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Coming off its worst season since 1968-69 (14-19, 7-13 ACC), Syracuse men’s basketball hit the reset button this offseason, overhauling nearly the entire roster. With only J.J. Starling and Donnie Freeman returning, the Orange brought in a program-record six transfers from the portal.
Here’s a closer look at SU’s portal class:
Naithan George | Junior | Point Guard
2024-25 stats at Georgia Tech: 12.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists per game
George brings exactly what Syracuse lacked at the point guard spot last season. Unlike last year’s starter Jaquan Carlos — who wasn’t much of a scoring threat (6.2 points per game) — George can shoot from deep (33.9% on 5.2 attempts), create off the dribble, and attack the rim. He has the ability to complement Starling offensively, serving as a reliable second option when the Orange need a basket.
What sets the 6-foot-3 guard apart, though, is his playmaking. George’s 6.5 assists per game last year not only led the ACC but ranked 11th nationally. Syracuse hasn’t had a player average more than five assists since John Gillon’s 5.4 in 2016-17.
Last season, the offense leaned heavily on Starling, and it showed. SU went just 1-10 against Power Four teams when he scored 16 or fewer points, and 2-5 when he was sidelined with a broken hand. With George running the offense, that burden should ease. He can create his own looks, distribute effectively, and open up better opportunities for Starling.
According to 247Sports, George was ranked the No. 50 overall transfer and the No. 13 point guard in the portal. A Toronto native, he moved to the U.S. to play at Canyon International Academy (Arizona) for his final three years of high school. As a prep recruit, he was unranked and chose Syracuse over his only other reported offer, Sam Houston.
Nate Kingz, shooting guard/small forward, redshirt senior
2024-25 stats at Oregon State: 11.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists per game
Nate Kingz brings a skill Syracuse sorely lacked last year: elite efficiency. He recorded a 131.1 offensive rating and 65.3% true shooting percentage, ranking 25th and 26th nationally, per KenPom. The main driver of that efficiency was his perimeter shooting — Kingz hit 44.6% of his 3-point attempts on 4.2 shots per game.
That’s a major upgrade for the Orange, who struggled badly from deep last season, finishing just 240th nationally at 32.8%. If Kingz can replicate his numbers in Syracuse, he would post the program’s best single-season 3-point percentage (minimum 20 makes) since C.J. Fair shot 46.9% in 2012-13.
Though highly efficient, Kingz isn’t a high-volume shooter — his 20.6% shot rate at Oregon State would have ranked sixth on last year’s SU roster. Still, his ability to space the floor while also driving and finishing inside should relieve pressure on J.J. Starling, who often carried the offense alone last year.
At 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, Kingz has the size to play shooting guard or slide into a small forward role, where he could even start. Last season was his lone year at Oregon State after previous stints at Westmont College and the College of Southern Idaho. He sat out the 2023-24 season due to a torn ACL after transferring to the Beavers, and in May 2024, he officially changed his last name from Meithof to Kingz to begin his own family name.
William Kyle III, forward/center, senior
2024-25 stats at UCLA: 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists per game
William Kyle III brings a completely different profile from Syracuse’s starting center a year ago, Eddie Lampkin Jr. While Lampkin thrived as a low-post scorer and double-double presence, his defensive and athletic limitations showed.
Kyle isn’t expected to score at the same level, but he offers a significant defensive boost. He can switch across all five positions, protect the rim, and anchor the paint. His 9.0% block rate and 3.8 Defensive Box Plus/Minus last season would have led all Syracuse rotation players. On offense, he’s more of a rim runner and lob threat, well-suited to playing in transition and excelling as a screener — areas where Lampkin struggled.
“They told me I could come in and make an impact, and that’s exactly what I plan to do,” Kyle told The Daily Orange after committing. “I’ll focus on what I do best — blocking shots, running the floor, and finishing inside.”
At 6-foot-9, 230 pounds, Kyle may be slightly undersized for a full-time center role, but his 7-foot-3 wingspan and 44-inch vertical give him the tools to battle traditional bigs. His modest production at UCLA was partly due to injuries and the adjustment to a new system after transferring from South Dakota State. While with the Jackrabbits, he was named the 2023-24 Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Summit League honors as a sophomore.
Tyler Betsey, forward, sophomore
2024-25 stats at Cincinnati: 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.3 assists per game
Of Syracuse’s six transfer additions, Betsey arrives with the strongest recruiting pedigree. Ranked No. 53 overall in the 2024 high school class by 247Sports, he would have been SU’s second-highest-rated prospect behind Donnie Freeman and ahead of Elijah Moore. Still, his freshman campaign at Cincinnati fell short of expectations.
Betsey averaged just 11.1 minutes per game and shot 35.7% from the field, logging fewer than 10 minutes in each of the Bearcats’ final eight contests. Once considered one of his best skills, his outside shooting didn’t quite translate as a freshman — he hit only 32.1% from deep. Even so, that mark would have tied for the third-best 3-point percentage on Syracuse’s roster last season (minimum 15 makes).
What makes Betsey especially intriguing is his physical profile. At 6-foot-8, 225 pounds, he has the frame to slot in at either small forward or power forward, giving head coach Adrian Autry flexibility with his lineups. If SU leans big, Betsey could realistically push for a starting spot on the wing.
Regardless of his role, the expectation is clear: Syracuse is counting on Betsey to make a significant jump in year two. If he delivers, the Orange could boast one of the deepest and most versatile forward rotations in the ACC.
Ibrahim Souare, forward/center, redshirt sophomore
2024-25 stats at Georgia Tech: 2.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.2 assists per game
Also transferring from Georgia Tech is Ibrahim Souare, who reunites with former high school teammate Naithan George at Syracuse. Both played at Canyon International Academy, though Souare has an extra year of eligibility after redshirting as a freshman. Originally from Conakry, Guinea, he was unranked coming out of high school by 247Sports.
Souare carved out a steady role with the Yellow Jackets last season, logging 30 appearances and 14 starts while averaging 17 minutes per game. At 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds, he’s somewhat undersized for a center but makes up for it with athleticism and energy inside.
Although not quite as explosive as UCLA transfer William Kyle III, Souare still boasts a 42-inch vertical and brings a contrasting style to last year’s starting center, Eddie Lampkin Jr. Whether he or Kyle earns the starting nod is still up in the air, but both are expected to form a critical one-two punch in the paint for the Orange.
Outside of Souare and Kyle, Syracuse’s frontcourt depth is limited — unless freshman Tiefing Diawara develops quickly or Donnie Freeman slides over for some minutes at the five.
Bryce Zephir, guard, graduate student
2024-25 stats at Montana State: 5.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists per game
Bryce Zephir arrives at Syracuse as a well-traveled veteran, joining his fifth collegiate program. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound guard spent last season at Montana State, where he logged nearly 20 minutes per game as a steady rotational contributor. His previous stops included Chipola Junior College, North Texas, and Salt Lake Community College.
With freshmen Luke Fennell and Kiyan Anthony expected to join J.J. Starling, Naithan George, and Nate Kingz in the backcourt rotation, Zephir may not have a clear lane to consistent minutes. Still, the lefty guard offers valuable experience and maturity, giving the Orange a dependable option to call upon when needed.
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