind of an awkward situation that none of the web sites have talked about. Coleman and Obokoh are true centers, meaning they are not versatile enough to play some minutes at PF. Bryant seems to be a true center as well.