Shine Bright Like a Diamond Series: Syracuse/CNY 2023s Pt. 1

With the 2022 recruiting cycle wrapping up, college coaches are switching to the full court press with the 2023 high school prospects. Here in my "Shine Bright Like A Diamond Series" we will highlight players that should be on college coaches radar for this spring evaluation period. We’ll break it down by a major city and its immediate surrounding areas. With that being said let’s take a look at some 2023s from Syracuse and CNY who should gain college coaches attention this recruiting cycle. [player_tooltip player_id="228008" first="Tre’Juer" last="Sledge"] - RB (Institute of Technology Central - ITC) We’ll call [player_tooltip player_id="228008" first="Tre’Juer" last="Sledge"] aka Mr. Showtime! When plays are needed to be made Tre’Juer makes them in all three facets of the game. All Mr. Showtime did in 2021 was rush 123 times for 1576 yards and 10 TDs, 21 receptions 323 yards and 2 TDs. On defense Sledge racked up 75 tackles 1 forced fumble and 4 Interceptions from his defensive back position and on special teams he added 1 Kickoff Return TD, 1 Punt Return TD, and 1 Blocked FG. All of it ended with Tre’Juer earning All-CNY and All-State honors in Class B. Fast, electric, dynamic, High IQ, shifty, vision and the ability to break tackles are their. And one thing you look for in high school RBs are for them to break long runs and not get caught from behind and Tre’Juer aces that part. I would like to see Tre’Juer add more lean muscle mass to his 5’9" 155lb frame. If he is able to play at close to 170 by the start of the 2022 season....OMG Section III Class B watch out. I still expect Sledge to replicate if not best his numbers from 2021 and he’s been putting in the work to do just that this offseason. Tre’Juer competed with Tight Action in the 7v7 Pylon event in January in Orlando, FL. The same Tight Action 7v7 team that features 2024 5 star RB Kam Davis. With Tight Action Tre’Juer was able to unoffically visit UCF. And just recently Sledge took in a Junior Day visit at Stony Brook University. Expect his star to rise on the recruiting trail this spring/summer and during the 2022 season. [player_tooltip player_id="231555" first="Jordan" last="Rae"] - QB (CBA-Syracuse) [caption id="attachment_322065" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/04/Jordan-Rae-QB-CBA-3-crop-400x263-1649971555.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-322065" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/04/Jordan-Rae-QB-CBA-3-crop-400x263-1649971555-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Twitter: @jordanrae05[/caption] The 2021 was a storybook season for [player_tooltip player_id="231555" first="Jordan" last="Rae"] and his CBA teammates. Capping the season with a NYSPHAA Class A (NYs 2nd biggest classification) State Title. During the 2021 fall season all Rae did was go 171-301 for 2405 yards and 26 TD passes and 5 interceptions which was good for a 5.2 QB ratio, All-CNY and All-State honors in class A. Rae also added 323 yards and 7 TDs on the ground which goes to show he has good enough athleticism. And because New York was one of the states to play their 2020 fall season in the spring of 2021 Jordan played 5 spring season games and posted 1,135 yards, 15 TDs and 0 INTs on 183 pass attempts and connecting on 99 of those pass attempts. So for the 2021 calendar year Jordan posted an insane 8.2 QB Ratio. One of the top 5 QBs in the state in the class of 2023, Rae should pick up right where he left off in 2021 statistically come the 2022 season. Currently Jordan has been in contact with Stony Brook, Cornell, Colgate and Bucknell and will be a participant in Albany, NY May 7th for the All-Northeast Camp. Jordan has said he plans on visiting all of the schools currently reaching out and contacting him during the spring/summer months. [player_tooltip player_id="228010" first="Elijah" last="Benson"] - RB (Auburn) [caption id="attachment_322061" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/04/Elijah-benson-rb-auburn-2-crop-750x493-1649971156.