Syracuse enters the 2026-27 season with new head coach Gerry McNamara calling the shots. McNamara, a member of the 2003 team that won the Orange’s only men’s college basketball national championship, took over from Adrian Autry in an effort to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.
After his hiring, seven players from the Autry regime entered the transfer portal, including top scorer Donnie Freeman and key contributor Nait George. Fortunately for McNamara, Kiyan Anthony, the son of his former teammate and NBA star Carmelo Anthony, along with Sadiq White Jr. and Noah Lobdell, have decided to return for another season with the Orange.
3 Players Syracuse Head Coach Gerry McNamara Should Pursue in the Transfer Portal
McNamara, who began his head-coaching journey in 2009 as a graduate assistant under Jim Boeheim and served as an assistant coach and associate head coach for Syracuse from 2011 to 2024, is coming off an NCAA Tournament first-round appearance, in which his team, Siena, fought brilliantly against top-seeded Duke before losing by six points.
Days after being hired as Syracuse’s head coach, he brought in two of his Siena players — Tasman Goodrick and Gavin Doty — to bolster the Orange’s campaign next season. McNamara also secured commitments from Temple transfer Aiden Tobiason and 6’5″ McNeese State combo guard Garwey Dual.
Aside from the four transfer portal acquisitions, the 42-year-old bench tactician welcomed four-star guard Ryan Moesch, who followed him from Siena; Malian center Abdramane Siby; and Slovenian small forward Mark Morano Mahmutovic as freshmen.
Syracuse will have at least nine players on its roster for McNamara’s first season as Orange head coach, leaving room for additional contributors to the team’s campaign. With that in mind, here are three transfers who should round out the roster.
Amarri Monroe, Quinnipiac
Monroe excelled in his three-season stint with Quinnipiac, averaging 15.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.1 steals over 96 games. The 6’7″ forward, who played for Wofford in the 2022-23 season, is seeking another year of eligibility. Several schools, including Rutgers, Kansas, and Indiana, are interested in securing his commitment.
If McNamara and his coaching staff secure Monroe’s commitment to the Orange, he will have a solid defender manning the Orange frontline next season.
Chol Machot, College of Charleston
Another player who can improve Syracuse’s defense is College of Charleston center Chol Machot. The seven-foot slotman started in 15 of 32 games for the Cougars, averaging 8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 59.2% from the field.
The redshirt sophomore finished 10th in Division I in total blocks and ninth in blocks per game, earning him the CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors. Machot’s addition will fill the void left by William Kyle III. Last season, Kyle averaged 8.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, and 2.5 bpg.
Drew Fielder, Boise State
Fielder is another big man capable of spacing the floor, and his breakout 2025-26 season at Boise State should help his cause. The 6’11” center from Boise, Idaho, averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game for the Broncos.
Fielder was excellent from long range, making 40.9% of his 3-pointers and 54.7% overall. He achieved this in an efficient 23.7 minutes of playing time at Boise State and could play more if he transfers to a better school, such as Syracuse, next season.
