Syracuse Recruiting Update

VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Devin Brennan-McBride, BF/C (London, Ontario)

Read about his commitment in the Syracuse Post-Standard Orange blog, updated regularly by their excellent sportswriter, Mike Waters: Devin Brennan-McBride to SU.

Projected 2006-2007 Roster:

Seniors: Louie McCroskey (G), Demetrius Nichols (SF), Terrence Roberts (F), Daryl Watkins (C), Matt Gorman (BF)
Juniors: Josh Wright (PG), Dayshaun Wright (F)
Sophomores: Eric Devenderf (G), Arinze Onuaku (BF/C), Andy Rautins (G)
Freshmen: Paul Harris (G), Mike Jones (F), Devin Brennan-McBride (BF/C)
2007 Commits: Johnny Flynn (PG), Antonio Jardine (G), Donte Green (F), Richard Jackson (BF)

Previous SU Orange recruiting features: October 4, Sept 29 report, August 12, July 14 report and June 28 Report. Also, the July 25 Round-Up.

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The Syracuse Orange and coach Jim Boeheim recently hosted canadian import BF/C Devin Brennan-McBride for an official visit and he must have liked what he saw as he pulled the trigger and committed to the Orange recently. Brennan-McBride is a 6'9 230+ lb big man that had an impressive showing at the Nike All-American camp this past summer and garnered the attention of many college coaches. He had narrowed his choices to Xavier, Michigan, Tulsa and the Orange. After making the Orange his final visit, he decided that was where he would attend school.

Brennan-McBride has the potential and the body to be a solid forward in the Big East, observers in Indianapolis this summer noted that he needs to be a little more assertive and willing to use a decent frame to bang around a little more. Added weight and strength should help the confidence in that regard.

With four early commits for 2007 and a third now for 2006 (Paul Harris and Mike Jones previously) the Prange can put all of their focus on another big man for the 2007 class and it seems that Sean Williams (CA) and Dallas Lauderdale (OH) are the top candidates and the Orange can make them feel really wanted. If another roster spot opens up, Rakim Sanders (RI) has long been on the Syracuse radar and could be a possibility for 2007. At this time, 2006 recruiting for the Orange looks to be over.

It might be quiet awhile on the SU Orange recruiting front, but, I do not think fans will be complaining!

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PLAYER PROFILE: DEMETRIS NICHOLS

Like Levon Kendall of Pittsburgh, we classified this season for Demetris Nichols as "now or never' earlier in the season. Part of a highly touted recruiting class that returns, in tact, for their junior season, this is the make or break year for Demetris Nichols at Syracuse. With the graduation of Josh Pace, Hakim Warrick and Craig Forth, Hall of Fame Coach Jim Boeheim is going to have to depend very much on the class he signed furing his national championship season. Nichols and classmated Louie McCroskey, Terrence Roberts and Daryl Watkins will now play a prominent role for the first time in their careers, rather than the supporting roles they have taken in their first two seasons. No player is more under the microscope or holds a bigger key to how successful the Orange will be in 2005-2006 than Demetris Nichols.

At 6'8 and over 205 lbs, Nichols has the look of a player built specefically for the Syracuse system, especially their zone defense. Nichols is long, athletic and is a player that can rebound and defend the wings on the baseline of the Syracuse zone. This is importnat because the SU zone needs to have a player on the baseline that can hold their own on the boards and when Syracuse was forced to play Josh Pace on the block defensively, they were very susceptible to certain teams that would attack along the baseline on that side. So, when Nichols saw his time decrease because of cold shooting, Syracuse suffered even more defensively and on the boards by having to alter their line-up and moving the smaller Pace on the block.

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With 6'6 wing Mike Jones and 6'4 monster Paul Harris both verbally committed to joining the Orange in 2006 and Eric Devendorf a freshmen in 2005, Nichols could feel the pinch once again if he does not step up his game in his junior season and could find himself out of the mix once and for all. Nichols also suffered and ill-timed back injury as a sophomore and never seemed to find his rhtyhm or confidence after coming back from the injury prior to the Big East season.

When Nichols was recruited out of St Andrews Prep School out of Barrington, RI, a common comparison of his game was to Preston Shumpert, the very productive Syracuse wing that completed his eligibility just prior to Nichols' commitment. Shumpert, also a quiet individual, was a smooth player that could hit shots along the baseline, beyond the arc and hold his own inside on the boards. Nichols is Syracuse's best perimeter defender, but, to play alot for Jim Boeheim, you must hit shots and Nichols has been unable to take some of the pressure from Gerry McNamara on the perimeter, especially last season.

After last season concluded, the Daily Orange had an excellent article on Nichols (Nichols is Key to Orange Future) and his Syracuse experience over his first two seasons. Late in the season last year, internet message boards began rumors that Nichols could be on his way out of Syracuse, but his prep school coach Mike Hart never heard a word from Nichols that he was considering a transfer, even though college coaches called him to check up on his former player. The article talks extensively to Mike Hopkins as well and shows the kind of teammate and hard worker Nichols is. I can not help put think that this is going to be a break out season for Nichols and he will be a big reason why Syracuse will remain in contention for a league title, despite losing a big chunk of their scoring and rebounding from last year's team. If Nichols can get off to a good start early in the season, his confidence will grow and he will look like the player many of us expected when he signed on with Syracuse. In reality, the Orange have few options to turn to if Nichols does not come up big, so, look for Coach Boeheim to tand behind his man and help him get his confidence back to make a difference.

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SYRACUSE RECRUITING UPDATE

VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Rick Jackson, PF (Philadelphia, PA) Class of 2007

Read a little more on Jackson and his commitment from the Syracuse basketball weblog at Syracuse.Com. Post Standard writer Mike Waters breaks another SU recruiting commitment: SU Web Log; Rick Jackson Commits.

Projected 2006-2007 Roster:

Seniors: Louie McCroskey (G), Demetrius Nichols (SF), Terrence Roberts (F), Daryl Watkins (C), Matt Gorman (BF)
Juniors: Josh Wright (PG), Dayshaun Wright (F)
Sophomores: Eric Devenderf (G), Arinze Onuaku (BF/C), Andy Rautins (G)
Freshmen: Paul Harris (G), Mike Jones (F)

Note: SU has also picked up early 2007 commitments from Johnny Flynn (PG), Antonio Jardine (G) and Rick Jackson (PF)

Previous SU Orange recruiting features: Sept 29 report, August 12, July 14 report and June 28 Report. Also, the July 25 Round-Up.

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We have had a feeling that Syracuse would field a bumper crop of recruits for their 2007 class, and, it looks like that initial feeling was right on as Neumann-Goretti PF Rick Jackson has joined his teammate Antonio Jardine and has given Hall of Fame Coach Jim Boeheim a verbal commitment to join the Orangemen class of 2007.

Syracuse has also hosted 2007 top prospects Taylor King and Dante Green this football season and have also been on Ohio big man Dallas Lauderdale. With Paul Harris and Mike Jones committed for the 2006 class, Jim Boeheim will most certainly continue to look for a little more height to help the program, and Jason Bennett could become more of a target this spring for 2006 and they are also in great shape to begin giving more attention to the class of 2007.

Syracuse is showing no signs of slowing down in the New Big East!

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