Class of 2015 Sweet as Orange.
By: Mike Lindsley
The Class of 2015 will have a lot of the same things that the rest of the previous classes have had for Syracuse basketball. Hype, hope, expectations and more. Perhaps a flame-out? Perhaps a one and done to the NBA or maybe two. Or gulp, three. Just like Kentucky.
But one thing is for sure. You still have to go get the best talent in the country in order to compete for Final Fours on a regular basis and get more recruits in the future. And think about it, if it works that ONE season, you could get to the top of the college basketball mountain. And we all know that Jim Boeheim and crew want to get back to the 2003 title territory rather than the latest flame-outs in the NCAA Tournament (save the 2013 Final Four run to Atlanta.
Here is a look at the potential #1 recruiting class in America for Syracuse basketball in 2015. All of these players have committed to SU. Each player profile has an upside, what they are best at, basic player information (positions could change at Syracuse, of course) and the question left for you, me and everyone else to answer at the end.
Moustapha Diagne:
Height/weight: 6’8, 245 pounds
School: Pope John XXIII
Position: power forward
Upside: Could be a terror on the wing of the 2-3 zone and someone no offensive player can get around, especially when he adds more strength and better footwork to an amazing basketball frame.
Best at: Defense. He blocks shots and alters offenses. His wingspan allows him to rebound well on both sides of the court.
Key question: Many recruiting ninjas say Diagne is a low post presence who is aggressive and can get rebounds. That’s nice. But can he score? Can he improve his skill set with low post moves? Can he develop a 12-foot jump shot to stretch a defense? We heard plenty of this about Jerami Grant before he came too, and now Grant is off to the NBA with one offensive move with a raw offensive skill set at best. Diagne is 30 pounds heavier than Grant but has a similar height. He needs to develop everything Grant didn’t before his departure to the big time. Diagne’s problem is offense.
Franklin Howard:
Height/weight: 6’6, 185 pounds
School: Paul VI
Position: shooting guard
Upside: Decision making is superior than most at his age.
Best at: Versatility. Point guard, shooting guard. Play him one way or another against certain teams or systems. Howard can do it all. Pass it. Shoot it. Howard will oblige.
Key question: Can he be a defensive disrupter at the top of the 2-3 zone?
Tyler Lydon
Height/weight: 6’9, 200 pounds
School: The New Hampton School
Position: power forward
Upside: Potential dagger shooter in college that everyone needs (Mike Waters of Syracuse.com compares him to Chandler Parsons).
Best at: Inside-outside scorer with a tremendous basketball IQ.
Key question: Will he be strong enough to handle the physical wear and tear of college basketball right away?
Malachi Richardson
Height/weight: 6’5, 175 pounds
School: Trenton Catholic Academy
Position: small forward
Upside: A likely combo guard at Syracuse who has a skill set that matches what the 2-3 zone needs; athleticism, aggressiveness and wingspan. Offensively, he can do it all, bury jumpers and blow by defenders if the jumper is guarded.
Best at: One-on-one match-ups on both sides of the court.
Key question: Can he score consistently? Syracuse needs scorers. Richardson has to be able to come in and give the team double figures in year one or two.
