Syracuse, N.Y. – In putting together a roster for the 2025-26 season, Syracuse coach Adrian Autry and his staff hit the transfer portal with more preparation and more money to pay players than a year ago.
Of Syracuse’s six transfers, four come from schools in Power-Five conferences. Five, if one counts Nate Kingz, a wing from former Pac-12 member Oregon State, in that group.
The Orange’s transfers include William Kyle, a center from UCLA; Tyler Betsey, a forward from Cincinnati; Ibrahim Souare, a center from Georgia Tech; and the crown jewel of the class, Nait George, who led the ACC in assists last season as a sophomore at Georgia Tech.
“We got who we got,’’ Autry said of SU’s transfers. “Did we beat some people? Yes. I felt like we could compete. I didn’t feel like we lost anyone because we couldn’t afford them.’’
Did that happen a year ago? Autry was asked.
“Um, probably,’’ Autry said.
A year ago, Syracuse went into the transfer portal with limited financial resources.
As a result, Autry and his staff either passed on or were out-bid for several high-profile transfers. Of the four transfers who eventually committed to Syracuse, three came from mid- or low-major schools.
Syracuse’s budget wound up being the subject of much scrutiny and conversation as the Orange went 14-19 this past season.
In a wide-ranging interview with syracuse.com | The Post-Standard last week in his office at the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center, Autry said the Orange basketball program had more money at its disposal this year thanks in part to the revenue-sharing plan that is a result of the soon-to-be finalized settlement in the House v. NCAA case. The settlement still needs formal approval and is expected to take effect July 1.
“I think this year with the anticipation of the revenue sharing, I thought that helped,’’ Autry said. “I think it helped everybody, but it definitely helped us.’’
Autry declined to give exact financial details of how much money Syracuse had available to spend on players, but it seems clear Syracuse is operating at a different level, albeit still a level below the country’s biggest-spending college basketball programs.
“To answer your question,’’ Autry said, referring as to whether SU lost out on transfers last year due to a lack of money, “I do think probably the year before, we lost a couple of guys or just went after some different types of guys because it was just a different setup.’’
In addition to the House v. NCAA case, which will place a $20.5 million cap on how much schools can directly pay athletes, Autry also acknowledged that some schools with heavily funded NIL collectives were able to capitalize on the NCAA’s relaxation of NIL rules quicker than Syracuse.
“You hear about these (schools) with unbelievable collectives,’’ Autry said. “They were able to operate faster because you need to have money.’’
Autry also indicated SU general manager Alex Kline, who was hired last June to aid the Orange’s efforts in the transfer portal, helped prepare Autry and his staff identify players they would target in the transfer portal.
“This year we rolled into the off-season,’’ Autry said. “That’s why you see everyone hiring general managers now because when you try to do it as a head coach and your assistant coaches, you’re focused on finishing up the season.
“This year we literally rolled in.’’
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