Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Syracuse commit Chris McCullough is trying to reclassify to 2013

The reclassification fad may continue in the next few months. In less than a year, the likes of Nerlens Noel, Wayne Selden, Noah Vonleh, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl Towns have all moved up a class.

Chris McCullough (Brewster Academy/Bronx, NY) is considered by Rivals.com as a top-10 player in the Class of 2014. The 6-foot-10 power forward has already committed to Syracuse and no longer wants to wait. McCullough confirmed on Saturday evening that he intends on reclassifying to the Class of 2013 to play for the Orange next fall.

“The chances are it could happen,” said McCullough following a loss to Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.) on Saturday. “I’d say about 70 percent.”

To become eligible, McCullough will need to complete 16 core courses in order to receive initial eligibility by the NCAA. McCullough stated that by the end of the school year he would have completed 13 of those core classes and would have to make up the other three in the summer time. He went on to say that he meets with Syracuse on Thursday to discuss his options.

"[I’ll take those classes] at either Syracuse or a community college in the Bronx,” said the New York native.

The NCAA sliding scale requires 16 core credits include four English, three math, two science, one additional math, English, or science, two social science, and four additional core units.

“He’s got a lot of work to do academically if he’s going to do that,” said Brewster head coach Jason Smith. “I’d be happy to sit down with Syracuse and teach them about the sliding scale and how that works. He still has some work to do as far as initial eligibility.

“Everyone assumes that everyone goes back to their original class because it’s been the fad the last couple of years,” Smith added. “But you have to make sure you have your ducks in a row academically as far as the initial eligibility goes.”

McCullough has tremendous upside. He is extremely athletic and quick for his size, which he displayed on Saturday night. The Syracuse commit was held to just eight points, but had over 10 rebounds and three block shots. With his length and mobility, matched with his rebounding, he could be a huge presence at the bottom of Jim Boeheim’s famous 2-3 zone defense.

If McCullough can become eligible for the Orange next year, it only adds to an already impressive 2013 incoming class. Center Chinonso Obokoh (Bishop Kearney/Rochester NY), Forwards Tyler Roberson (Roselle Catholic, Union, NJ) and B.J. Johnson (Lower Marion High/Adrmore, PA), along with guards Tyler Ennis (St. Benedict’s/Brampton, Ont. CA), and McCullough’s Brewster teammate, Ron Patterson (Indianapolis, IN) have all committed to Syracuse for next season.

Terrence is also the lead writer at NEHoopNews.com and can be followed on Twitter: @terrence_payne