NEWARK — Can Tyler Ennis get Andrew Wiggins to Syracuse?
It might be a long shot, but remember that the Syracuse-bound Ennis is Wiggins’s teammate on both the CIA Bounce AAU team and the Canadian junior national team.
“He’s early in his recruitment,” Ennis told SNY.tv Wednesday when he and five St. Benedict’s Prep teammates signed Letters of Intent.
“I’m not really sure where’s he at because he moved up a class but hopefully he can consider Syracuse and if he likes it, he can come. But I’m not going to put too much pressure because it’s so early in his recruitment.”
The 6-foot-8 Wiggins is regarded as the No. 1 high school prospect in the nation, and he recently reclassified from 2014 to 2013.
He won’t sign until the spring and has said he remains open in his recruitment. Kentucky and Florida State have long been perceived as the favorites, but Wiggins said he’s also considering North Carolina, Kansas, Ohio State and Syracuse.
“I talked to him when he moved up but I haven’t really talked to him recruiting-wise,” Ennis said of Wiggins. “I know how they’re doing school-wise. I know they had a couple scrimmages, but college decision-wise I don’t know.”
To be fair, Huntington Prep coach Rob Fulford said the Orange haven’t really been recruiting Wiggins.
Another one of Fulford’s players, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, is committed to Florida State, the alma mater of both of Wiggins’s parents, so Wiggins has more natural ties to FSU than to Syracuse.
Kentucky has long been in the mix and Huntington Prep will actually play in Kentucky on Sunday — at Scott County High School.
“I expect we would have a pretty good sized crowd, really for Andrew, but for the overall level of talent the team has,” Fulford told KyKernel.com, adding that many Kentucky fans came out to support Wiggins during a recent scrimmage in which he went for 34 points and 9 rebounds against Alice Lloyd College.
“(This game) helps the Kentucky fans get a little closer look at Andrew, and helps him get a closer look at them,” Fulford told KyKernel.com.
Meantime, Syracuse has a four-man recruiting class and is in the market for another forward in the Class of 2013, with Tyler Roberson, Jermaine Lawrence and Dakari Johnson all possibilities. Roberson, out of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic, is expected to announce Friday between Syracuse, Villanova and Kansas.
With or without Wiggins, the 6-foot-3 Ennis has big plans for his time at Syracuse and beyond.
“Obviously, the NBA’s the final goal so [making] a mock draft at the end would be great,” Ennis said. “Just to be recognized as someone like that.
“But getting to college, start off with Freshman of the Year and things like that and just keep progressing from there.”
Ennis can slide into the backcourt next year at Syracuse when Brandon Triche graduates, and Michael Carter-Williams becomes a junior (assuming he stays).
He is part of a class that includes shooting guard Ron Patterson, small forward B.J. Johnson and big man Chinonso Obokoh.
“I’ve talked and met with all of them except for Ron Patterson, just because he [committed] so late. But B.J. and Chino and [2014 commit] Chris McCullough, I’ve talked with all of them so I know them pretty well.”
Ennis added: “My class has a lot of pieces that we’re going to need next year with a couple guys graduating and maybe a couple entering the draft, so hopefully we can keep up — They’re ranked Top 10 right now — so just keep that up next year.”
Adding Wiggins to the mix surely would help.
**For more stories on Andrew Wiggins, click here.
***For SNY.tv.’s exclusive video documentary on Canadian point guard Tyler Ennis, click here.
