Syracuse Just Got An Early Sign Its New Core Piece Is Real

Gavin Doty's transfer to Syracuse positions him as a crucial asset for the team under new head coach Gerry McNamara, with his inclusion in ESPN's top-100 transfers signaling high expectations for the upcoming season.

Syracuse basketball has one player inside ESPN’s latest top-100 transfer rankings, and it’s junior wing Gavin Doty.

Doty checks in at No. 66 in ESPN’s newest list, which was released earlier this week. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Fulton, N.Y., native is the lone Orange player on the 2026-27 roster to land on the ranking.

Doty’s move to Syracuse came after a strong sophomore season at Siena, where he played for Gerry McNamara. Siena reached the 2026 NCAA Tournament and pushed No. 1 seed Duke in the opening round, with Doty scoring 21 points against the Blue Devils.

“Whatever it takes to win. https://t.co/TuBNZyHk3g

  • Gavin Doty (@DotyGavin) May 31, 2026”

McNamara was hired by Syracuse in March to take over for Adrian Autry, who had led the program for the previous three seasons. Soon after McNamara was announced as the new head coach, Doty said he would follow him to the ‘Cuse.

Doty is expected to be part of McNamara’s starting group right away, likely at either shooting guard or small forward. At Siena, he posted 36.8 minutes, 18.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 32.6 percent from 3-point range and 85.8 percent from the foul line. He was also a unanimous All-MAAC first-team selection.

ESPN’s evaluation pointed to the fit between player and coach, noting: "There won't be much of a transition for Doty in terms of playing style, as he's following Gerry McNamara from Siena to Syracuse. Doty's performance against Duke in the NCAA tournament should also offer some optimism. He'll have every chance to be a top scorer for the Orange."

Doty and Temple transfer Aiden Tobiason are the two names most likely to drive Syracuse’s scoring next season, with both expected to be in the starting lineup and able to slide between shooting guard and small forward.

Doty also appears in the transfer rankings from the other major services. 247Sports lists him as a four-star transfer, No. 83 overall and No. 10 among shooting guards. On3 has him as a four-star transfer as well, placing him No. 99 nationally and No. 13 at small forward.

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