By Tom Sullivan

When it comes to the most prestigious college hoops programs in the country, it seems like Syracuse basketball has been mentioned among that second tier of great programs for decades now. On the next level down from the elites – programs like Kansas, Duke, Carolina, Kentucky, UCLA, Michigan State, UConn.  Mixed in among the next group with schools like Maryland, Arizona, Ohio State and Louisville. Considering its history, facilities, Hall of Fame coach and far-reaching fan base, a lot of fans have felt it was only a matter of time until Syracuse made the leap and joined those programs among the sport’s elite, especially after the 2003 national championship. But nearly a decade removed from Carmelo Anthony, it still hasn’t happened…yet.

Is it possible to think that one player could make that happen? A high schooler nonetheless? That recruit may well be Anthony Davis, the well-chronicled high school senior to be from Chicago. The 6’10” Davis’ play this spring has resulted in a meteoric rise in the recruiting rankings and he may end up being the nation’s top ranked recruit in the Class of 2011 when all is said and done.

It may not be a stretch to say that Davis’ recruitment may mean more than just a potential commitment for the SU hoops program. Jim Boeheim and staff hauled in a top 10 recruiting class in 2010, headlined by Fabricio de Melo and Dion Waiters, two top 30 prospects that should compete for immediate playing time this fall. If the staff can get a commitment out of Davis, the Class of 2011 immediately becomes one of the nation’s best despite its depth (just three players due to the lack of open scholarships). Davis and Michael Carter-Williams would be the first 5-star recruits in the same class for SU since Donte Greene and Jonny Flynn in 2008. And Davis would be the highest rated player to enroll at SU since some kid named Carmelo. Throw in Trevor Cooney, the sharp shooter who was among the 12 players named to the 2010 USA Basketball Men’s Under-18 National Team last month, and you’ve got what would surely be two top five to 10 national recruiting classes enrolling at SU in consecutive years.

Looking further down the road the staff is already in on several elite prospects in the Class of 2012, including local man-child DeJuan Coleman of nearby Jamesville-Dewitt and Ricardo Ledo, a top-10 guard who currently attends the same high school as 2011 commit Carter-Williams. That class more likely than not will be another star studded one for SU and if Davis fills out the 2011 class, it could be a three year recruiting cycle like none other Boeheim has had during his 30+ years at SU. In fact, it’s a cycle that few other teams in college hoops have had. Those types of annual hauls are reserved for – dare I say it – the nation’s elite.

Is SU basketball going to suddenly fade away and become irrelevant if Anthony Davis decides in the next few months he wants to take his game to Ohio State or Kentucky next fall? Absolutely not. The staff is still in on two other good options in Mikael Hopkins and Rakeem Christmas to fill out the class. The program will continue to win, fill the Dome and compete for Big East championships.

But I’ve been waiting a decade – through teams filled with the likes of Terrence Roberts, Josh Wright and Louie McCroskey, through two NITs and two first round tournament exits – for the program to make that next step.  To consistently put a top 10 team on the floor every year. To reload, not rebuild. I like the chances of SU doing just that a little better if a slim 6’10” kid from Chicago were to commit to playing his college ball in the Dome next fall.