Monday Musings: The Latest on Jalil Bethea

Syracuse basketball's top target in the 2024 recruiting class is gearing up for official visits.

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Syracuse basketball's top target in the 2024 recruiting class is guard Jalil Bethea. Bethea has been one of the hottest prospects this summer, vaulting up to five star status and considered 15 player in the class. While Syracuse recognized Bethea's talent early, the strong AAU season caused several other schools to get involved. 

In July, Bethea trimmed his list to five schools. That included Alabama, Kansas, Miami, Syracuse and Villanova. He scheduled official visits with each school as follows: 

August 25th: Villanova
August 31st: Kansas
September 8th: Miami
September 15th: Syracuse
September 23rd: Alabama

The trip to Syracuse will be his second Orange official. 

Last week, Bethea was at Nike Academy along with Syracuse commit Donnie Freeman and current Orange guard Judah Mintz. This after previously being at Chris Paul’s camp with Mintz and fellow Cuse guard JJ Starling. Per sources, Bethea was actively recruited by all three during their time together. Freeman was especially vocal in his recruitment of Bethea. 

The pitch from Freeman was simple. Team up and create something special in Central New York. The pitch from Mintz and Starling is that Syracuse is the right place to develop as a guard to get prepared for the NBA. That Adrian Autry has re-energized the program and he will play through his guards. 

All of that seems to have had an impact. Syracuse has always been one of, if not the, top schools in his recruitment. The Orange is going all out with the coaching staff, other recruits and current players. 

Obviously official visits can change things, but Miami seems to be Syracuse's biggest competition as it currently stands. Bethea has maintained throughout the process that relationships and feeling needed are two of the most important factors for him. That is why Miami sticks out among the five. They have been recruiting him nearly as long as Syracuse and he feels like he would be a good fit. 

I'd put the other three a tier down in terms of threat to the Orange. That said, each presents its own positives. Alabama has been one of the best programs in the country the last couple of years in terms of regular season success. Kansas is a blue blood. Villanova is closest to home. 

Syracuse will get a second official, as previously mentioned, which is important. The Orange will get to showcase the program under coach Autry, including style of play. 

While Syracuse has been recruiting Bethea for years, we are entering the home stretch. We should have a good feel for where things stand by the end of next month.