If you’ve been watching Syracuse basketball this season and wondering who’s been the most consistent force on the floor, senior center William Kyle III is making a pretty strong case. And if you caught the Orange’s game against Mercyhurst on Wednesday night, you heard former Syracuse standout Eric Devendorf-now calling games for ACC Network Extra-say it more than once: Kyle has been the team’s best player so far this season.
It’s hard to argue with that. Through the early stretch of the 2025-26 campaign, Kyle has been the heartbeat of this Syracuse squad. He’s not the tallest center you’ll find in the ACC at 6-foot-9, but what he might lack in traditional size, he more than makes up for with athleticism, length, and a motor that just doesn’t quit.
Coming out of UCLA, where he didn’t see much action last year, Kyle arrived in Central New York with something to prove. But before his time in Westwood, Kyle made a name for himself at South Dakota State, where he earned Summit League Defensive Player of the Year honors. That defensive pedigree is showing up in a big way for the Orange.
So far, Kyle has been a difference-maker on both ends of the floor. He’s anchoring the defense with his rim protection, crashing the glass with purpose, and giving Syracuse quality scoring in the paint.
Against Mercyhurst, he turned in another all-around performance: 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting, 10 rebounds, five blocks, and a steal in 28 minutes. That’s the kind of stat line that doesn’t just look good-it impacts the game in real time.
Through 11 games, Kyle is averaging 10.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 assists per game. He’s shooting a scorching 73.4% from the field, and entering Wednesday’s matchup, he ranked top 10 in the ACC in rebounding and led the conference in blocks per game. That’s elite-level efficiency and production from a player who wasn’t even a major contributor at his last stop.
But what might be most impressive about Kyle is his effort. No matter the opponent or the score, he brings energy every possession. That’s not something you can teach-it’s something that sets the tone for the rest of the team.
Syracuse’s 76-62 win over Mercyhurst wasn’t the kind of dominant showing that’ll light up highlight reels, but it pushed the Orange to 7-4 on the season and gave Kyle another platform to showcase his value. The real tests are coming soon, with ACC play looming and heavyweight frontcourts on the horizon. That’s when we’ll see just how far Kyle’s game can carry this Syracuse team.
But if the early returns are any indication, the Orange might have found themselves a rock in the middle-one who defends, finishes, rebounds, and leads by example. William Kyle III isn’t just filling a role. He’s setting a standard.