A weekend showcase event in New York, full of Syracuse basketball recruiting connections, certainly lived up to expectations.
As I mentioned in a column on Saturday, Orange general manager Alex Kline was present on Friday night at the Bob McKillop Invitational to scout several ‘Cuse commits and recruiting prospects.
The action on Saturday evening at the annual event was also exciting, with a Syracuse basketball five-star recruit taking center stage. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights.
In the featured matchup on Saturday night, top-10 national teams IMG Academy from Bradenton, Fla., and Long Island Lutheran High School from Brookville, N.Y., faced off. For the record, Long Island Lutheran was the host school for this year’s Bob McKillop Invitational.
Dylan Mingo, a 2026 five-star point guard who has drawn attention from the Orange coaching staff, hit a clutch 3-pointer near the buzzer to secure a 68-65 win for Long Island Lutheran over IMG. Mingo ended the game with 14 points, shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Kiyan Anthony, a four-star shooting guard and 2025 Syracuse basketball signee, led Long Island Lutheran with 15 points. Moussa Kamissoko, a 2027 four-star wing/forward with a scholarship offer from Syracuse, contributed seven points, three rebounds, one block, and two steals for the Crusaders.
In IMG’s loss, Sadiq White Jr., a four-star forward committed to Syracuse for 2025, recorded 13 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Over the weekend at the Bob McKillop Invitational, Long Island Lutheran went undefeated with a 2-0 record, while IMG ended with a 0-2 record.
At the same event, CIA Bella Vista from Phoenix claimed two victories, first defeating IMG in double overtime on Friday night and then topping top-25 Oak Hill Academy from Mouth of Wilson, Va., 71-57, on Saturday evening.
In their victory over Oak Hill, 2026 four-star point guard Miles Sadler scored 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out seven assists, and recorded four steals. Sadler is one of four CIA Bella Vista players who received offers from Syracuse basketball in late October of last year.
Sadler was clearly the standout performer at the Bob McKillop Invitational. All teams participating in the event are part of the 14-team Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic (“EYBL Scholastic”).
Currently, CIA Bella Vista is at the top of the EYBL Scholastic standings. Along with IMG and Long Island Lutheran, the Bears are strong contenders for one of the eight spots in the Chipotle Nationals, which will take place in early April in Fishers, Indiana, to crown the national high school basketball champion.