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-322061" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/04/Elijah-benson-rb-auburn-2-crop-750x493-1649971156-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Twitter: @2wingate2[/caption] Arguably one of the most dominate, productive and consistent RBs in Section III and New York state period. At 6’2" 220lbs Elijah is a man amongst boys out on the football field. A no nonsense one-cut, north and south runner who has the speed to pull away from defenders and runs through tackles with ease. A nightmare for High School DBs to tackle on a consistent basis and a big back that can out run them as well. During the Fall 2021 season Benson rushed for 1226 yards and 12 TDs on 131 carries and has a 400 yard game to his list of accolades, when he ran for 406 yards and 4 TDs against East Syracuse Minoa. For his efforts in 2021 Benson racked up All-CNY 1st team honors for a 2nd time and 4th team All-State in Class AA (New York’s highest classification). During the spring 2021 season Elijah went for 669 yards 8 TDs on 72 carries in only 5 games and earned 1st team All-CNY honors. Haven’t heard much lately on his recruiting but he’s a definite D1 player and one I could see landing at Group of 5 or Independent FBS school or be a high priority FCS prospect. In 2022 Elijah should wrap up his high school career with a second straight 1000 yard season and double digit TD count. [player_tooltip player_id="231557" first="Amarri" last="Pitts"] - ATH (CBA-Syracuse) [caption id="attachment_322058" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/04/Amari-Pitts-ath-cba-crop-322x212-1649970825.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-322058" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/04/Amari-Pitts-ath-cba-crop-322x212-1649970825-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo:Twitter: @pitts_amarri[/caption] When you win Defensive MVP in the NYSPHSAA Class A State Championship game, then you know you’re a problem and a DUDE that makes plays. And that’s exactly what the 6’3" 195lb c/o ’23 ATH makes plays on offense as a WR and on defense as a FS. Long, rangy with a huge wing span that produces a very wide catch radius. Has no wasted movements at the top of his routes and a player that can end up on either side of the ball in college. On defense the 6’3" junior covers ground fast and quickly, gets over the top in hurry to negate the deep ball by opposing QBs and shows a knack for always being around the football and his ball skills are a thing of beauty. Pitts put up 29 catches for 402 yards and 6 TDs on offense and 61 tackles, 5 Interceptions and 1 Forced Fumble lead to Amarri being named 1st team All-CNY and 3rd team All-State in Class A. No offers yet but Pitts has been hearing from the likes of Bucknell, Maine, Stony Brook, UConn, Colgate and Lehigh. Amarri has already been to junior days/spring practices at Bucknell, UConn and Stony Brook so far this offseason. Expect his recruitment to pick up even more during the spring evaluation and camp season. [player_tooltip player_id="303867" first="Tristan" last="Korfonta"] - LB (CBA-Syracuse) [caption id="attachment_322051" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/04/Tristan-Korfonta-LB-CBA-2-crop-514x338-1649970443.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-322051" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/04/Tristan-Korfonta-LB-CBA-2-crop-514x338-1649970443-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Twitter: @TristanKorfonta[/caption] Tristan is a blue collar MLB and is a tackling and playmaking machine for the CBA defense. In 2021 Korfonta who goes 6’0" 215lbs had 152 total tackles 83 solo tackles, 2 Forced Fumbles, 2 Interceptions and 4 PBUs, which led to him being named 1st team All-CNY and 4th team All-State in Class A. An integral part to the NYSPHAA Class A State Champion CBA Brothers Tristan does a good job shooting the gaps when he diagnosis the play, showcasing a high football IQ, which should be no surprise as he’s a 4.0 overall and Core GPA student-athlete. He’s a very sound and sure tackler who you see on tape around the ball in the opposing teams backfield, sideline to sideline and 10-15 yards down the field. Would love to see Korfonta work on using his hands more to get off blocks instead of his shoulder pads and forearms. With more hand to hand block disengaging moves Korfonta could best his 2021 numbers in 2022. Tristan holds no offers yet but that could change before the start of his senior season. So far this offseason he’s heard from Cornell, Columbia, Davidson, Penn, Stony Brook, Mercyhurst, Hobart and Amherst. [player_tooltip player_id="316815" first="Tyshawn" last="Taylor"] - WR (Institute of Technology Central - ITC) [caption id="attachment_322046" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/04/Tyshawn-Taylor-wr-ITC-crop-610x401-1649969838.