Gerry McNamara has plenty to sort through in Syracuse’s frontcourt, and that’s a good problem to have. After bringing back just one forward from last season’s roster, the Orange now enter 2026-27 with a group that looks much deeper and far more varied than it did a year ago.
The lone returning piece is sophomore Sadiq White Jr., who will be asked to take another step after a freshman season that gave Syracuse a real glimpse of his ceiling. White played in 31 games last year and averaged 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
His calling card is still his athleticism, especially as a finisher around the rim, but there’s more to watch this season. If his shooting keeps coming along, he could become a much tougher offensive problem for opposing defenses.
That growth showed up in the preseason. White flashed better range in three exhibition games and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in Syracuse’s preseason opener against Connecticut. At 6-foot-9, he remains one of only two holdovers from last year’s team, along with Kiyan Anthony.
Syracuse also dipped into the transfer market and came away with two forwards from Siena. Senior Tasman Goodrick adds a strong body near the basket and should help with rebounding while giving the Orange a more efficient scoring option in the paint. Sophomore Francis Folefac brings a different look altogether, with the ability to score at all three levels and enough physicality on defense to matter for a team that still has some questions on that end.
Then there’s freshman Mark Morano, who arrives with a profile unlike the rest of the group. Before coming to Syracuse, he played professionally in Slovenia, and that background already separated him from the typical first-year player.
He did not play in the Connecticut exhibition, but he made noise in Syracuse’s win over Sienna by drilling four 3-pointers and finishing with 18 points in 24 minutes. Niagara then made a point of limiting him in the third exhibition, and he finished with four points on 0-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc.
Even so, his ability to score inside, outside and in between gives McNamara another frontcourt shooter to consider.
Amarri Monroe is the wild card in the group. The Quinnipiac transfer was the 2025 MAAC Player of the Year and a two-time First-Team All-MAAC selection.
He is a class of 2022 graduate, which technically makes him eligible for a fifth year under the NCAA’s new 5-in-5 rule. A preliminary injunction has allowed Monroe to play for now, but the NCAA is expected to appeal, and his status with Syracuse remains uncertain.
For McNamara, the options are real. White brings burst and upside, Goodrick offers toughness and work inside, Folefac adds balance on both ends, and Morano gives the Orange another perimeter threat from the frontcourt. Monroe could become part of that mix too, if he’s ultimately cleared to stay on the floor.
How all of that fits together may go a long way toward shaping Syracuse’s versatility this season.
In Other News...
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Syracuses football leadership got a clear public vote of confidence this week when athletic director Bryan Blair talked about Fran Brown on ESPN Radio. Blair did not dance around the subject, stressing Browns value to the program and pushing back on the old-school idea that a new athletic director has to immediately bring in his guy to make his mark.
Blair also used the interview to touch on the broader changes happening inside the athletic department, while giving a look ahead at the Oranges upcoming football schedule. For a program trying to build momentum under Brown, the message from the top was less about change for changes sake and more about keeping the focus on what Syracuse already has in place. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Turns To An Unconventional Kicking Fix Before Its Next ACC Test
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Olcott is not a finished product at the position, but Syracuse is willing to take a look after he showed some range in practice, including a 55-yard field goal. For a team trying to steady itself before another conference game, the bigger question now is whether an unconventional crossover can give the Orange a more dependable answer when they need one most. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Kicking Woes Just Forced An Unexpected Roster Move
Syracuse has turned to an unusual solution to help steady a kicking game that has been too shaky for comfort. The Orange have added soccer player Quinn Olcott to the roster to provide depth at kicker, a move that speaks to how much the staff wants more options after missed field goals and extra points have become part of the conversation.
Olcott is expected to sit behind Shay Barker and Tripp Woody, with Woody also dealing with injuries, giving Syracuse another body at a spot that has suddenly become a concern. At 3-4 and with SMU next on the schedule, the Orange are trying to patch one of the most unforgiving parts of the game before it costs them again. [Read more 🡒]