Cole Swider is heading back onto the international stage.
The former Syracuse sharpshooter will represent Team USA in the next round of FIBA World Cup qualifying, fresh off his run with Boeheim’s Army in The Basketball Tournament. The Americans are coached by former NBA head coach Terry Stotts and will play at Chile on Aug. 27 before returning home to face Colombia on Aug. 31.
The path to the 2027 FIBA World Cup is a crowded one. Eighty national teams are trying to become one of the 32 that will make the tournament, and Team USA enters the process as the clear favorite to move on - and, according to the source report, to win the World Cup.
Swider’s road to this moment has been a long one. A Providence, R.I. native, he spent three seasons at Villanova before transferring to Syracuse for the 2021-22 campaign. Because his college career came during the COVID-19 period, he had a fifth year of eligibility available, but chose not to use it.
In his lone season with the Orange, Swider started 33 games and put up 13.9 points per game while hitting 41.1 percent from beyond the arc. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds a night and helped Syracuse finish 16-17.
The Orange missed the NCAA Tournament that year and have now gone five straight seasons without a berth. New head coach Gerry McNamara is trying to change that.
After leaving Syracuse, Swider carved out a path to the NBA, spending parts of three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors. In 35 career NBA games, he averaged 3.1 points per game.
Swider has not appeared in the NBA since 2024-25. His most recent game action came with Boeheim’s Army, Syracuse’s alumni team in TBT. Playing for the $2 million prize, Swider and company beat the Seton Hall alumni in the opening round before falling to Kentucky in the semifinals.
In other Syracuse-related news, former Orange quarterback Rickie Collins, who transferred after the 2025 season, is expected to be named the starting quarterback at Kennesaw State this season. Kennesaw State’s former quarterback, Amari Odom, is now one of Syracuse’s backups.
Syracuse opens its 2026 season on Sept. 5 against New Hampshire at the JMA Wireless Dome.
In Other News...
Syracuse Practice Just Raised A New Question About The Orange Offense
With Week 3 training camp rolling on and the Orange drawing plenty of eyes from alumni, donors and national media, Syracuse spent its third practice sharpening the shape of an offense that will soon matter a lot more. The opener against New Hampshire is coming on Sept. 5, and even in August, the questions around how this unit will function are starting to feel more immediate.
The running back group has already taken a hit with Yasin Willis gone, which leaves Ahmad Miller and Ju'Juan Johnson positioned to handle much of the load. Quarterback is still the bigger mystery, though, and Zaid Lott remains a name to watch even with veteran options ahead of him in the room. For an offense trying to find its footing before the season begins, those decisions could end up defining how Syracuse looks once the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Wide Receiver Battle Just Took An Unexpected Turn
Fall camp is starting to sort out Syracuses depth chart, and the wide receiver room has become one of the more interesting spots to watch as the season opener approaches. Tyshawn Russell, Umari Hatcher and Julian McFadden have all put together strong showings in practice, giving the Orange some needed competition and energy as the offense continues to settle in. On the other side of the ball, defensive lineman Tunmise Adeleye has also been one of the more noticeable standouts, a reminder that several positions are still being shaped by what happens on the practice field.
The receiver group, though, has taken a hit with Terrell Wilfong sidelined by a collarbone injury, thinning the options just as the battles are getting sharper. Syracuse also got a boost when Justus Ross-Simmons returned to practice after conversations with the coaching staff, and that adds another layer to how Fran Brown can approach the room in the days ahead. With fall camp moving forward, the Orange still have decisions to make and more moving pieces than theyd probably prefer this close to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Jamie Tremble Gives Syracuse One Of Camps Most Intriguing Decisions
Jamie Tremble has spent much of his Syracuse career as the sort of player coaches can file under wherever we need him, and that flexibility has made him one of the more interesting pieces of camp. The junior linebacker has already worn a few different hats in college, having played both tight end and defensive end, and this fall the expectation is that hell spend more time on defense while still popping up on offense in select situations.
For Syracuse, the appeal is obvious: a player willing to move around and absorb whatever role the staff hands him can create options on both sides of the ball. Tremble has taken that approach in stride, working with the defensive coaches and leaning on veteran players as he settles into his latest assignment, leaving the Orange with a versatile weapon and a choice that still feels worth watching. [Read more 🡒]