Syracuse men’s basketball has been through a major reset over the past seven months, and one of Gerry McNamara’s newest assistants is already earning national attention.
Ben Lee, who joined McNamara’s staff after two years at Siena, was named to Hoop Herald’s list of 35 assistant coaches under 35 years old. The 29-year-old Long Island native is part of a revamped Syracuse bench that also includes former Orange players Ryan Blackwell and Arinze Onuaku, both of whom followed McNamara from Siena to Central New York.
Lee’s path has taken him from Siena to Syracuse and also through the University of Washington, where he worked alongside former Syracuse player and assistant coach Mike Hopkins. Though he never played for the Orange, his reputation as a coach and recruiter has already traveled well beyond campus.
Hoop Herald’s writeup on Lee made the case plainly: "Congratulations to @Coach_BenLee of @Cuse_MBB on being part of the 2026-2027 Hoop Herald 35. At 29 years old, Lee is one of the youngest HM Assistants in the nation Having spent years around grassroots basketball, he has built a MASSIVE network that will help Syracuse day 1"
For Syracuse, that network could become a real asset. McNamara’s staff is clearly built with recruiting in mind, and Lee’s connections should only strengthen the program’s ability to bring in talent.
Of course, recognition like this cuts both ways. The more Lee’s name circulates, the more likely it is that other programs will take notice too. McNamara may have found a rising assistant, but keeping him around could become part of the challenge.
The Orange have already started to build momentum on the recruiting trail, landing five-star prospect Moussa Kamissoko for the Class of 2027. A former NBA executive has also joined the Syracuse athletic department, and the upcoming regular season matchup with Rutgers stands out from most of the non-conference schedule.
In Other News...
Syracuse Just Landed A New York Recruiting Win Fans Will Love
Syracuse added a pair of promising New York prospects to its future pipeline, a welcome development for a program that has long sold itself as a state-first destination. The Orange landed 2027 five-star wing Moussa Kamissoko out of the Bronx, giving the mens program a high-end local commitment, while the womens side also picked up a pledge from 2027 point guard Josephine Pinnock of Middle Village.
For a fan base that always pays close attention to who decides to stay home, the timing and geography of these commitments matter just as much as the talent. Having both players officially choose Syracuse gives the Orange a strong recruiting talking point in-state, and it also raises the obvious next question: how much more local momentum can the program build from here? [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Still Has One Big 2027 Recruiting Question After 5-Star Pledge
Syracuses 2027 recruiting board already has some real shape to it after the pledge from five-star wing Moussa Kamissoko, with three-star wing Jack Donohue also in the fold. Even with those two commitments, the Orange are still working through what the rest of that class could look like, and the focus has started to narrow around the wings rather than spreading across multiple positions.
One name worth watching is four-star wing Ahmed Nur, who has already taken official visits to Syracuse and other schools. The Orange are also not viewed as a likely frontrunner for five-star point guard Nasir Anderson, which only adds to the sense that this class may stay small given the way the 2026-27 roster is expected to take shape. Syracuse can still supplement through the transfer portal and international markets, but the bigger question now is whether it lands one more high-end high school piece or simply leans into a compact recruiting class. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Is Trying To Turn An Early Recruiting Edge Into More
Syracuse got in early with 2028 tight end Colten Lis, extending his first college offer in January and making a point to keep the connection warm as his recruitment has picked up. Since then, Lis has added offers from programs including UMass, Duke and Wake Forest, but he has stayed in touch with the Orange staff and has already made a campus visit, a sign that Syracuse is still trying to turn that head start into something meaningful.
Lis has come away with a positive view of the program, particularly the way Syracuse uses tight ends, which matters for a prospect still sorting through a growing list of suitors. His recruitment is still in motion and several schools are standing out to him, so the Orange are far from alone in the chase, but they have positioned themselves as an early presence in a race that figures to keep developing. [Read more 🡒]