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-322046" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/04/Tyshawn-Taylor-wr-ITC-crop-610x401-1649969838-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Twitter: @Tyshawn_Taylor[/caption] The 5’9" 160lb speedster from ITC had a incredible 2021 season with helping his young program pick up their first sectional playoff win in school history. All Tyshawn did was haul in 41 receptions for 917 yards and 8 TDs, and with those statistics Taylor earned recognition as 1st team All-CNY and 5th team All-State in Class B (NYS 3rd largest classification). Taylor runs the routes he does run very well, high points the football extremely well, can play inside at the slot or out wide as an X receiver. Taylor’s speed puts lots of stress vertically on teams and on over the middle routes or in breaking routes he knows how to use his body to box out the defender. While in route tracks the ball well and shows great body control and balance. Tyshawn has been invited to Albany, NY on May 7th to participate in the Prospect NYS All-New York Showcase, and with a good showing there I expect Tyshawn’s recruitment to pick up. And he’s in good hands with two former Division I football players as Head Coach and Assistant Coach on his schools coaching staff. I expect Tyshawn to reach the 1000+ yards receiving mark which eluded him by only 83 yards last season. [player_tooltip player_id="318209" first="TJ" last="Conley"] - RB - (Fayetteville-Manlius) [caption id="attachment_322032" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-322032" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/04/TJ-Conley-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /> Photo: Twitter: @TjConley4[/caption] The 6’1" 190lb Conley had a very productive 2021 campaign for the Hornets of Fayetteville-Manlius. Rushing for 1,161 yards on 103 carries with 13 TDs along with posting 10 receptions for 220 yards and 3 TDs. Conley has a very nice jump cut coupled with quick feet paired with good acceleration and great burst. Film shows above average balance, patience in allowing blocks to develop and great at twisted his body to fit into small lanes and windows which is a testament to his D1 Lacrosse pedigree as Conley is currently a Rutgers Lax commit, but his recruitment in football is starting to heat up and this is an athlete that can play both D1 Lax and D1 football. Earned 2nd All-State in NYSPHAA Class A and 1st team All-League and 1st Team All-CNY and that has lead to some low to medium interest from the likes of Buffalo, Colgate, Syracuse, Yale, Maine, New Hampshire, and Cornell. [player_tooltip player_id="322002" first="Alex" last="Collver"] - RB (New Hartford) Collver is a dominant high school RB and super productive to boot. Standing 5’9" 180lbs with a solid thick build with lower center of gravity which allows him to bounce off tackles like pin balls. Quick, fast, twitchy wit great vision and a great burst when hitting the open lanes or out of a cut. Routinely breaks off 20+ yard runs and TDs, while serviceable in the pass game he doesn’t get a lot of opportunity to showcase his pass catching skills often but on the few catches he has, you’d like to see him use more hands to catch passes then body. One of the scariest offensive threats in all of Section III and possibly the state, no matter lined in the backfield, in the slot or returning kickoffs. Collver finished 2021 with 226 carries for 1,856 yards and 23 TDs, and in the passing game he hauled in 4 catches for 69 yards and 2 TDs plus added 2 Kickoff return TDs. Those exploits lead to him being named 1st team All-CNY and 2nd team All-State in NYSPHAA Class A. Nothing out there on Collver’s recruiting but he has been selected to participate in Prospect NYS All-NY Showcase in May. Expect Collver to dominate again in 2022, his senior season as he looks to bolster his college evaluation and stock. Up next be on the lookout for Pt. 2 of Syracuse/CNY 2023s who've shined bright like a diamond in 2021 and this off-season!