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Syracuse basketball's top 2026 5-star targets in running for national player of year

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Syracuse basketball's top two recruiting targets in the 2026 class are in the mix for national player of the year during the upcoming 2025-26 campaign.

The 50-member preseason watch list for the 2025-26 Naismith Trophy boys high school player of the year award is out. Numerous former Orange recruits are on the list. Also making the cut, unsurprisingly, are 2026 five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. from New York City and 2026 five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr. from the Washington, D.C., area.

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THREAD: Introducing the 2025-26 @jerseymikes Naismith Boys’ High School Player of the Year Watch List.